Anyone Else...

[Warren94]

stressed about the san diego game. Brady did not look good versus them in the division last year. yes we won, but. This is not the same team we played in week 2. They are very physical.


any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

 

[chrisfx811]

Check the already started AFCCG thread.

 

[bradmahn]

"This is not the same team we played in week 2" and the Patriots are not the same team the Chargers played in the playoffs last year.

I am much more nervous of the Chargers (if LT, Gates, and (Good Lord I never thought I'd say this) Philip Rivers are all healthy) than I was about the Jaguars, but I think the Chargers of week two are much closer to who they are than Brady or the Patriots of last year are to what they are now.

Even so, I have faith in Belichick to f up Rivers's day and to contain LT like we did in the first game (but I don't think any team is going to beat the Patriots running the ball). There was very little to absolutely zero pressure on either Rivers or Manning today; Rivers was going against a much depleted Colts pass rush (makewayhomer, still think their defense is the same without Freeney?), but the Chargers don't have an excuse for letting Manning sit in the pocket with very little pressure 40 times.

Cromartie will need help to control Moss (or if the Chargers think he can play "athlete to athlete" as Merrill Hoge so thinks feel free to try it ) and their safeties aren't particularly strong in the first place. I'd expect Watson to come up big in this game while Welker gets a good deal of attention. Maroney will have a good game, too.

Any and all qualms I have about this game are directly related to the Pats' D v. the Chargers' O, but those pangs aren't all that distressing.

 

[Double G]

Here's a though; relax chief, it's gonna be ok............

 

[TommyD4207]

38-14
It was warm then.
Now their major pieces (Rivers, Crybaby, Gates) are all hurt?

Yeah. Not so worried when it's 15F.

 

[BradyFTW]

With the weather on our side, the injury report on our side and Maroney stepping it up I don't think we have much to worry about....i'd call for a close 1st half and a blowout 2nd half: 42-21 Patriots :rocker:

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

No, I'm not concerned at all. Why is this not the same team as Week 2 ? Because they beat 6 crappy teams to end the regular season and now their QB, RB and TE are banged up ? Other than Cromartie emerging this year, there's nothing new about them and little that worries me.

 

[mgteich]

We are much stronger than last year. SD has many key injuries. We're at home. We should be win by at least a couple of TD's. And the offense can't be stopped.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

New England at home : 275-103 (points) = +172
San Diego on the road : 190-175 = +15

For reference, SD was 222-109 = +113 at home this year. That's what I call a BIG road disadvantage

 

[bradmahn]

Let's not forget that we also have Rodney Harrison (who did very well against Jason Witten and Dallas Clark) and Richard Seymour, who's play has improved in the last several weeks. I like our chances.

 

[TommyD4207]

Let's not forget that we also have Rodney Harrison (who did very well against Jason Witten and Dallas Clark) and Richard Seymour, who's play has improved in the last several weeks. I like our chances.

That's an excellent point.
For the first time in what seems like FOREVER, The Patriots are relatively healthy.

 

[NEPatriot]

I must admit that I was very surprised with their win. SD is usually much better at home. The thing about the Bolts is that you never know which team will show up. I wonder how much the extra game, two cross country trips and playing on the road will impact them.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

stressed about the san diego game. Brady did not look good versus them in the division last year. yes we won, but. This is not the same team we played in week 2. They are very physical.


any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Please, by all means, say what you want about the Chargers. Say they're the greatest team ever. Say they are classy. Say they will blow the Pats out.

But can we cut out this "physical" BS. We all had to listen to that crap about the Jags for a week and where are they now? Were they not physical enough?

Physical is a word people who don't understand the game throw out there because they think it sounds good. Enough of it!

 

[pheenix11]

What is this "they are not the same team as week 2" BS?

They had no injuries back then and had LT, Gates and Rivers at full strength and we wiped the turf with them. Now they come hobbling in and suddenly they are dangerous?

Gimme a break, they played a gutsy game against the Colts today (except for that wimp LT) and I give them credit for that. But thats it, they had a nice season, it ends next week.

 

[IcyPatriot]

stressed about the san diego game. Brady did not look good versus them in the division last year. yes we won, but. This is not the same team we played in week 2. They are very physical.


any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Stressed ... no way ... they are physical? What are we the Care Bears?

 

[patsfan55]

well, sure the chargers could beat us
but im def glad we have to worry about them vs worrying about the colts

im not sure we can completely contain lt AND shut down rivers (if they both play)
unless of course the chargers game plan is flawed
if im the chargers i feed it to lt on the edge, we are not very good when speed rbs can get to the edge
im not too worried about rivers, but if we completely gameplan for lt, he could make some plays, and he's shown an ability (like his draft day buddy eli) to somehow turn a mediocre season into a very solid postseason

one thing that worries me is antonio cromartie
this kid is for real, big time play maker and game breaker
what's funny is the two guys i REALLY wanted in that draft class were antonio cromartie and greg jennings (both still alive)
of course as someone just mentioned we have rodney and big sey back
and big sey def has been lookin better and better, which has helped vince and ty as well
rodney, well he just shuts down big time tight ends, so that's huge to have him back to go against gates (even if gates isn't at full strength), i was actually really worried about that when the suspension first came out, how we wouldnt have rodney to go against gates in week 2

overall, am i glad we play the chargers instead of the colts: yes
is this an automatic win now that we dont have to play the colts: not even close
with all that said, i am confident that our Pats will be able to come out on top

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

What is this "they are not the same team as week 2" BS?

They had no injuries back then and had LT, Gates and Rivers at full strength and we wiped the turf with them. Now they come hobbling in and suddenly they are dangerous?

It's because they beat a bunch of crappy teams to end the regular season "hot".

Why is anyone talking about Brady and last year ? Isn't it clear that last year's offense and this year's aren't in the same universe ?

 

[shmessy]

38-14
It was warm then.
Now their major pieces (Rivers, Crybaby, Gates) are all hurt?

Yeah. Not so worried when it's 15F.

Plus, now we have Rodney and Big Sey.

 

[shmessy]

stressed about the san diego game. Brady did not look good versus them in the division last year. yes we won, but. This is not the same team we played in week 2. They are very physical.


any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Warren.

They are certainly more like the Norv Turner team of week 2 than the Marty Schottenheimer team of the 2006 playoffs, doncha think?

And by the way, Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour were watching that 2nd game from their homes.

Also, their 3 best offensive players were in much better shape then than now.

Although your point about them being "physical" may be your best point. We really haven't played anyone "physical" lately!

 

[Leeroy Jenkems]

I'm pretty nervous! I think they're probably still mad about the dances last year and will wanna beat us bad!!