Okay guy, here's a couple of statistics for you, because even keeping in mind your incredible, pro bowl packed media darling 2006 defense, let's look at the numbers shall we?
Team A: #6 Defense in the league
Team B: #10
Team A: 237 Points Allowed
Team B: 303
Team A: 1507 Rushing Yards Allowed (95 per game)
Team B: 1613 (101 per game)
Let's make this easy , since you Chargers fans seem to have trouble with the whole 'reality' thing: Team A restocked its defense, adding key players through the draft and free agency and getting others back after season ending injuries, while playing in a division last year that had another playoff team and a spotty linebacking corps, not to mention while having the biggest bullseye in the league on its back. Team B did...well really, nothing. Wanna guess who teams A and B are?
Wilfork is a huge part of those stats. He clogs the middle and let an average linebacking corps make plays
You guys need to grow up. You won 2 more games than us and didn't have to deal with ANY of the injury problems we did, not to mention the fact that you had the league's MVP at running back and we had a practice squad at WR. The Chargers weren't that much better than the Patriots last year. Bottom line. You lost in the playoffs because you were outcoached and, at key points in the game, outplayed by superiorly prepared players.
Good luck in September! You will need it.