The Patriots will not be distracted by the Randy Moss controversy. It's likely that Randy himself will be a non-factor in this game again - the Chargers will probably blanket him like the Jags did, leaving them vulnerable to that death by a thousand cuts approach Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have perfected. Look for Wes Welker to have 15 catches for about 90 yards.
The Chargers do have a chance again New England though. If they get after Brady big-time and knock him on his cute little butt...then, perhaps. Of course, the problem then becomes mounting an offense. Philip Rivers will probably tough it out and try to play, but will he be effective? The Chargers might be better off with a healthy Billy Volek than a hobbled Rivers, come right down to it.
The Patriots defense can be had though. Their middle linebackers are old and slow and the middle of the field is basically open all day to the passing game. There would've been a huge opportunity for Antonio Gates today - if he were not himself hobbled. Gates will tough it out too I imagine - you don't get too many shots to get into the Super Bowl - but he's got the same question mark hanging over his head that Rivers does.
I honestly don't see how anyone can pick a crippled Chargers team against the Patriots at full-strength and at home. If San Diego does win today, it will be one of the great upsets in the history of sports.
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NFL
Tags: bill belichick, billy volek, new england patriots, philip rivers, randy moss, san diego chargers, tom brady, wes welker
Comments (2)
GO Patriots! I just hope t... (Below threshold)1. Posted by USpace | January 20, 2008 4:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
GO Patriots! I just hope the Super Bowl is one of those rare close ones.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
put ALL your money down
http://absurdthoughtsaboutgod.blogspot.com/
.
1. Posted by USpace | January 20, 2008 4:25 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 20, 2008 16:25
2. Posted by Falze | January 21, 2008 4:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
are you a sports blog is the place for you? Do you understand how a bend-don't-break defense is and why the Patriots with their old, slow, and smart LBs play it? Coming into the game 17 teams (some duplicates of course) thought the old, slow Patriot LBs could be had. Instead, 17 times coming into this game the old, slow Patriot LBs (note I don't dispute the claim) were indeed had between the 30s, before stealing those 17 teams' lunch and eating it before they knew it was gone. The absence of Gates eventually proved no loss, Chambers and friends caught the 17 yard passes over the middle. They just didn't mean anything in the red zone where the old slow LBs dominated. I hate, I mean LOATHE Junior Seau, but it doesn't matter who the RB is, Tomlinson goes down just as easy faced with a run-blitzing Seau who is UNBLOCKED.
2. Posted by Falze | January 21, 2008 4:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 21, 2008 16:56