Can the Charger's KO the Patriot's Next Week?

[dabills21]

Should be an awesome game! Imo, Chargers have the most complete team in the Afc along with New England.

 

Efficient QB play and a solid defense/ST is the playoff recipe.

 

Indy vs Chargers in Afc title, Saints vs Cowboys in the Nfc....with the Saints beating the Chargers in the Super bowl.  That's my prediction, we'll see

[H2o]

Absolutely. That defense is gonna have Brady seeing ghosts next week. We will see how the mighty have fallen and Rivers will make the AFC Championship game. 

[EersN'Bills]

Chargers should be able to move the ball more than they did against the Ravens.

 

Pats' Defense isn't nearly as daunting. Just can't get too conservative against them.

 

Chargers 27

 

Patriots 24

 

I hope...

Edited January 7, 2019 by EersN'Bills

[KD in CA]

They can....but they can't play stupid, make big mistakes, or go into a shell in the 4Q if they have a lead.  Belichick and Brady eat teams that do those things for lunch.

[GETTOTHE50]

Wish I had the same optimism you guys do.

 

Chargers are making 4 coast-to-coast trips in a week, thats tough. And its even tougher playing against a brutal Ravens defense.

 

I see them keeping it close in the first half, like the Bills sometimes do, but then end up getting blown out.

 

Theres nothing more I want than to be wrong though. 

[apuszczalowski]

Can they? Sure

Will they? That may be a completely different question...........

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, stevewin said:

Thought it was interesting when they talked about Chargers running a defense with a bunch of safeties playing LB to shut down Balt - hopefully Bradley will come up with something inventive next week as well

 

Yes, the Chargers made good adjustments on both sides of the ball during the game.  It gives me hope.

 

Main worry from what I saw today: the Chargers took their foot off the gas when they were ahead, and it almost cost them.  Facing a Belichick** coached team, never EVER take your foot off the gas.  And if you’re ahead, be extra-prepared for them to come up with some kind of rule-bending trickery.

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

Rivers is 0-7 vs. Brady/Belichik

Patriots are 8-0 at home in 2018/2019.

 

So...either they are both due for change or status quo.

[Boatdrinks]

Certainly they can. They must be the more physical team, punish and wrap up on every tackle. Stop the run and get middle pressure on Brady while disguising their coverages. Offensively they can’t be conservative , Rivers needs to be better than he was in his two outings vs BAL. The Ravens have a superior defense to what he’ll face next week, but he has to be better. It’s easier said than done, but LAC have the players to get it done. They’ll need to take a page out of the Ravens gameplan vs NE over the years, as they’ve been more effective than most up there. BAL has two playoff wins at Foxboro, another that they should have won ( Lee Evans careless attempt at what was a certain game winning TD in the AFC divisional ) and a couple other close games that could have went either way. This is the most beatable edition of the Pats* in some time , the LAC can’t let themselves be beaten by the mystique. 

[Jukester]

Yes. Barring horrible weather, i like the Chargers' chances.  But they have to play mistake free.  Would love to see the Pats mountain crumble this year. I think they're ripe for an upset.

[Marv's Neighbor]

32 minutes ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Wish I had the same optimism you guys do.

 

Chargers are making 4 coast-to-coast trips in a week, thats tough. And its even tougher playing against a brutal Ravens defense.

 

I see them keeping it close in the first half, like the Bills sometimes do, but then end up getting blown out.

 

Theres nothing more I want than to be wrong though. 

Teams need to adjust, to ease the travel demands.  Keep their travel options open, and change as needed.  And PLEASE beat the Cheatriots! 

[LABILLBACKER]

Nothing in the world would please me more than to see New England lose this game, but as long as Tom is playing, the refs will ensure he gets shoved down our throats in another SB.   zzzzzzzzzz

Edited January 7, 2019 by LABILLBACKER

[Boatdrinks]

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

As long as Tom is playing the refs will ensure he gets shoved down our throats in another SB.

Certain Refs see to this far more than others. Two who actually weren’t afraid if their crew threw flags on NE for things like offensive holding and PI are unfortunately retired ( Steratore and E Hochuli). Others who don’t fear the Eagle wing are Blakeman, Boger, and Vinovich. If John Parry gets assigned the Pats* game, expect the one sided deluge of yellow laundry you reference. 

[Zerovoltz]

KC not going down.  I hope New England beats the Chargers.....New England, for all their history of greatness...never play well at Arrowhead...some of Bradys worst games have been in KC....and that's is the most favorable matchup for the Chiefs...chargers present more problems for us than NE does.  Besides...it would make a great story for KC to rip the mantle from Brady and the Pats...kind of a passing of the torch moment.  

[Nextmanup]

I think the folks who are down on the Chargers are forgetting that Baltimore had a heck of a defense this year, much better than what LA will face in New England.  

 

Rivers is likely to have a better day in Foxborough, barring really bad weather.

 

They have a QB good enough to win a scoring battle with NE; most teams around the league don't.

 

I hope it's a great game and that LA can find a way to do it.

 

 

[gonzo1105]

5 hours ago, Estro said:

Probably not.  For all the talk of Brady's downfall this season, Rivers also looks to be slipping.  He gets nothing on his balls downfield.....lot of floaters that are turnovers waiting to happen.  The game will come down to Gordon and Ekeler....if they can get the run game going they have a chance, but I just don't see it happening.

 

Patrtiots - 25

Chargers - 18

 

While Rivers arm does look like its weakening idk how you can say the guy has slipped. He’s playing at a near MVP level this year.

 

4,300 yards 32/12 ratio 105 QB rating doesn’t strike me as slipping. Is it going to be a tough test for the Chargers? Absolutely. Are they the best team to beat the Patriots? IMO they are. 

 

The Chargers have the offense and the QB to beat the Patriots in a shootout if it comes to that. They also have a great front 4. We all know the best way to beat Brady is to get pressure on him in his face and get him off his platform. 

 

I believe the Chargers are the best all around team in the AFC. If Rivers is ever going to get a SB this is the year to do it 

[Chandler#81]

Punt750, you’ve been warned already about starting threads -lame as they are- and not interacting with your thread. 

 

We’ll try this again. Don’t start threads then disappear, lest you be labeled a troll. We have no tolerance for trolls. Next time it happens will be ‘the Cooler’.