Pats/Chargers Articles before the game

[Tchok13]

Re: Re: SN: Cromartie has chance to shut down Moss

How did he "force" the fumble again? He wasn't even trying for the ball.

And the int was a nice catch and return, but he had absolutely no chance to make a play if the throw was on target. I will gladly accept another team giving NE opportunities and taking advantage if NE makes unforced errors.

Rewatching the video of it. There was a big time hold of Gonzalez, the man on Gonzalez wasn't the one called for the hold. But the flag should have been thrown.

 

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A short funny piece that is pro Pats.

http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/15/chargers-star-nees-to-work-on-his-game/
This link isn't working.

How about John Clayton ? i'm sure he writes from personal experience.


Chargers-Patriots turning into nasty rivalry
Clayton

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: January 17, 2008

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Tom Brady, Shawne Merriman and Luis Castillo

David Drapkin/Getty Images

If the Chargers can put the clamps on Patriots QB Tom Brady, they just might pull off the shocker.

More than anyone in San Diego would want to acknowledge, Bill Belichick has played a big role in the recent history of the Chargers.

Last year, the Patriots beat the Chargers in the playoffs after San Diego's 14-2 regular-season mark. Frustrated by two playoff losses in three years, the Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer. In came Norv Turner.

Two weeks into this season, the Patriots blew out the Chargers, 38-14, leading to a three-game losing streak and a 1-3 start. That planted the seeds of doubt in the Turner hire and his staff. (Of course, maybe we should've realized it might take a month or so for some of the changes instilled by the new coaches to take hold.)

On Sunday, the Patriots and Chargers meet for the AFC Championship and the chance to go to the Super Bowl. The Patriots are favored by two touchdowns because they are unbeaten, they are at home and they have the look of one of the greatest teams ever assembled in this league.

But the Chargers, considered perhaps the most talented team on paper, are starting to live up to their potential.

Can they pull the upset?

In many ways, facing this year's Patriots must feel like having to play the old Chicago Bulls back in the Michael Jordan era. Teams would gear up to make their best run, and Jordan would make some unbelievable jump shot or some long bomb from the outside to frustrate them. Like the Bulls, the Patriots are clearly a dynasty -- this is their fifth AFC Championship Game in seven years, and they are vying for their fourth Super Bowl.

But the Chargers aren't going to back down. Now that Turner has won two playoff games, they have some playoff confidence and momentum. They're becoming a beast that the Patriots, Colts and other teams must worry about for years. Their roster is young and just entering its prime. General manager A.J. Smith keeps backing up personnel who might leave in free agency with superior, young athletes.

Plus, the other teams in the AFC West have dropped down to a point that the Chargers should have no problem reaching the playoffs for the next few years.

The Chargers-Patriots rivalry isn't in the league of the Colts-Patriots, but it's becoming the next-best thing. These two teams really don't like each other.

LaDainian Tomlinson thought the Patriots lacked class in the way they celebrated during their playoff victory last season. That still probably brings smiles to the Patriots players. The Chargers want a little payback for the blowout loss in Foxborough in September.

The ultimate insult would be if the Chargers pull the upset and ruin the Patriots' undefeated season. That could send this rivalry over the edge because both teams will be back at it again next season. The Patriots and Chargers are blessed in 2008 with two of the easiest schedules in the AFC and have great chances to be No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.

The Patriots caused organizational problems with the Chargers by winning in San Diego last year. The Chargers would defy history if they can beat the Patriots on Sunday.

1. The Injury Factor: After seeing Chargers tight end Antonio Gates play an entire game despite a dislocated left toe, do you have any doubt Tomlinson and quarterback Philip Rivers will be on the field to start Sunday's game? If so, though, how long will they play?

Gates caught three passes but wasn't much of a factor in last week's victory over the Colts. Colts defenders gave him a free release from the line of scrimmage because they didn't think he would be much of a threat running. The Patriots might challenge him a little more to get him out of the game earlier.

Rivers has been playing with a bad knee for more than a month, so he's used to the pain and lack of mobility issues. The missed practice time might affect his timing with his receivers, though. Tomlinson won't have some of the explosiveness if he gets through the initial line of Patriots defenders, but believe it or not, the Chargers can still manage. Michael Turner is a dangerous insurance policy. He's a big back with speed and could salvage the Chargers' running game if Tomlinson wears down.

2. The Randy Moss Distraction: The Patriots wide receiver was pretty open about revelations he allegedly injured a longtime friend who has a restraining order out against him.

Moss had tried his best to be on good behavior since getting to New England. Once he realized the situation was going public, he went to head coach Bill Belichick and gained his support. Then he went public with the notion he was being pushed to pay $500,000 to keep the story quiet.

Though this is a distraction, this shouldn't affect him in Sunday's game. Moss has been focused all season, setting an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions.

The bigger question is what the Chargers will allow him to do. The Jaguars double-covered him last week and limited him to one catch. That just allowed Tom Brady to set a playoff completion percentage record.

3. Slowing Down The Brady Bunch: It's hard to believe the Chargers will copy the defensive strategy used by the Jaguars. The Jags tried to play it safe and still got burned by Brady. They blitzed just eight times. Most of their defenses were to drop more defenders into coverage and try to force Brady to pass short.

At first, they confused Brady. Once Brady figured out what they were doing after a couple of series, he burned them with underneath passes.

The Chargers will probably be more aggressive. They have corners who can play more man coverages. They have a better, more aggressive pass rush than the Jaguars.

Brady is having a magical season, throwing a record 50 touchdown passes and operating the highest-scoring offense in the history of the league. So he should be able to master any defense. Because the Chargers will be playing loose and aggressive, they might as well try to get to him with pressure instead of trying to drop everyone into coverage.

4. The Former Charger Factor: The Chargers gave up on safety Rodney Harrison and linebacker Junior Seau years ago. Now, they give the Patriots age and experience at inside linebacker and safety, respectively. How each team handles their presence could be fascinating.

The Chargers will try to exploit them, figuring they're too old. Seau and Harrison will naturally be playing with chips on their shoulders. Something has to give.

5. Forgetting The First Game: Bill Belichick can make his team forget how easy it was for the Patriots to win their September meeting against the Chargers. They jumped to a 24-0 lead and kept attacking.

By jumping to the early lead, the Patriots eliminated the Chargers' running game. Tomlinson had only 18 carries and 43 yards. No team can concentrate on the run when it is down 24 points. The biggest difference in the Chargers since that game is how much better the defense has come together.

The Chargers were adjusting to changes from a Wade Phillips defense to a Ted Cottrell defense. The secondary in that game allowed Moss and Wes Welker to combine for 16 catches for 196 yards. Antonio Cromartie has come on as a starter and offers some man-to-man shutdown ability at cornerback. Eric Weddle has helped at safety. The Chargers have a better idea of what to do in this system

 

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BEHIND THE LINES
Chargers have many line-backers

Point spread has dropped for AFC championship game.
By Lonnie White, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 18, 2008
After New England opened the week as a 15-point home favorite over San Diego, the line for Sunday's AFC championship game has dropped to as low as 13 1/2 on some betting boards as of Thursday night.

The reason behind the slight change is connected to the strong support for the Chargers, who knocked off the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts on the road last week.

According to Wagerline.com's table, San Diego has picked up 53.21% of the picks against the spread. The Chargers have received even more support on theSpread.com's betting chart, gaining 55% of the action against the spread.

It's interesting that backing for New England has dropped compared to how bettors jumped all over the Patriots during the regular season. When San Diego played at New England on Sept. 16, the Patriots were favored by 3 1/2 points and won, 38-14.

 

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From USA Today.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK


By Mike Lopresti, Gannett News Service
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Friday's assignment upon landing in Boston was to find a good reason why the San Diego Chargers could pull this off. Which is a little like landing in Boston and trying to find a palm tree.

At the moment, the Chargers are two-touchdown underdogs against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. I'm not sure Custer was a two-touchdown underdog.

The Patriots are healthier — Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is now listed as "doubtful," which is probably a more optimistic term that you could put on his team.

New England is also more experienced in this big-game business, and playing at home.

Oh, one other thing. Also unbeaten.

"We're below 'underdog."' San Diego's Shawne Merriman mentioned the other day. "They need to come up with a new word for us this week of what we are."

"Whatever it is," said his coach, Norv Turner, "when everyone is out there saying 'They can't do it."

No, they very likely can't. But let's pretend a minute, anyway.

• The Patriots could be misled by being such a prohibitive favorite, lulled into looking ahead. It is now only 10 shopping days until Super Bowl Media Day.

Except ... the look on Bill Belichick's face Friday was not encouraging. Mr. Chuckles' intensity level seemed in fine big game fettle, which is to say it could microwave popcorn. He is not the type to let his team's minds wander. And he tried to sound sufficiently alarmed about the Chargers: "If we had three weeks to get ready for them, we'd still need more time."

• They could finally let the pressure of the moment get to them, fearing failure when they are this close to a perfect season.

Except ... they haven't shown a whiff of that yet, and as Kevin Faulk said Friday, "You don't think about it. You live in the moment and continue what we've been doing."

• They could be undone by the distractions of Randy Moss, and the unsavory charges made against him by a lady in Florida. It is seldom good news during a championship game week when the star receiver's lawyer is being quoted.

Except ... the Patriots have been dealing with controversy since September, when their game film hanky-hanky become a nor'easter. Why are they so good at ignoring commotion?

"It's pretty simple," Tom Brady said. "There's a sign when we walk in the door and right at the top of the sign is 'What's expected of you.' And No. 1 is 'Do your job.' Every time you walk in and see that, you understand you have to show up and whatever else is going on in your life, you put it aside and focus, and you have a responsibility to your teammates to do what you need to do."

• It's been done before. Last year, by the Colts.

Except ... that was in Indianapolis, and the crushing, searing disappointment that day — New England blew a 21-3 lead — put a fire in the Patriots that burns still. Might redemption be a force come Sunday? Said Belichick, "I would hope so."

• New England could get sloppy with the ball and close the gap. San Diego led the NFL during the regular season with 48 turnovers forced, including 30 interceptions.

Except ... Brady's touchdown-interception ratio, which would make any self-respecting cornerback retch, is 53-8.

• Never say never. The Chargers have won eight in a row. They do not have the numbers or talent of a team with no hope. And some of New England's recent games have been a little dicey.

Except ... these are the Patriots. And playing close games might have just toughened them for the postseason, like sharpening the incisors of a shark.

"We have to find a way," Turner said Friday.

Good luck.

 

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Chargers say Rivers doubtful

Sources: QB has torn right ACL but stays hopeful

Jan. 19 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
As he did the last bit of packing before a bus ride to the airport and a cross-country flight yesterday, Philip Rivers was careful in any movement that involved his injured right knee.

Sources said the injury is more severe than what has been described by the team, though that does not change the Chargers quarterback's prognosis for playing in tomorrow's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/index.html

 

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http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...cleid=1067797&format=&page=1&listingType=pats

I watched the Packers-Vikes game where Moss Mooned the crowd. Man! i found it hilarious! I don't know why people are so sensitive! I mean, he didn't pull his tights down or make a lewd gesture. All in fun.

John Tomase
FOXBORO -- Randy Moss is in the midst of the longest playoff scoring drought of his career. He’s coming off one of his least-productive games, ever.

Sounds like he’s due.

Moss didn’t set an NFL record for touchdown receptions this season by underachieving for any appreciable length of time. He had a lot on his plate when the Pats faced the Jaguars last week, from the threat of a scandal to a Jacksonville defense designed specifically to stop him.

But the All-Pro should have a clear mind when the Patriots [team stats] meet the Chargers this afternoon. And if the past is any indication, he’ll deliver. Because that’s what he has traditionally done in the playoffs.

“I know what he’s been able to accomplish,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady [stats] said of his favorite target. “And you know, he’s the best receiver in the league, so that speaks for itself. And it makes it easy as a quarterback when you just throw the ball up in the air and he goes up and catches it. I know he’s excited about this week.”

When the Patriots acquired Moss last April, his arrival was portrayed as a skilled player’s opportunity to win a championship. The implication was that because Moss’ Vikings and Raiders teams hadn’t gotten it done in the postseason, neither had he.

But an examination of his playoff resume reveals nothing could be further from the truth.

He has caught 36 passes for 737 yards (a 20.5-yard average) in nine career playoff games. He has scored nine TDs, and been denied the end zone just three times, including last week against the Jags when he caught one pass for 14 yards, both postseason lows.

Consider his game-by-game performance.

* 1998 NFC divisional round (Vikings 41, Cardinals 21): Moss caught four passes for 73 yards and a score in his first playoff game. The highest scoring team in history (at least until this year), the 15-1 Vikings kicked things off with a rout.

* 1998 NFC Championship Game (Falcons 30, Vikings 27): Virtually all of Moss’ production (6 catches, 75 yards, a 31-yard TD) came before intermission. But the Falcons held him to just one catch for four yards in the second half and overtime. Gary Anderson missed his first field goal of the season and the Vikings dropped a heartbreaker.

* 1999 NFC wild card round (Vikings 27, Cowboys 10): Moss caught five passes for 127 yards and a 58-yard score. Vikings quarterback Jeff George won his first playoff game by throwing three TDs in the first half.

* 1999 divisional round (Rams 49, Vikings 37): Moss turned in the best postseason game of his career in a shootout with the Greatest Show on Turf. He caught nine passes for 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Vikings trailed, 49-17, in the fourth quarter before a desperation rally fell short. Moss caught TDs of 44 and 2 yards.

* 2000 NFC divisional round (Vikings 34, Saints 16): Moss only had two catches but he made them count -- they went for touchdowns of 53 and 68 yards. The first one came on Minnesota’s third snap and started the rout.

“I think inside their heads it was, ’Uh-oh, you don’t want to get me started. That’s the worst thing you ever want to do,’ ” Moss said after the game.

* 2000 NFC Championship Game (Giants 41, Vikings 0): Plenty of fans expected the high-flying Vikings to soar into the Super Bowl, but they laid a giant egg. Moss was held to two catches for 18 yards.
AFC title tilt:

* 2004 NFC wild card round (Vikings 31, Packers 17): The infamous Moon Game. Moss was messing with Packers fans but ended up getting in hot water. He caught four passes for 70 yards and two scores, and after the second one pretended to moon the crowd. Teammates later defended him by saying he was merely playing off the Green Bay tradition of fans mooning the opposing bus as it pulls into Lambeau Field. Whatever his reasons, it turned into a controversy and earned Moss a $10,000 fine.

* 2004 NFC divisional round (Eagles 27, Vikings 14): Moss’ last playoff hurrah with the Vikings ended in disappointment. Old friend Freddie Mitchell was the star of this one, catching two TDs with Eagles starter Terrell Owens sidelined and then humbly thanking God for his hands. Moss was limited to three catches for 51 yards and no touchdowns.

That’s a pretty solid resume and suggests that Moss is ready to bounce back in a big way. Today would be a nice place to start.