It pains me, and I mean it really pains me, to admit this.
The San Diego Chargers, not the New England Patriots, are the team to beat in the AFC right now.
I’ve already gone on record saying that the Chargers would have beaten the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game had they not suffered a ridiculous rash of injuries to their key offensive players.
They were the better team by the end of January, partly because the Patriots were completely spent by their quest for an undefeated season.
But they were also a pretty darn good team.
Yes, it’s hard to get past everyone’s favorite head coach, Norv Turner, but he at least proved to be more competent than Wade Phillips was last year (now that was a backhanded compliment).
And frankly, he overcame an extremely tough situation last season to take that team further than his predecessor (whom the fans were not shy about wanting back) ever did.
I’ll give Norv the benefit of the doubt. He’s good enough, or smart enough, not to get in the way of what I think is going to be a juggernaut.
Even the most passionate and biased Patriots fan (and I may be the most biased Patriots fan, for the record) has to admit the Chargers are a far superior defensive team.
Jamal Williams may be the only nose tackle in the league I would consider taking over Vince Wilfork. Luis Castillo is an absolute force. They may not be better than the Patriots’ defensive line (which I consider the best in the NFL), but they’re pretty close.
The further back from the defensive line you get, the more the advantage swings towards the Chargers. Phillips and Merriman are two of the best playmakers in the NFL. Cromartie might be the best playmaker in the NFL. If you read my mock-draft series, then you know what I think about Antoine Cason.
Their defense may not be good enough to completely stop the Patriots’ historic offense, but they’re certainly good enough to slow it down.
Their offense is custom designed to give the Patriots’ defense fits.
Chris Chambers has been causing nightmares in New England for years.
Antonio Gates is a quick, big tight-end who can catch. In case you haven’t been paying attention, nobody on the Patriots’ defense can cover average tight-ends—great tight-ends absolutely kill them.
LaDainian Tomlinson, regardless of what I may have said about his manhood after his disappearance from the AFC Championship game, is still the best offensive player on the planet.
Philip Rivers may not be Tom Brady, but not many quarterbacks are. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s a tough S.O.B. in the playoffs last year. He played on injuries that would have caused LaDainian Tomlinson to retire.
He played well enough to earn my respect—in spite of the fact that I hate his whiny, loud-mouthed guts.
The fact is, on paper, it’s no contest.
Defense beats offense 99 percent of the time.
The 2003 and 2004 Patriots proved the rule time and time again against the Indianapolis Colts.
Unless I’m wrong (and I really, really hope I’m wrong), the 2008 Chargers are going to prove it once again against the New England Patriots.
Sean Crowe is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at scrowe@gmail.com. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
93 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Brown 11 months ago
Many good points, but I think the teams are even. What San Diego brings to the table with defense and running, New England makes up for with Bill Belicheck and Tom Brady.
Norv Turner and Phillip Rivers aren't in the same solar system as Dungy/Manning and Belicheck/Brady.
The AFC will come down to injuries and/or luck, because the Bolts, Colts, and Pats are all far above everyone else yet very close to each other.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
I agree. They're close. But all things being equal (health, home field, etc) I think the Chargers are just a little better...
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cromatie thirty one 11 months ago
Chargers are going to dominate the AFC next year....patriots??? they are going tu suck on defence cuz they lost some of their key player asnate samuel and randall "gay" hahaha and that safety eugene wilson?...and whos got the best defence to stop the pats??? the chargers! 30 INTERCEPTIONS!!!....then we got the colts which we beat them twice now...hahaha....so who that leaves steelers? we can beat them two probably CRO will have 6 interception...(as he had his way with Manning..3 INT!) and jacksonville they have it coming the got lucky last time but not in the playoff next year! SAN DIEGO CHARGERS SUPER BOWL 43 CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
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Michael Brown 11 months ago
Gay and Wilson started a combined four games. They weren't exactly "key".
Mark my words, Phillip Rivers will not win a Super Bowl within the next four years.
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Nick Caso 11 months ago
im sorry you still must be hurtin that the Pats beat the Chargers in the AFC Championship. I mean go ahead and sulk,cuz i mean look at it this way-your running back is a pussy, your QB doesnt know when to shut his mouth, your TE is on 1 foot, your best LB is on steroids...hmmmm ya i dont see the Chargers beating the Pats in the playoffs....
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Charles McMillan 11 months ago
Wow! I agree, and yet... I'm shocked... Ultimately, I think that the Chargers, Pats, and Colts are all capable of beating each other (Jacksonville's no pushover either). No reason for any of us to rest easy. Kudos on a thoughtful, largely non-biased article.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Thanks Charles!
I'm still hoping I'm wrong though....
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john sharon 11 months ago
the chargers are definitely the best team on paper but they also have a tight group that has been through a lot together. it's their time. pats fans missed their window. sha
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henry cloutier 11 months ago
You're assuming that all the players stay healthy,one or two injuries on any of these teams ,it's a whole new ball game!!!! hank333
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Brett Lissenden 11 months ago
If historical trends continue, the Patriots should be a little down this year from a Super Bowl hangover.
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gene burleson 11 months ago
Michael,
Your words have been marked.
Not only will Philip Rivers will have a Superbowl win in the next four years
He will go on to become one of the best ever.
This kid is a winner not a whinner.
Johhny Unitas and Joe Montana had the same fire I have seen in Philip since he first walked onto the NC State campus.
Mark My Words
Gene
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Ummmm... No.
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Michael Brown 11 months ago
Guess what? It takes a little bit more than fire and a high completion percentage to be a winner and one of the best ever. Just ask Dan Marino.
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Raider Reyes 11 months ago
Dude most charger fans were mad after dumping brees for rivers. Now some of those people seem to deny that they disliked Rivers. Rivers isn't that great
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adam folarin 11 months ago
in a lot of ways the patriots are better, in some ways the chargers are better.
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Matt Gilmartin 11 months ago
Great article, I think you're right - you brought up some good points.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Thanks Matt!
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Ryan 11 months ago
There both really close... on paper San Diego is more talented but Brady/Belicheck are infinitely better than Rivers/Turner
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
What San Diego possesses in talent and ability, New England makes up for or maybe even exceeds with smarts and playoff game savvy. I still give the edge to New England, even though they are getting older.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
I'm not 100% sure I'd pick the Chargers to win a playoff game against the Patriots. But I'm not 100% sure I'd pick the Patriots to win either.
Put it this way...the Chargers are a FAR superior team to the NY Giants. The NY Giants figured out how to beat the Patriots in the playoffs. Why can't the Chargers?
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
"FAR" superior, yet the last time they played they lost to the Pats while the Giants beat them. OK, sure.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Osi,
I said ARE, not WERE. When Healthy, the Chargers are far healthier.
Not only that, but were they in the AFC, the Giants wouldn't have sniffed the playoffs last year.
-Sean
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
"When Healthy, the Chargers are far healthier. "
Good God.... you know what I meant...
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
Yeah, I know what you exactly what you meant:
BWAH! We were injured. Rivers had a bad leg. BWAH!
Welcome to the NFL. The Giants were without their star TE, but had another guy who was just as good. They were without their #1 draft pick WLB, but won it all with Reggie Torbor filling in. They played their first playoff game without their starting Center, their starting WLB, one starting CB and their starting SSLB, and guess what? They didn't whine about it. They just went out and won. They beat four division winners, GB in Lambeau in -4 degree weather, the NFC's #1 seed with 13 Pro Bowlers plus the only 18-0 team in the history of the NFL, and yet you say the Chargers -- who have done squat-shit -- are FAR better than them.
BWAH!!!!!!!!!!!
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
I didn't mean to imply that you're a Chargers fan. My mistake there. But everyone has their injuries. The Giants went through four running backs during the season and still had the fourth best ground game in the entire league. You may say they wouldn't have made the playoffs in the AFC, but why not? The Titans made the playoffs with the same 10-6 record while the Giants played in maybe the toughest division in the league. So explain that.
And explain why they whipped the one team nobody in the AFC nobody could beat all year. Go ahead.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Osi,
I've also said that the Chargers, had they been healthy, were better than the Patriots at the end of last season.
Let's not compare what the Chargers went through with what the Giants went through. You lost a TE that was a detriment to your offense.
They lost the best running back in the NFL, the best TE in the NFL, and their starting quarterback. Not exactly on the same level....
The Giants had a GREAT game against the Patriots. One of the beauties of a one-and-done system, any given Sunday. The Patriots pulled the same feat back in the 2001-02 season.
But if the Giants played the Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Steelers, or Jags 10 times each last season, they'd lose 45 of the 50 games....
-Sean
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Seriously, the Patriots team that lost the the Giants was not the same team that scorched the entire NFL. They were tired, beaten up, and worst of all, playing like they had all the weight of the world on their shoulders.
They failed under the pressure. Congrats to the Giants for taking advantage.
Winning the Super Bowl is 80 percent skill, 20 percent luck. The Giants caught the Pats with a hobbled hall-of-fame QB, a broken right side of the offensive line, and a CB who was playing with a sports hernia and was burned on the deciding play....
The Patriots had done a fantastic job in prior seasons making sure they were at their best in the playoffs. Fighting to go undefeated ruined that plan last season. Which is why I'll take a nice 12-4 season over what happened last year, any day.
Under normal circumstances, you don't really believe the Giants were better / more talented / belonged on the same field? Do you?
Didn't the Giants nearly lose to the Bills?
-Sean
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
The Giants played eight quarters of football with the Pats to an exact tie on the scoreboard. And they beat them in the game that counted most. So why on earth would you think the Pats were better? Because of stats????????????? Stats are for losers and people who make weak arguments on internet message boards.
And the Chargers didn't lose their starting QB -- he played against the Pats in the playoffs. Wanna talk about losing your starting RB? The Giants know all about it -- that's why they have three RBs who could start for most teams in the NFL. Lost your Pro Bowl TE? Yeah, been there too -- welcome to the show Kevin Boss.
They beat the Bills, running for almost 300 yards in blizzard conditions. They beat the Cowboys. They beat GB. They beat the Pats. That adds up to a Lombardi Trophy, whereas the Chargers have done exactly NOTHING. Yet the Chargers are FAR better. Sure.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Agree to disagree.
This is a paper argument, because nobody is playing football right now. Maybe they'll get on the field and prove me wrong. But on paper, the Chargers are better at every single position except WR.
Hey, I'd love to be wrong. I hate the Chargers. But I call it as I see it....and the way I see it, they're better.
As for the Pats - Giants, yes... they played to a tie. But the Patriots were not the same team that demolished the rest of the NFL by that point. If you recall, they should have lost to the Ravens and Eagles. They didn't exactly destroy the Jets. The last complete game they had played was Pittsburgh. They didn't exactly crush Jacksonville, and the Chargers without Tomlinson or Gates, and a QB who could barely move still played them tough.
They were emotionally and physically a different team. If the Giants had played them earlier in the season, they would have met the same fate the Cowboys and Redskins met.
Frankly, the Cowboys were also better than the Giants...they just have a QB/Coach combo that can't get out of it's own way come playoff time.
So, to sum this up...
On the first weekend in February, the Giants were a better team than the Patriots. They won the Super Bowl. They deserved it. The Patriots were the second best team on that day.
But if the two teams played again, with everyone rested and healthy on both teams, on a neutral field, the Patriots would demolish the Giants.
And the Chargers would beat them both.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
For the record, there's nothing wrong with beating teams who are better than you to win championships.
The 2001 Patriots beat the Steelers and Rams, both of whom were better than them.
The 2007 Giants beat the Cowboys and Patriots, both of whom were better than them.
Like I said, the beauty of a one-and-done system. That's why the NCAA tournament is so popular. The best team doesn't always win the championship.
Also, for the record, the 2001 championship is everyone's favorite in NE...because we didn't see it coming. We didn't see it coming because the Rams were a better team.
I was in New York Super Bowl week. None of you saw the championship coming. I was actually being congratulated the Saturday before the game in a bar by a bunch of Giants fans who were just happy they beat the Cowboys.
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Michael Brown 11 months ago
The Patriots were the better team, but they lost to the Giants. Just like in 2001, when the Rams were the better team, but they lost to the Patriots.
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
Cognitive dissonance-- by definition it's a tough thing to get a handle on.
"But but but, in week nine we were crushing people! Nobody could beat us then. Certainly not the Giants. Look, the Cowboys beat them twice! How could they be better than us?"
I bet you're really into fantasy football, aren't you?
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
OK Osi, are you kidding me?
Lots of teams beat lots of teams. The 2004 Patriots lost to the Dolphins. The 2003 Patriots lost to the Bills. Does that mean those teams were better? No.
Every team has a letdown game against an inferior opponent. It could be because they're looking past them. It could be because the opponent had the game of it's life. The latter happened in the Super Bowl against the Patriots.
The Cowboys beat the Giants twice last season, they choked in the playoffs. They SHOULD have won the playoff game. They didn't. Does that mean the Giants were a better team? No. It means the Giants did what they had to in order to to defeat a superior team that wasn't playing it's best.
There's a reason why the Giants were huge underdogs. It wasn't lack of respect. It was because the Patriots were a better, more talented team. The Giants played better for one Sunday.
I'll tell you what...you can keep Eli and company. I'll take my chances with Brady and company this season. We'll see who's happier come January.
"Bench Eli Manning! He sucks!"
"Fire Coughlin!"
You'll all be yelling that again by week 8.... just like you were right up until week 16 last year....
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
The reason the Giants were huge underdogs in the Superbowl is because Vegas was predicting what people like you would think. That's all the line represents, the number that Vegas thinks will get people to bet equal money on both teams so they can get their vig. That's all, or do you not understand that either? The smart money jumped all over that opening 14 point line which is why the books lost their shirts on this one.
It's really amazing that you can insist that the Pats were better when the two teams played twice in five weeks and first one team won by three points and then the other team won by three points. How much more even can you get than that? Would they have to play three times to triple OT to convince you? The Pats were flashier and the Giants were tougher -- guess which one is more important. But they were very evenly matched even if their styles differed greatly.
I'd really like to agree to disagree. But you're so far off base I can't. The Cowboys SHOULD have won, but they didn't, they lost. The Pats SHOULD have won, but they didn't. The Packers should have won too, but they didn't. See a pattern here?
I would take the Pats this year too because they play in the weakest division in the league and have one of the easiest schedules in history of the modern NFL. Their opponents' winning percentage last year was BELOW .400! What a joke. Which means they'll go 14-2 and then wash out in the playoffs because they'll be untested, soft and unprepared for the realities of the post-season NFL.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Osi, Last point I'm making on this...
The Patriots and Giants played to a tie, OK. Fine. Let's forget that neither game was played in New England, one was played in New York, and the last touchdown of the first game was scored against the Patriots' backups after everything was already decided....
Forgetting about that...we're talking about which team is better RIGHT NOW.
The Giants are coming into the season WITHOUT their, in your words, pro-bowl TE, without their all-world defensive end, and with a quarterback who throws interceptions at a rate that hasn't been seen in the NFL since Vinny Testaverde was in Tampa Bay. And don't forget that their coach is a hot-head who everyone in New York wanted fired back in December.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are better than the Giants at every position except RB... If you'd like to debate this, feel free. I'd love to know which position you like better on the Giants.
The Giants are the Super Bowl champions. Were they in the AFC, they would not have made the playoffs. They lucked out that they were in a weak conference and got hot at the right time. They were not the best team in the NFL. They were not the second best. They were not the third best. They might have been the sixth or seventh best.
The quicker you realize this, the less painful this season will be for you....
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
By the way, fantastic job on the Shockey trade. Instead of getting a second and a fifth in this year's draft, as was offered back in April, you get nothing until next season's draft. So you're without a pro-bowl TE and don't get anything in return to help this season....when presumably you're a "Super Bowl" team.
Great job. Very NY-Jet-like of you....
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Zachary Hueras 11 months ago
I dunno, I'd still give it to the Patriots for at least one more season. I think we'll see stronger run protection with Victor Hobson and Jerod Mayo as inside linebackers (let's not forget about Tedi, too; he still hits hard). I think we've picked up some top-notch players in the secondary, and I'm inclined to think they'll flourish under Dom Capers.
Phillip Rivers is no Tom Brady, and L.T. is a one man show (but he can be stopped). If both Maroney and Morris can stay healthy this year, we could have a very devastating running attack; I can't wait to see what Maroney can do with Morris tenderizing the line.
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Bruce Dickenson 11 months ago
I love the fact that all the Patriots fans just can't face reality. If they were in last place they would still have an excuse as to why they are the best.
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Spenser T. Harrison 11 months ago
They don't have fans when they are in last place. It's a baseball town and always will be. The Patriots are just icing on their cake.
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Bruce Dickenson 11 months ago
Funny picture you have there. You are right about them, though ask them how much of a baseball town they were in the late 80's and early 90's. Fenway was empty. The JETS haven't won a Superbowl since '68 and the season ticket wait list is still 15 years.
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Bruce Dickenson 11 months ago
By the way Sean, I was not referring to you in my nasty comments. I respect a guy that can analyze things subjectively.
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Shaun Ahmad 11 months ago
Before I write my comment, let me put out a disclaimer that I am the furthest thing from a Pats fan. Haha. That being said, the Pats were 16-0 last season so this is probably not the offseason where their fans will be willing to admit that they have flaws. It's hard to argue with a team that didn't lose until the Super Bowl.
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Ken Sheehan 11 months ago
A) Maybe i'm the only one, which i doubt, but i'm pretty sure i i can face my teams reality. I fully understand the pats are a team thats going to be losing a lot of starters in the next few years due to age and who knows what else. I know that when it comes to athletic ability theres probably a signifigant amount of teams that can beat out the pats d. And i was also pretty sure all last season they were not going to go undefeated 'cause BB cared more about the play offs then the regular season. I think really though you're describing any passionate fan, just look at the raider nation. Theres a group that although i may never understand or agree with they always find the silver lining for their team.
B) Also its a little rediculous to say fenway was empty in the 80's and 90's when they were averaging well over 20,000 people a game
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Bruce Dickenson 11 months ago
The stadium was as empty as Yankee stadium in those times. It is not a cheep shot, just reality. Look, I work with Boston fans and we have fun banter all year. I love it. I am glad the Red Sox and Yankees and JETS and Patriots are so pasionate about their teams. If they wern't, it wouldn't be any fun.
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Michael Brown 11 months ago
When you have the winningest franchise in basketball history, you can't call that city a baseball town. I'm sorry, but Boston is a sports town. The Celtics are just as important as the Patriots and Red Sox in Boston, if not more so at the moment coming off a title run.
20,000 a game at Fenway in the 80's and 90's was well over half-full. Attendance sucked throughout baseball during that time compared to the Steroid Era and today.
The Patriots have sold out every single home game since Bob Kraft bought the team (1994 season-present), and have a season ticket wait list 50,000 strong last I checked. The Celtics sold out 15-20 games in the 06-07 season, when they won a grand total of 24 games, and then proceeded to sell out every game this season. This September, the Red Sox will break the MLB record for consecutive sellouts, which currently stands at 450 (Indians). The Bruins, well, clearly aren't the only NHL team struggling to fills the stands right now.
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TR 11 months ago
You're an idiot. You think the jets are going to win it all. Here's some reality: ain't gonna happen. Face that.
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Bruce Dickenson 11 months ago
What the "f" are you talking about? You need to relax and quit following me around this site just to bash the "inferior" JETS. I'll tell you what, give me your address and I will mail you a quarter so you can call someone who gives a rat's ass what you think.
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TR 11 months ago
Oooh, so now I'm, what, stalking you? Is there no end to the accusations you people are willing to make against the Patriots and their fans? Keep your quarter.
For the record, Bruce, I am not interested in following you around this site for any reason, least of all to bash your beloved jets. It's just that you keep popping up to bash the Patriots everywhere I look. If you can't take it, don't dish it out.
Pats fans beware: the paranoid are among us.
And Bruce: when the Patriots sucked, the only person making excuses was Drew Bledsoe.
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Peter Bukowski 11 months ago
Sean, it takes a big man to admit HIS team is inferior to another, particularly when that team is one coming off an historic run at perfection.
That being said, I couldn't agree more that the Chargers, when healthy, are a superior team especially defensively. However, while the Chargers play in a division they have no reason not to win easily, the Patriots play in a division that, if they were to somehow NOT win, their NFL charter should be rescinded.
It will be fun to watch them match up this season, hopefully more than just their regular season meeting. The Chargers could make a run at a 14-2 15-1 type season, but we all know the Pats are the veteran tested team for the playoff run.
Should be fun, great work man
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Thanks Peter.
Really, the important thing is that either the Patriots or the Chargers knock off the Colts. As long as the Colts don't win again, I'm good.
If I have to go through another Manning Super Bowl, I'll go insane.
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
Philip Rivers -- one of the greatest Giants draft picks ever.
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Jack Anderson 11 months ago
This is what I've been thinking about too. The Bolts could very well be better than the pats. It will be interesting seeing what happens. I think the Bolts have a more well rounded team, but lik everyone knows, the Pats are seasoned winners. Turner did a nice job keeping everything together after the bad start and he should have a more complete season now that everyone is comfortable with him.
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Raider Revenge Payback 11 months ago
Chargers better worry bout them RAIDERS more a less the elite teams. Keep sleeping. Keep sleeping.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Ummmm... No.
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TR 11 months ago
Dude... I'm disappointed in you. Dude...
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Sorry...gotta call it as I see it.
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DONTREL QUINN 11 months ago
Even though the Patriots didnt win the Super Bowl their still the team to beat in the NFL if you want some recognition. One other point as long as they have Randy Moss and Tom Brady they will always have the advantage over which ever team they play cause what shut down corner can stop Randy Moss and the way the off. line let them down in the Super Bowl want happen again you can bet on that
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Michael Brown 11 months ago
You know, Norv did a wonderful job of exploiting that defense last season, twice! The first time they played, the Chargers put up 14 points! And then, in the AFC Title Game, 12 points! What an offensive mastermind. If (and possibly when) the Chargers beat the Pats, it will not be because of Norv Turner.
Cheater fans? I haven't heard that one before. How original considering the rest of the NFL got over that months ago.
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William Berry 11 months ago
Here's to eating one's words.:) I maintain faith that Norv Turner will be the man. (C'mon, eventually they were so talented they eventually won despite him.)
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DONTREL QUINN 11 months ago
the gaints had their damn fingers crossed the whole game the defense didnt stop them our defense stopped us the gaints just had one of the luckiest catches of all times plus dude didnt even know he had caught the ball. p.s. takes a retard to know a retard or did you not know that RETARD
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
It wasn't a "lucky" catch, it was a great catch. Lucky is when the ball bounces off of someone's helmet and goes to a guy 10 yards away from the play. The Immaculate Reception was lucky. Tyree just made a great catch. And even if you want to fool yourself into thinking it was just a lucky catch, that only got them 30 yards and down to the 24. What happened before and after that play?
And you can't pin the whole game on that one play. OF COURSE the defense stopped them. FIVE SACKS! Countless pressures. Brady on his ass repeatedly, he practically had tears running down his panic-stricken face. NO running game whatsoever. Face it, you just lost. Your team got bullied by a tougher team. They got pushed around and didn't know how to react until it was too late, then couldn't make a key stop in the clutch. Oh well.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
It was lucky on Manning's part, Tyree made a great play. One of the best in Super Bowl history. To call it lucky is insane. It was one of the greatest plays I've ever seen a receiver make. Ever.
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Jerry Desaulniers 11 months ago
Good article and the Chargers are a very talented team. But the one player that has to stay healthy is LT. Without him they might not be a ble to go all the way. And staying healthy in the NFL is not Guaranteed, and he is getting up there in years!
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Mike Dussault 11 months ago
You could also say the 2001 Rams, 2003 Colts, and 2004 Colts were all better on paper than the Pats as well. I'll take the Super Bowl rings.
Why must you fan the flames of false overconfidence that's seemingly a trait of all Chargers players and fans?
P.S. - for all the talk of the Chargers great defense let's remember Laurence Maroney running all over them in AFCCG.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
But against all three of those teams, the Patriots had a vastly superior defense. That doesn't apply against the Chargers.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
Oh, and I don't buy into the Maroney-against-the-Chargers thing. That team was completely done and had just about given up by the time Maroney embarrassed them in the fourth quarter.
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Mike Dussault 11 months ago
With 9 minutes left in the biggest game of their season and down by only 9 points their defense was "completely done" and had "given up"? That's embarrassing.
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
No, please, please fan the flames of Charger fans' overconfidence. It will make their downfall all the more amusing.
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TR 11 months ago
Ditto, Mike, on the chargers' overconfidence. And people call the Patriots arrogant...
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Jeff McMaster 11 months ago
Sean, as much as it pains me to say this to a Pats fan under these circumstances, I think you're being modest and selling your team short. With the injuries the Bolts sustained last year, it's quite likely they will come out limping, so to speak The one-two offensive threat Tomlinson and Gates is questionable at this point. Losing Lorenzo O'Neil is going to hinder Tomlinson, and if Gates toe injury is as serious as it seems, he's not going to be 100% for perhaps the entire next season. Turf toe may be the most underrated debilitating injury a player can sustain. I can remember C Woodson battling that injury for two years.
While rivers may have a warrior mentality, I've seen too many QB's trying to carry a team with their fire, and they end of burning down the house instead. Rivers has to play within himself and his supporting cast, and I don't know that he's capable of that at this point. He's prone to big mistakes when he tries to do too much, and the situation in San Diego may force him to do exactly that.
Then there's the Norv equation. The Chargers had enough left over fire in their bellies from the Schottenheimer era that I think their turnaround last year was in spite of Norv, definitely not because of him. I look for them to come out flat this season, and they may not be able to recover. I certainly don't see Turner being able to game plan anywhere near the level that Bellichik does. San Diego can be very good next year if the stars align, but the could also be very mediocre and play way below their talent on paper.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
I agree, Norv scares me. But after the job he did at the end of the season and in the playoffs, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt....
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Joe Willett 11 months ago
You obviously read Ryan Alberti's headline piece.
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
I do everything Ryan tells me to.
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Joe Willett 11 months ago
If he told you to jump off a cliff?
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Sean Crowe 11 months ago
As long as it got my articles a few more hits, I'd jump...
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Montgomery Woseley 11 months ago
Chargers are my super bowl pick
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Steve Frith 11 months ago
I might agree with the Chargers beating the Pats IF the Pats weren't coming off of the season they just had (18-1 with a super bowl loss). People forget that this record, this single loss, this embarrassment will be in the back of every Patriots player....what a motivation that will be....much like the Dolphins used it as a motivational tactic in '72.
However, and I've said it before and I'll say it again....any given Sunday fellows, any given Sunday!
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Eddie Jackman 11 months ago
Sean - You obviously did a great job trying to piss everyone off with this article. What I love is seeign the Giants fan keep interdicting himself into he discussion to remind everyone how lucky the Giants were to win that game and call it a "domination." The Patriots have won 3 super bowls by a field goal and I have never seen anyone refer to any one of them as a domination or ass-whooping or whatever.
I love Giants fans - no one cares about their team even after they did the unimaginable - everyone is ready to move on and see the PAts win their rightful 4th Lombardi trophy under Brady-Belicheck.
I think your Chargers assessment is a little bit of the sky is falling...but fear is good for the soul.
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Osi Umenyiora 11 months ago
Domination??????? Did you say "domination?" Because nobody else did. Where exactly were the Giants lucky? Please, enlighten us.
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Steve Frith 11 months ago
Oh, come now..this whole thing has been done to death. Osi, you don't think that Tyree catching a ball against his helment isn't lucky? A million dollars says he can't do that again...chances are that no one will. You don't think that Brady having a bad ankle isn't lucky for the Giants? You don't think that making it into the playoffs on a wild card isn't lucky?
Now, I'm certainly not knocking the Giants, they won the Super Bowl....congrats and good for them. But I will be the first to say that luck had a lot to do with the Giants getting there, and it had a lot to do with winning the game.
Now, we have faced it, we have lost (as you put it earlier). What gets me, and by the looks of it, it gets other fans too, is that the majority of Giants fans love to talk trash and are very in your face about the Pats losing the superbowl. Don't believe me? Scroll up a bit and check out your comment where you said "Brady on his ass repeatedly, he practically had tears running down his panic-stricken face". I don't think that Brady shed a tear that day, but we're back to Giants fans talking trash.
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Steve Frith 11 months ago
I guess what I'm driving at is that it seems that you tend to disagree with other people's opinions, which is fine, but it seems, at least to me, that unless others share your opinion, than they're wrong. It's ok to be passionate about your team, heck, it's great to be passionate about your team. Just realize that even though others might not agree with your opinion, they are entitled to their opinion, whether you agree with it or not. Hence, agree to disagree.
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TR 11 months ago
Steve, I agree with you as usual. I would venture to say that if that game were played 10 times, our New England Patriots would win nine. I realize that about 700 giants fans are likely to get up in my cyber-face about that statement, but I don't care. The Pats lost the 1 out of ten, and that's what matters. Mazel tov to all you giants fans. You could, by now, exhibit a little gracious sportsmanship. Whatever... the real point now is that it is absurd to count the Patriots out for the upcoming season. And equally absurd to count the SD chokers, er, chargers in. Just my opinion...
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bill harris 11 months ago
If you have not realized that Philip Rivers "grew up" during the last few games of last year then you aren't paying attention. He has all the talent in the world and I believe he now has the right attitude and has established himself as the leader on this team. LT gave up that spot when he sat on the sideline while Philip played with serious injuries. The Chargers will be hard to beat.
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Sean O'Brien 11 months ago
Awesome article Sean, I agree that the Chargers will dethrone the Pats this year in the AFC rankings. They've been knocking on the door the past few years so it's about time they bust it down.
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Ya Girl Is Diggin Me Forreal.. 11 months ago
GOOD ARTICLE...
I dont like the Pats or the Bolts...so i could care less bout who beats who this season...
the thing i dont wanna see is the Pats getting to another SB and squeeking by with 3 points like they do in every close game....
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TR 11 months ago
Oh, now I see. When the Patriots win a SB by 3, they are "squeeking by" (sp.) but when they LOSE a SB by 3, it's an ass-whooping. Gosh, thanks Joey, for clearing that up...
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John 11 months ago
The Patriots secondary could very well be a big concern. That might be the difference between them and the Chargers this year. Of course, Indy and Jacksonville will be factors in the AFC.
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Ya Girl Is Diggin Me Forreal.. 11 months ago
haha, i never said it was an asswhooping...
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TR 11 months ago
Maybe you didn't say it, joey, but I have read it and heard it so often that it seems endemic outside NE. It's all very confusing to me... either the Patriots are, as you put it,"squeeking by" (sp.), or, as so many others have put it, they are "running up the score". They lose the SB by 3 and, according to many rejoicing Pats-haters, they got their asses kicked. By 3 points.
The bottom line is simply that people feel compelled to find reasons to hate this team, and you are one of those people. My opinion, your opinion, in the end none of it matters until the games are played. It's just fun to talk about.
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Jonathan Brazee 11 months ago
It is nice to see a homer look serously at his team and others. Good job.
I agree that the Chargers are the best team "on paper" this year. The question is whether they can put it all together. They were better on paper two years ago when they lost to the Pats in the playoffs. They could have easily won last year if healthy. Maybe they can make a good run in the playoffs this year, but time will tell.
As far as the Giants? They were not the better team, but they played better. I am far from an Eli fan and I take perverse pleasure in his failings, But that last drive was a thing which shouild make all football fans smile. I am glad they won, but they were not the best team in the NFL last year. They just played better and with more heart in the playoffs and managed to pulll it though.
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cwjiujitsu blanco 11 months ago
I not sure about the chargers having more playmakers than the pats, i know Cromatie Merriman phillips are great but on the other side you got vrable the most underaded lb in the game ad in his second year with the pats. I thinK bb had the rains on AD the first year.
Dick Seymore, that guy will be unstopable this year. Each one playmakers big time and Hobbs is underrated.
I want to belivein a good season with Capers back their creating scheams for lots of INT. Not to mention Merriweather will come out stong, dare i say 19-0
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Alexa Freed 11 months ago
It comes down to winning.
WHEN/IF the Chargers beat the Patriots, then we can crown them the better team.
I'd take the Pats though anyday.
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Barry Smith 10 months ago
This is the most ridiculas thing I have fread in a long time. Who's the idiot that wrote this piece? Chargers better than the Pats? How many Super Bowls have the Chargere won? To the person who wrote this thing, know what your talking about before embarrasing yourself to the readers. Oh btw Mr. Editor?? Who beat whom last year? How many games did the Chargers win, compared to the Pats? Who has the better QB? I could go on and on. But I will save you from even more embarrasment.
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