The Chargers scared me a little bit more when Shawne Merriman had all his knee ligaments. Plus, there’s just something about Norv Turner that makes me confident we can dispose of them when we need to.

Not to say the Chargers won’t win in October, they’re bound to win one of these times. However, the Pats will own them if it comes down to a playoff matchup.

Which NFC teams scare you the most? Who would you least want to see in a Super Bowl matchup?

RC: New Orleans is arguably is the most offensively-potent team in the NFC. New England's defense doesn't match up well against the Saints' passing game. But Dallas is scarier because the defense fortified the secondary by drafting Mike Jenkins and trading for Adam Jones, two corners to combat spread offenses.

But Tony Romo has to win in the playoffs first before the 'Boys can think Super Bowl. Until then, the Saints are the team New England doesn't want to see at XLIII.

WB: NFC, what's that? I'll say the Bucs because their second string just manhandled our first-string defense.

MD: Dallas. Luckily, we wouldn’t have to worry about them until the Super Bowl. I still think they will be upset in the playoffs before that, but no one is more talented than the Cowboys.

I just don’t think they are the best team, if that makes sense. If they put it all together and get to the Super Bowl, look out.

What is the biggest challenge facing the 2008 Pats?

RC: The success of the defense rests on how well they defend the pass. The pass rush will be fine with Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas on the outside and the D-line rotation of Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Vince Wilfork, and Mike Wright. But LBs Tedy Bruschi and Mayo have a lot to prove: Bruschi that he still has it and Mayo to be a quick learner.

In the secondary, last week's edition, S John Lynch must prove himself while Brandon Meriweather must prove he can catch errant passes. And don't forget the question of Ellis Hobbs and who?

WB: Winning the friggin' Super Bowl. Wait a minute, that is looking ahead. The next practice.

MD: Not peaking too early. They have the talent and the experience. If they can avoid injuries and just be reaching their peak in January, it will bode well for them. Last year, they were worn out and flat. Hopefully this year there won’t be the same distractions.

What games most worry you, in terms of the Pats being upset? (i.e not SD or IND)

RC: Not including the Colts or Chargers, there isn't a team on the schedule with a real chance of upsetting New England. The Steelers are still frauds, Seattle isn't good enough on defense, and same goes for the Arizona Cardinals.

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