NFL Picks Week 2: Will Tom Brady or Philip Rivers Shine in AFC Showdown?

Tom Brady is coming off one of the great games in NFL quarterbacking history, throwing for a New England franchise record 517 last week against Miami.

That was then, and this is now. And "now" is the San Diego Chargers, who have a quarterback of their own in Philip Rivers.

Rivers came of age in a memorable game against the Patriots in the 2007 playoffs, an AFC championship game that New England won to improve to 18-0. Rivers, however, won the hearts of Chargers fans and teammates, playing all-out despite playing with a torn ACL.

So, while last week saw Rivers throw for a modest—in comparison anyway—335 yards in a season-opening win over the Vikings, when the Chargers and the Patriots tangle, it’s tough to say that Brady is clearly in a league of his own.

This matchup in Foxboro figures to be an aerial display, the likes of which isn’t seen all that often in regular season games.

You have to appreciate the roll that Brady is on. He had 10 plays of 20 or more yards against the Dolphins. Even so, the teams that have been able to shut him down are ones that have inflicted pressure in the pocket, and the Charger defense is capable of doing just that.

San Diego was tied for second in the NFL last year with 47 sacks, then started the season with two sacks against the Vikings in Week 1.

Perhaps more to the point, in an October game against the Patriots last year, the Chargers sacked Brady four times, limiting him to 159 yards on 19-for-32 passing and just one touchdown.

Meanwhile, Rivers was putting the ball up 50 times that day, completing 34 for 334 yards and a touchdown. New England survived, but only because a San Diego field goal attempt in the game’s final seconds hit the crossbar without going through.

Look for Rivers to light it up one more time.