Patriots glad it is not the Colts
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Philip Rivers may play on one leg
Somewhere the Chargers have to be feeling a slap in their face.
Why?
Because the Patriots did not want to face Peyton Manning and the Colts. They knew if Peyton got the Colts offense rolling, he could put up enough points to win the game.
So they want to play the Chargers?
No, they want to play the Detroit Lions, but it came down to the Chargers or Colts. In that case, they would prefer the Chargers.
Besides Peyton Manning is there a reason?
Oh, yeah! To begin with the Chargers are a little banged up at the crucial positions. Antonio Gates has a sprained big toe. LaDainian Tomlinson has a bruised knee. Philip Rivers has a problem with his right knee.
Philip Rivers is the key. Without Rivers, Billy Volek is your starting QB.
Can Rivers play?
Chargers coach Norv Turner said Rivers suffered an MCL sprain of his right knee and is “day-to-day.” Rivers is not expected to practice until late in the week.
“It’s questionable if he will play but he’s got a chance,” Turner said. source
Earlier this year the Patriots dominated the Chargers and based on that game it seems somewhat a miracle that they are back, but this is not the same Chargers team. That earlier team was just getting to know Coach Norv Turner. They got their act together as the season wore on.
Now it is playoff time and that is why Coach Turner is the coach.
Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, I believe, also deserves a great deal of credit for making an unpopular decision last year (firing Marty Schottenheimer) because he felt the biggest obstacle facing the team was the playoffs (not the regular season) and that Schottenheimer didn’t have what it takes to get the team over the hump. source
You only have to look at things through the eyes of the New England Patriots fans to really see the uphill battle facing the San Diego Chargers.
The Patriots opened as 15-point favorites against the Chargers, and that number could go higher as the San Diego injury situation unfolds. Tens of thousands of Patriots fans are scrambling this week to get to Glendale, Ariz., for the Super Bowl, and most of them will book nonrefundable flights. Why not? The players and coaches have to keep up the charade; the fans and media do not. This is such a lopsided matchup that Tom Brady [stats] is thinking of spending a couple of days in Mexico with Jessica Simpson, just to make it fair. source
Tim Ryan, former defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears now Sirius NFL host, thinks the Chargers have a chance to slow down the Patriots vaunted offensive machine.
“Their ability to cover and their ability to force turnovers gives them a great shot to at least limit what Tommy can do,” Ryan said. “They are also very good tacklers. So yeah, they have a chance. Will they do it? I don’t think so, but I think when you size up all of those dynamics of them as a defense, they’re salty, they’re aggressive, they like to blitz, they can rush the passer, they can play coverage.
“I think they have the pieces in place to be able to match up with New England. They’re a whole different animal now than when they played them in September.” source
Even if they do slow down the Pats on offense and stop Randy Moss, can they score enough points without Rivers to contend?
All the Patriots know is that it is not Peyton Manning, no matter who is the quarterback.
NFL Football Fan Question Do you give the Chargers a chance?
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Tags: antonio-gates, bears, billy-volek, chargers, chicago, colts, detroit, football, indianapolis, injury, LaDainian Tomlinson, lions, marty-shottenheimer, mcl, new-england, nfl, norv-turner, patriots, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, playoffs, Randy Moss, san-diego, sprain, tim-ryan, Tom BradyRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, LaDainian Tomlinson, NFL Football, New England Patriots, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Randy Moss, San Diego Chargers, Tom Brady
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