San Diego-they're always going to be that to me-is -4.5 in this game. Anyone else think this is a Chargers win? I'm not impressed at all with this Pats team.
They can beat you multiple ways with their running game, passing game, pass rush, and even specials. So, yeah, I like them against NE. NE is always going to be a tough out especially at home but the Chargers actually have a really good chance.
They can beat you multiple ways with their running game, passing game, pass rush, and even specials. So, yeah, I like them against NE. NE is always going to be a tough out especially at home but the Chargers actually have a really good chance.
Agree with this, but Rivers and his receivers are going to have to be a lot more sharp this week than they were this past Sunday. A lot is made of the Baltimore defense, but LAC's offensive line has been garbage for a month now - every opponent has been getting in Rivers' face quickly. They need to sort that out.
It’s going to be the pats & eagles again anyway. Other teams all made of tissue paper when it’s crunch time this post season.
Cowboys are my dark horse surprise...which would also suck
He has made some really dumb throws/decisions in bad times and he has called himself out on it. If he minimizes the mistakes they can beat anybody. Hell, even if he does male some bad throws they can still beat anyone.
I'm curious about Hunter Henry. At 100% he is definitely an upgrade for them but having not played all season amd coming back from the serious injury I don't think he be anything more than a decoy if active. I wouldn't expect much from him.
Both weeks there is only a single 1pm game on the docket and both times they draw that game traveling as the west coast team to the east coast. If they play their A-game they should win. I like them +4.5 despite the bad spot.
It’s going to be the pats & eagles again anyway. Other teams all made of tissue paper when it’s crunch time this post season.
Cowboys are my dark horse surprise...which would also suck
j
That would suck big time! Don’t see Dallas getting past the Rams their defense is nowhere near as tough away from big D!
I'll be cheering for SD, but Rivers will probably choke Â
and are well set up defensively to stop a Pats offense that has been below its usual standards all season. Definitely think the Chargers are in a good position to win this game. Really looking forward to this one
They don’t lose at home very often and Belichick can beat these other coaches with a roster of practice squad players, I like the Pats in any scenario where they aren’t badly outgunned.
And I always try to give Eli a break for playing with inferior talent than Rivers/Ben had for the majority of his career :)
I also dont think people say too often that Eli lost to a backup QB all of those instances when that was indeed what happened. In reality our defense could not defend the other team which is why we probably lost.
The chargers have traveled over 40K miles this year(they did have the London game). Thats pretty insane. I always wondered how teams manage the jet lag. Im sure they have it down to a science.
Home team advantage is usually around 3 points.... Â
But when it comes to the Pats playing at home, it's even more.....
That being said, let's say the Pats win....and KC wins.....
Will history repeat? A few seasons back, BB rested his players in a game against Miami, lost the game, and has to play the AFC Championship game in Denver, where they lost....
This year, the Pats lost another game to Miami, and if the scenario plays out, they will have to go to KC....Pats have not played well on the road this year....
The chargers have traveled over 40K miles this year(they did have the London game). Thats pretty insane. I always wondered how teams manage the jet lag. Im sure they have it down to a science.
The back to back cross country flights and the early start concern me more than the team histories. Hopefully the playoff adrenaline offsets that but it's a huge disadvantage for the Chargers.
On paper though, the Chargers are much better. They're stronger or significantly stronger in every facet of the game outside of OL and coaching (I'd consider the 2018 versions of both QBs a wash and that's generous to Brady). But this is a Gus Edwards defense with dangerous pass rush and elite defenders at slot corner (Desmond King) and safety, which should offset the Pats two biggest weapons on offense. They'll probably need a huge game from James White to win. The Pats D is better than the sum of its parts but I don't see the pass rush that is necessary to neutralize Rivers and can see Gordon having success on the ground.
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
Why because he's Brady? Not even a question if we're talking careers but it's not hard to see his regression this year. He's been a game manager. A good game manager but a game manager nonetheless. Rivers was rightfully in the MVP discussion and may have had his best year.
LAC have been a fantastic road team this year. It's tough to pick anyone to beat the Pats @ Foxboro in January - but this Pats team doesn't have that same feel to me. I think the Chargers are going to wind up advancing and we'll see 2 non-Patriot teams in the AFCC game for the first time in nearly a decade.
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
Why because he's Brady? Not even a question if we're talking careers but it's not hard to see his regression this year. He's been a game manager. A good game manager but a game manager nonetheless. Rivers was rightfully in the MVP discussion and may have had his best year.
Whats being proven to me over the last month, that Rivers isnt even the MVP on his own team. Yet alone in the NFL.
In his last 5 games without Gordon or Gordon just coming back, he has 6 TDs to 6 INTs and averaging around 225 yards per game.
But two of those five games were against the top defense in football and Brady has been spotty this season as well. Brady has been uncharacteristically spotty. We'll see if he turns it back on in the playoffs but this year's version of Brady was average and not at the level to shut down an argument vs. any of the remaining playoff QBs.
seem to be battle tested in my opinion. Yes I realize NE is tough to beat at home. I think people are underestimating them somewhat, while over estimating this Pats team, who really hasn't played all that well this year.
RE: Supposed to be a lot of snow in Foxborough this weekend. Â
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
Why because he's Brady? Not even a question if we're talking careers but it's not hard to see his regression this year. He's been a game manager. A good game manager but a game manager nonetheless. Rivers was rightfully in the MVP discussion and may have had his best year.
Whats being proven to me over the last month, that Rivers isnt even the MVP on his own team. Yet alone in the NFL.
In his last 5 games without Gordon or Gordon just coming back, he has 6 TDs to 6 INTs and averaging around 225 yards per game.
Gordon is the man on that offense.
Nah. No one really is the man on that offense. It’s a group effort. They have a bunch of different guys who can make plays from Gordon and Ekeler to Allen and the Williams’s.
They’re just a good all around football team.
RE: Rivers didn't finish strong, no argument here Â
But two of those five games were against the top defense in football and Brady has been spotty this season as well. Brady has been uncharacteristically spotty. We'll see if he turns it back on in the playoffs but this year's version of Brady was average and not at the level to shut down an argument vs. any of the remaining playoff QBs.
They didnt play the Bears this year.
But yes, Rivers struggles were primarily against Baltimore late in the year, his offensive line has been putrid for a month now too, and he hasn't had the short range pass catching help (Gordon, Ekeler and Allen) to help offset that a bit (not sure if any of those 3 guys is near 100% by now)
Positively for him, NE doesnt have Baltimore or KC's pass rush... but he'll still need better line play this weekend, and he cant miss some of the throws he missed this past sunday, if they are going to score the 27-30 points they'll need to score to win in Foxborough.
RE: The Chargers are the most balanced team all around this year. Â
They can beat you multiple ways with their running game, passing game, pass rush, and even specials. So, yeah, I like them against NE. NE is always going to be a tough out especially at home but the Chargers actually have a really good chance.
It's going to snow. Chargers have been fortunate with all of their games, even in cold weather cities to have been on balmy days. That's the knock on them. But I agree with your overall assessment.
CBS Sports had Pats + 4.5 a couple of hours ago.
Had to have been a typo.
I want Rivers to win this one badly, but we all know how this ends... Bellicheck never loses this type of game.
Hopefully they at least go on the road for the AFC title game.
Had to have been a typo.
Got me. I know it started at Pats -5.
Agree with this, but Rivers and his receivers are going to have to be a lot more sharp this week than they were this past Sunday. A lot is made of the Baltimore defense, but LAC's offensive line has been garbage for a month now - every opponent has been getting in Rivers' face quickly. They need to sort that out.
Maybe getting Henry back at TE will help too...
Cowboys are my dark horse surprise...which would also suck
I'm curious about Hunter Henry. At 100% he is definitely an upgrade for them but having not played all season amd coming back from the serious injury I don't think he be anything more than a decoy if active. I wouldn't expect much from him.
Didn’t you say Bears by 2 TDS. That was a great pick
I didn't set the line - I just bet it.
Cowboys are my dark horse surprise...which would also suck
That would suck big time! Don’t see Dallas getting past the Rams their defense is nowhere near as tough away from big D!
Pats will win, imo
Concise and on the mark.
How many snaps has Rivers played on defense when they played the Pats?
Quote:
He has never beaten Brady.
How many snaps has Rivers played on defense when they played the Pats?
Doesnt matter. He is 0-7 with 7 TDs and 10 INTs. He has to come through and get that elusive win.
The other losses were:
41-17
38-14
23-20
35-21
23-14
21-13
The one time Rivers faced Cassel, the Chargers won:
30-10
A Rivers-led offense has never scored more than 21 points against a Brady-led team
IMO, it would be more relevant to ask how often Rivers has ever beaten a Bill B defense for example.
And I always try to give Eli a break for playing with inferior talent than Rivers/Ben had for the majority of his career :)
And I always try to give Eli a break for playing with inferior talent than Rivers/Ben had for the majority of his career :)
Quick edit:
You always try to give Eli a break.
And I always try to give Eli a break for playing with inferior talent than Rivers/Ben had for the majority of his career :)
I also dont think people say too often that Eli lost to a backup QB all of those instances when that was indeed what happened. In reality our defense could not defend the other team which is why we probably lost.
Quote:
And I always try to give Eli a break for playing with inferior talent than Rivers/Ben had for the majority of his career :)
Quick edit:
You always try to give Eli a break.
I do like kit kat bars.
That being said, let's say the Pats win....and KC wins.....
Will history repeat? A few seasons back, BB rested his players in a game against Miami, lost the game, and has to play the AFC Championship game in Denver, where they lost....
This year, the Pats lost another game to Miami, and if the scenario plays out, they will have to go to KC....Pats have not played well on the road this year....
The back to back cross country flights and the early start concern me more than the team histories. Hopefully the playoff adrenaline offsets that but it's a huge disadvantage for the Chargers.
On paper though, the Chargers are much better. They're stronger or significantly stronger in every facet of the game outside of OL and coaching (I'd consider the 2018 versions of both QBs a wash and that's generous to Brady). But this is a Gus Edwards defense with dangerous pass rush and elite defenders at slot corner (Desmond King) and safety, which should offset the Pats two biggest weapons on offense. They'll probably need a huge game from James White to win. The Pats D is better than the sum of its parts but I don't see the pass rush that is necessary to neutralize Rivers and can see Gordon having success on the ground.
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
They can rely on their run game + edge pass rushers which is a huge advantage over the Pats
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
Why because he's Brady? Not even a question if we're talking careers but it's not hard to see his regression this year. He's been a game manager. A good game manager but a game manager nonetheless. Rivers was rightfully in the MVP discussion and may have had his best year.
Quote:
come on now...
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
Why because he's Brady? Not even a question if we're talking careers but it's not hard to see his regression this year. He's been a game manager. A good game manager but a game manager nonetheless. Rivers was rightfully in the MVP discussion and may have had his best year.
Whats being proven to me over the last month, that Rivers isnt even the MVP on his own team. Yet alone in the NFL.
In his last 5 games without Gordon or Gordon just coming back, he has 6 TDs to 6 INTs and averaging around 225 yards per game.
Gordon is the man on that offense.
They can rely on their run game + edge pass rushers which is a huge advantage over the Pats
yeah....weather.com has 0% chance of snow.
Zero point zero....
Quote:
In comment 14255435 dep026 said:
Quote:
come on now...
And Michel + White + Burkhed is aa very good RB trio.
Why because he's Brady? Not even a question if we're talking careers but it's not hard to see his regression this year. He's been a game manager. A good game manager but a game manager nonetheless. Rivers was rightfully in the MVP discussion and may have had his best year.
Whats being proven to me over the last month, that Rivers isnt even the MVP on his own team. Yet alone in the NFL.
In his last 5 games without Gordon or Gordon just coming back, he has 6 TDs to 6 INTs and averaging around 225 yards per game.
Gordon is the man on that offense.
Nah. No one really is the man on that offense. It’s a group effort. They have a bunch of different guys who can make plays from Gordon and Ekeler to Allen and the Williams’s.
They’re just a good all around football team.
They didnt play the Bears this year.
But yes, Rivers struggles were primarily against Baltimore late in the year, his offensive line has been putrid for a month now too, and he hasn't had the short range pass catching help (Gordon, Ekeler and Allen) to help offset that a bit (not sure if any of those 3 guys is near 100% by now)
Positively for him, NE doesnt have Baltimore or KC's pass rush... but he'll still need better line play this weekend, and he cant miss some of the throws he missed this past sunday, if they are going to score the 27-30 points they'll need to score to win in Foxborough.
It's going to snow. Chargers have been fortunate with all of their games, even in cold weather cities to have been on balmy days. That's the knock on them. But I agree with your overall assessment.
Yes the Pats will miss Gordon.....Gronk is not Gronk....yet, somehow, when this team has 2 weeks to plan, they manage to come up with something....
I wouldn't be surprised if they lost, buy I certainly wouldn't expect it...