AFC Championship Game – Patriots / Chargers Prediction, Preview

The San Diego Chargers wrecked all neat plans made by everyone waiting for another Patriots-Colts death match for AFC supremacy.     The Indianapolis Colts were defending Super Bowl Champions.    It sure didn’t feel that way this season, due to the NFL death grip applied by the New England Patriots, reeling off 17 straight in maniacal fashion.     The Colts nature is not to go parading for attention, as opposed to their alter-ego that also got flushed, the Dallas Cowboys.

 

The Chargers have the opportunity to slay the best regular season NFL team ever this weekend in New England.    The Patriots appear unbeatable, but as San Diego proved last weekend they are capable of winning on the road, against a Super Bowl-caliber team.    Here though, we must differentiate between very good and 17-0.     These Patriots are the goods.   They can smash you, they can beat you by a field goal, they take what you give them, and have kept the right side of the ledger oval since Labor Day.   

 

Quarterback Tom Brady is truly patient, a surgeon with a red, white and blue scalpel, initialed by Bill Belichick.     Belichick has this team primed.     I cannot imagine a letdown, especially after what the Chargers did to Indianapolis.    You know that Coach “sky is falling” will preach the message that anything can happen, and to not take a team that was not expected to be in the AFC Championship Game lightly.

 

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers may not go thanks to an injured knee.     If that is the case, backup  Billy Volek will again be pressed into action.    Look, I was impressed as anyone by what  Volek did when all the chips were down versus the Colts.    However, that was one big series, while here he will face 17-0 for an entire game.    

 

The Chargers are a great story.    They are fire hot and are not afraid obviously of playing on the road in a big spot.    They have the heart of a champion, but the Patriots have the same, are at home, don’t mind playing in the cold, are 17-0, and are arguably the best team ever.      This is not a knock against the Chargers.       The task is too much for anyone.     San Diego’s time is coming for a title perhaps.     Just not in the middle of 19-0.     Patriots, 31-20.

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