A disgruntled Rod Rust walking into the Patriots’ locker room waving a two-by-four? No. Gisele misusing the swinging sex chair and wrecking Tom Brady’s back? No. All the bad karma of every Rodney Harrison cheap shot finally coming back to haunt him? No.
What I’m trying to say is that while I don’t think the Chargers will win, I will say this: If the Chargers do win, it’s a stunning, unbelievable blowout. It’s like 21-0 at the end of the first quarter while all of New England stands around, stunned, thinking “This cannot be happening!” An absurd 42-17 beatdown no one sees coming.
San Diego, I think we’ve all forgotten, is one of the most talented teams in this league. Maybe not the smartest, maybe not with the most heart, and maybe not the best-coached team in today’s NFL, but they are player-for-player the most talented squad in the NFL. They are so talented that people are actually beginning to believe that Norv Turner is a good coach! While the play-calling was excellent last week, San Diego simply out-talented Indy, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, the two positions where the Pats have a clear advantage are coaching and quarterback. Those are kind of important. Volek and/or Rivers are no match for Tom Brady. (Now, if Shawne Merriman and friends can get to Brady and knock him out of the game, it’s on.) And I know even this guy has handed it to Norv for his work this year, but I’m not buying it. Plus, let’s not forget that the Bolts have Nate Kaeding kicking with the game on the line. Oh, hell no.
That’s why the Chargers have no shot in a close game. However, if San Diego can get to Brady pretty early, Antonio Cromartie finds out he can actually single-cover Moss, and they force a few three-and-outs . Then they get Tomlinson and Sproles the football in space against the crafty-but-old Pats linebackers and get an early lead, get rolling, and never look back, they can win easily. AJ Smith has been drafting superbly for years now. Also, don’t forget that the Chargers fit the pattern of the last two Super Bowl champs: the team with the best record the year before who was stunned in the divisional round that ultimately redeems themselves the year after. There’s no doubt in my mind they can do it.
They won’t. But if it does happen, it’ll be quite the stunner. And then, to paraphrase Wes Mantooth, we will spell redemption “N-O-R-V”.
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