Talent or Mystique?

Patriots @ Chargers

Sweatshirt Bill and pretty boy Tom Brady take their show on the road to visit the San Diego Super Chargers. All week everyone has been crowning Tom Brady the next Joe Montana and Sweatshirt Bill as a genius. I was shocked to see most of the ESPN experts picking against them and going with the home team.

Tom Brady is amazing. Jabar Gaffney was sitting on his couch after being cut by the Eagles and before that the Texans. Tom Brady made him look like Terrell Owens last week with 8 catches for 104 yards. He spreads the ball around as good as anyone in the game today. Laurence Maroney carried the load last week with 18 carries to Corey Dillon's 10. These two certainly make a formidable tandem to deal with. The Patriots have certainly found their offense lately. Since their shutout in Miami 5 weeks ago, the Patriots are averaging over 35 points a game. Look out Shawne. Tom Brady is going to have to win this game. The Patriots running attack will not have much success against the Chargers front seven. If their is a weakness in the Chargers D it is the pass coverage...which means they better protect Tom Brady.

On defense, they are going to be without Rodney Harrison. They will need the front 7 to get pressure on young Phillip Rivers and confuse him. The front 7 will also need to stop the run and contain LT as much as possible to force this game into Rivers' hand.

Marty Ball is on the hot seat. He has a reputation for not being able to win the big games with his conservative approach. Rumors are that Marty is not going to get involved in the play calling. With Harrison out, Antonio Gates becomes the focus. Rivers will need to find him down the seams to loosen up the Patriots defense. This will cause the LB's to have to play a little deeper and will make the play action and running game all the more important. Phillip comes into his first post season game with high expectations...luckily with LT it makes it all a little easier.

Defensively, Shawne Merriman had a monster year with 17 sacks while missing 4 games due to suspension. Jamal Williams and Luis Castillo are studs up front. The front 7 of the Chargers need to control the game by keeping the rushing attack of the Patriots in check and knocking Brady around. If they don't get pressure on Brady, he will pick apart their secondary.

"The Man" has the Chargers giving 4.5 and the total at 46.5. Tom Brady is a great big game QB, but eventually talent will overcome...i.e. the Chargers are just a better team. They have more talent on both sides of the ball and will win this game. Yesterday I broke one of my rules by giving Peyton Manning points and got burnt. Today, I am going to do the same and hope for a better result. I think the talent of the Chargers is too over whelming to not give the 4.5. Take the Chargers and give the 4.5 for 2 shekels. I also really like the under in this game. I know both teams can score, but this is the playoffs. Things get a little tighter and the game plans get more intense. I love the under enough to make it a 4 star selection with the #2 and #7 scoring defenses on the field.