as i've been minding my own business this past week, i couldn't help but notice that there had been an exponential increase in chargers jerseys being worn around as compared to other weeks. i suspect it's a result of last sunday's epic upset of the colts that leaves the norv turner-led chargers one game from the super bowl. although, it's equally likely that i just keep running into chargers players who are, for whatever reason, wearing their own jerseys out in public. but since i don't think that ladainian tomlinson bags groceries in his spare time or that shawne merriman is actually a 5-year old asian girl whose parents make her wear a helmet when she's playing on the jungle gym, i doubt this is the case.
either way, people around here are understandably excited about this week's game in new england. this is in direct contrast to two weeks ago when the chargers nearly had to blackout their first round playoff game against the titans on local tv due to not having sold out their tickets. the forecast called for a light rain which in san diego means schools are closed, canned food and bottled water is re-stocked, and windows are boarded up. as such, many residents decided they'd rather watch the game from the comforts of their homes as opposed to in person with a rain coat, umbrella, or worse, galoshes. but even so, i wouldn't describe san diegans as fair weather fans, unless you meant they generally cheer their teams on in fair weather. it's just that their priorities are a little different. given the few years i've lived here, this is how i would rank where i think the common san diegan's rooting interests lie:
- the beach
- the chargers
- surfing
- the padres
- the san diego zoo
- quang
- fish tacos
- seaworld
- reggie bush
- the white sox
anyways, the more i've talked to chargers fans, fair weather or not, the more i've been told that they, the chargers not their fans, are going to make the patriots the league's first 17-1 team and advance to the super bowl. at first i just assumed it was delusion and hysterics from overzealous fans who had just eaten spoiled fish tacos. but then i started to talk myself into it too. they've beaten the colts twice, they've won eight straight games, their defense is playing well, their running game is superior, why can't they win? oh, because the patriots have won seventeen straight, their offense is the most potent in the league, and their coach doesn't lose or give extended handshakes or wear collared shirts. well, no one said it was going to be easy, other than a few chargers fans at work who told me "it's going to be easy", but i have a feeling this game might be more competitive than i originally thought.
new england comes into the game as 14-point favorites while san diego limps in with questions surrounding the status of three of their best players. tomlinson is expected to play, but if he can't, mike'n'ike turner is a more than capable back up. rivers is probably the most questionable, having injured his knee against the colts. if he doesn't suit up, the chargers will hope billy volek can play nearly as well as he did last weekend while also finding time to taunt fans. to me, the chargers' biggest health concern is that of antonio gates, especially if volek is forced into action. gates has posed tremendous match up problems for most teams this year, and against an old and slow patriots linebacking corps he'd likely continue this success. the patriots defense can be exploited, but is san diego's offense healthy enough to do so?
if i were a die-hard chargers fan, my biggest concern is defensively trying to contain new england's nintendo-like offense. of course, if they had a game genie this would be no problem as they could just start the game with 50 points, turn offsides off, and give jamal williams infinite lives. but since performance enhancers are frowned upon, they'll have to face the patriots' frightening passing attack straight up. therefore i think the key to this game is going to be the battle in the trenches between the chargers defense and the patriots offensive line. if merriman, shaun phillips, jamal williams, luis castillo and company can generate the type of pressure we've seen in games past, it would certainly help slow down the new england offense.
unfortunately though, new england's offensive line is an impenetrable and immovable fortress that has kept king brady upright and throwing darts at his loyal subjects. well it's a metaphorical fortress, i'm pretty sure building a moat in front of your quarterback is not allowed. regrettably, i don't know enough about line play to know anything beyond "that offensive line is good" or "that offensive line is bad. me hungry". but since tom brady has not once had to wash his jersey after a game this entire season, i'm pretty sure new england's falls into the first category. of course, you probably already knew that. but did you know that in addition to being good, they're all white? all of them. not just the starters, every offensive linemen on the patriots is white. this is fascinating to me. new england is the only team in the league where this is the case. they're also the only team that hasn't lost this season. and since this is a copycat league, i'm afraid in a few years roger godell might have to implement another rooney rule for o-linemen.
all things considered, i don't share the optimism that my fellow san diegans do about this game. between injuries and the glaring fact that the patriots are a pretty good football team, things just seemed stacked in new england's favor. it also seems like the chargers have already had to overcome so much just to get here that i don't know what they have left. but like most people across the country, i'll be rooting for san diego all the same. though unlike most people across the country, i'll be rooting a little harder for the beach.
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