By Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton • Fri, Sep 16th, 2011
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers at last weeks game against the Vikings
It is only week two of the NFL season, but this feels like something akin to a playoff weekend when the NFL calendar reads January, and the Chargers road trip is to New England.
If you draw a circle, you start at the top, go round the side, down to the bottom, backup the other side, and finish at the top. We are starting the circle in Gillette Stadium late Sunday afternoon. By the time we finish the circle, come late in the season, these two teams might well be facing each other again.
It's not too early to think this is a preview of a possible AFC-Championship game at the end of the season. Two elite quarterbacks, two gifted creative coaches, two talent-laden rosters. Sunday's outcome might determine where the next meeting could be held, another words, home field advantage in the playoffs. It is a new season, with new players. But there is history here that you might not be able to ignore, or avoid.
The dueling quarterbacks, the mad bomber that is Chargers thrower Philip Rivers, and the gifted pin point passer that is Tom Brady. Rivers is (0-4) vs New England; great games, close games, games his San Diego team did not win. Brady is (5-2) against San Diego, clutch wins, more touchdowns than interceptions, and key postseason victories.
It is a matchup of the Chargers head coach Norv Turner and the creative genius of Bill Belichick's defense. Turner historically has designed explosive offenses, and Rivers is his prize pupil. Belichick, with the dynamics of Brady, has surrounded him with a defense that is historical in accomplishments. Quarterback sacks, takeaways, locking down receivers, keeping people out of the end zone are what New England is all about. Just like big bomb plays, special teams kicks, and lots of yards is what San Diego has been all about.
There are so many other great storylines going towards Sunday. The Chargers bring athletes onto the field. The explosiveness of WR-Vincent Jackson, the tenacity of TE-Antonio Gates, and the relentless blitz package San Diego is developing with Shaun Phillips and new defensive coordinator Greg Manuskey.
The Patriots bring intelligence to the field. Brady's 3-step drop setups to negate the pass rush. The Patriots use of hybrid tight ends and unknown receivers. The bulk-beef and belligerence of defensive linemen like Vince Wilfork and the controversial Albert Haynesworth. And the longtime perspective that when you line up and play Belichick's teams, be prepared for defensive looks you have never seen before.
NFL games are all about matchups. Can San Diego's veteran offensive line move the massive New England defensive front to create running room? Does New England have the size in the secondary to defense the Chargers big receivers and still have enough people to cover the multi-talented tight end? Will either team be able to run the ball? Can Rivers throw into the maze of defensive zone packages New England plays?. Can Brady get the ball out of there before before the Chargers blitz package gets to him?
And of course there are the other storylines. Both teams suffered real injury jolts in weekend one. Goodbye defensive end Luis Castillo and farewell to field goal kicker Nate Kaeding. Similarly, New England lost its starting center and one of their big body defensive ends. A broken leg, torn knee ligaments, a fractured ankle, and a concussion were all part of the Sunday postgame reports last weekend. All hands on deck would have been nice, but I fear losing a big defensive end and your trusted veteran field goal kicker, will hurt San Diego.
Rivers has dazzled you with his 4800-yard passing seasons. Brady rewrote the record book by throwing for 517-yards just last Sunday. Playing in this game always brings a surprise. New England going to a no-huddle early. The Chargers going to a spread package and attacking downfield. The Pats springing a running game you had not seen before, or unveiling the fiery Chad Ochocinko as a slot receiver. San Diego throwing to running backs and tight ends to chip away at the Patriots durability then going deep on them.
And there are the intangibles too. Legendary and beloved New England owner Robert Kraft lost his wife to a long battle with cancer during the summer. As she died, he remained at work, an integral part in settling the longtime lockout. The memory of Myra Kraft will be honored before the Patriots home opener. San Diego has to deal with a very short work week, a cross country flight, and less time to get ready for this venture into New England.
Past scores don't really mean very much, because teams change on a year to year basis. But you must pay attention to some history. The Pats are (65-17) in this shiny new stadium, one of the best home field records in modern day NFL action. And Norv Turner's teams have not played well on road trips to the East Coast and deep South against good teams. Turner is (4-12) in San Diego in these Eastern Seaboard-Dixie matchups, and the Chargers are (0-3) in Foxborough.
They start to draw the circle Sunday in New England. By the time we get to the end of the season, we may complete the circle and see Rivers-vs-Brady, Norv-vs-Bill, the Bolts-vs-Pats in the playoffs in January. This weekend may well determine where that next game might be played.
Until Norv Turner changes history, no one can convince me Belichick will lose at home in this one. It will be wild, it will only count as one game, it will be worth watching.
Final score, New England 35-San Diego 31. This one will be the prelude to the next one. Bolts-Pats, as good as it gets, and it is only week two of what will be a fascinating season.
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