The New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Divisional Round with the winner getting a chance to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
One half of the AFC Championship Game is set. The winner of the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers battle at Gillette Stadium Sunday afternoon will have to travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on Patrick Mahomes II and the Kansas City Chiefs.
That makes the “Miami Miracle” game really sting now. The Patriots make one tackle and they would’ve had an opportunity to host the AFC Championship Game. But, let’s not overlook Chargers.
Actually no one is overlooking the Philip Rivers and Chargers. A team 8-1 on the road with a dangerous offense and defense has many overlooking Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots even at Gillette Stadium, even coming off a bye.
With an aging quarterback and two offensive weapons in Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman who haven’t shown their dominance in the regular season, the Patriots haven’t given fans or foes much to be confidence about. Any predictions about a New England win is mostly based off nostalgia.
The Chargers have simply been the more talented and consistent team. But the more talent teams don’t always win in the playoffs.
Give Belichick an extra week to prepare for a team and most of the time that talent is neutralized. That’s where a team out to give it everything they got will shine. The playoffs are where unknown players make a name for themselves and where players counted out show they still have that playoff magic. Ready for the hype, look below:
In other words, don’t ever count out the New England Patriots. Get ready for 60 minutes of football.
How to watch Los Angles Chargers vs. New England Patriots
Location: Gillette Stadium Foxborough, MA
Kickoff: Sunday, January 13, 2019 1:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS (Check local listings)
Streaming: fuboTV
In a game that could very well come down to individual matchups, here are three crazy predictions that are more realistic than you may think.
Welcome to “Sack”-boro
With frigid temperatures, the talk of this game will be the New England Patriots defensive line, particularly their edge rushers.
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The most underrated element of the Patriots entire team is their ability to pressure the quarterback. Many experts are focusing on the sack totals and the fact they don’t have any big-name defenders. But the number actually show the Patriots are near the top of the league in pressure percentage.
They have faced some scrambling quarterbacks who were able to get away from that pass rush, but Philip Rivers is not that type of quarterback. If the secondary play is solid, that extra time Rivers will have to hold the ball will allow for the rush to get there.
The Patriots defense, not the Los Angeles Chargers defense will have more sacks in this game. Trey Flowers, Deatrich Wise, Adam Butler and Adrian Clayborn (if active) will consistently be around Rivers. Some exotic blitzes will also create chances for Kyle Van Noy and Dont’a Hightower to make plays on the quarterback.
How Philip Rivers adjusts will be the key in this game. If he is able to get off some quick dump off throws that result in big plays, it could cause Bill Belichick and Brian Flores to ease up a little. Even with that, Rivers will hit the ground more than Tom Brady will in this game.
Tight ends once again supreme
This is setting up to be a game in which the real Rob Gronkowski rises from the dead in Undertaker fashion.
If you are not familiar with the WWE, the Undertaker is a wrestler who rises just when he appears defeated. Guess that can sum up the 2018 New England Patriots as a whole. And referencing the WWE here was done on purpose.
Why?
That appears to be Gronk’s next career choice once he is done with football. Following a subpar year to his standards and also another season in which he has battled injuries, the end does appear near for Rob Gronkowski.
If that is indeed the case, he will be looking to go out with a bang. Gronkowski will find his dominance again. Tom Brady will get the big man going and the two will connect for over 100 yards and a couple touchdowns.
Tight end Dwayne Allen and Stephen Anderson will also make an impact.
Who is Stephen Anderson?
Just some tight end the New England Patriots have had on their practice squad most of the season. You just know the team will draw up some plays in which he gets a couple catches. In 15 games for the Houston Texans in 2017, Anderson caught 25 passes for 342 yards and a touchdown.
He is capable in the passing game and it will not be surprising if he is the Patriots secret weapon in this one.
The bigger story however, will be the re-emergence of Rob Gronkowski.
Brady goes for 400 yards
With the cliff supposedly near for 41-year-old Tom Brady, he will show that fire and cerebral energy that still makes him a very dangerous quarterback.
With Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram foaming at the mouth to destroy him, Brady will get enough protection from his offensive line to make the Chargers defense play.
With Rob Gronkowski looking like Rob Gronkowski, the ageless wonder will distribute the ball to multiple playmakers.
Speaking of the ageless wonder:
He’ll have a motivated and healthier Julian Edelman to get the ball to in the middle of the field. Brady will also get both Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett involved in the game. With a no huddle approach for most of the game, Tom Brady will show the NFL and all the pundits celebrating his demise that he is not done.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be some plays left on the field, but for the most part the New England Patriots offense will make a statement in this game.
Tom Brady will have the passing game flowing, but it will be complimented with a solid running attack as the quick passing offense will set up running holes for Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead.
If all these crazy predictions are even close to coming true, the New England Patriots will run away with this one and beat the Los Angeles Chargers 38-17.