Chargers At Patriots (Wildcard Game) | Pre-game Discussion

[Maniaque 6]

The Patriots are # 4 and 6 on passing and rushing offense.
It looks pretty good
The Chargers are #4 on pass def and 8 on rushing def
Don't think NE met a defense like this lately

[dmac_bolt]

Ya, I totally get it (not calling out specific dudes who suck). Makes sense. And it was a smart-ass response. Probably a better way he could have responded. I just think the response, coupled with no real upgrade at center (which I personally think is the most important position on the OL) is as bad as it can get and seemed to support his smart ass statement. Which has me slightly nervous, still, heading into this season, with 11 wins.

I tell myself to believe he’s been chewing on that attitude snark for the majority of the 2025 season, it was a defensive reflex to being challenged but it lacked thoughtful maturity. He’s been reading every “historic worst OL” expert press clipping all year just like the rest of us have. He seemed like a learning machine to me, if he doesn’t learn after 2024 AND 2025 … he’s not able to learn and as much as we love his day 3 DB finds, he won’t deliver us to the promise land and needs to go.

One thing he and Jim are united on - they don’t talk trash about their players ever. I like that for long term player buy in and stability, even if it makes him appear oblivious at times. I don’t believe he is - he’s lying to us

I’m very confident he fully understands and with the excess cap room, he knows what he has to do and is smart enough to go do it. In the meantime - FNE, lets go surprise those chowdaheads and stun the world! I am expecting to see an intensity and enthusiasm unknown to mankind from our Chargers.

(Ok, fingers crossed!)

[dmac_bolt]

It’ll be a great matchup. I believe the Chargers play a lot of zone which Maye thrived against this year. Pats played a cupcake schedule, but they didn’t scrape out wins against the weak teams, they beat them pretty handily. My bigger concern is on D.

Chargers have 2 things that should frighten every team - an upper echelon coach and a top QB. I don’t think either team scores above 25 pts.

Minter does like is cover2 zone, though he can throw a good variety of disguises on the exact coverages. Bigger key is he gets those guys all playing fast at top speed, makes a huge difference over our last HC Staley where every defender was constantly unsure and hesitant. Chargers opened against HOU in zone and got burned bad twice. Minter switched to more man after those two bomb TDs and shut HOU down cold for the next 3 quarters. NE has a very good offense, and Maye is legit - I called him the best QB in his class coming out, no way I’d have taken Caleb over him. He actually reminds me of Herbert, more than any of the other young QBs. NE has a good future with him for a long time.

Minter generally doesn’t blitz, although he blitzed a lot last week vs DEN - can’t really put much on that as he was playing a lot of backups and he might have just been trying some things out given they didn’t try to win the game. Can’t say.

I agree that first team to 25 will win it. It’s always hard to predict how games will unfold - one lean the wrong way by one player here or there for just one second can be the difference between -3 yards and 50 yards. Our key to having a good chance is for Roman to prepare a plan that accounts for his 4th string offensive line just enough for Herbert to even be able to work some magic.

Really enjoy you joining us here - great takes. I agree with your take that yes NE played an easy schedule but they also beat the shit out of many of the teams they did face. May has gotten a lot better as the year went on - Josh has done a great job with him. They didn’t stack up 11 one-score squeaker games like DEN did. I’d rather play DEN - we already beat them once with our starting groups, it’s as simple as don’t let Nix run for 80 yards imo and don’t give up turnovers on your own side of the 50.

[powderblueboy]

This is like the average Pats fan on reddit.

It's like wading through raw sewage.

Yeah, i need a shower after wading through that cesspool.
Here is the typical type of garbage they pedal to self inflate their team:

Rob0729


PatsFans.com Supporter Joined Nov 14, 2006 Messages 52,080 Reaction score 32,629


'The Chargers have lost four of their last six games. All four losses were against playoff teams. Both wins were against teams not in the playoffs. In fact, the Chargers are 3-5 against playoff teams. They beat the Eagles in overtime, Broncos early in the season and the Steelers. They lost to the Jags, Broncos, Texans, 49ers, and Rams. Also they lost to the Colts when the Colts were the best team in the league according to the record.'

[dmac_bolt]

Yeah, i need a shower after wading through that cesspool.
Here is the typical type of garbage they pedal to self inflate their team:

Rob0729


PatsFans.com Supporter Joined Nov 14, 2006 Messages 52,080 Reaction score 32,629


'The Chargers have lost four of their last six games. All four losses were against playoff teams. Both wins were against teams not in the playoffs. In fact, the Chargers are 3-5 against playoff teams. They beat the Eagles in overtime, Broncos early in the season and the Steelers. They lost to the Jags, Broncos, Texans, 49ers, and Rams. Also they lost to the Colts when the Colts were the best team in the league according to the record.'

Lol, he counts preseason games. Good one …

Last Bronco game we played all backups, literally did not try. FFS …

[gzubeck]

Denver and Patriots are the biggest pretenders in the AFL. The best teams are the Chargers, Texans, and the jaguars...I just don't think the Steelers and Bills have enough juice to make an impact this year.

[Gronk87]

With the Charger D, it always comes down to whether they can slow down the run.
When teams don't consistently run the football, the passing game gets bottled up, and I think that is how it would bear out with New England.

If New England has success running the football, I don't see our offense keeping up.

On D, New England's top sack man, Harold Landry, has been nursing a knee injury for the last quarter of the season.
If Herbert has time to throw, they`ll pick apart the New England secondary. That has been true every game this rare event happens.

Pats strength on D is their outside corners, C. Gonzalez and C.Davis. I think they can take away Allen and Johnston in man. Gonzalez is young and was an all pro last year and made the pro bowl this year. Davis was a free agent pick up and had a good season opposite Gonzalez. It’s McConkey and Gadsden that worry me if Herbert has time. I know the Chargers tackles are injured, but how are they up the middle? Milton Williams is a good interior pass rusher for the Patriots.

[NoMoreChillies]

Chargers came out after the bye on fire

hoping for something similar from this *bye

[jamrock]

The development of the Chargers defense into a hard hitting physical unit has been a welcome sight this year. Guys like Denzel, TJ, Tart, Derwin and Mack are making their presence felt. I heard Vrabel describe the Chargers as a tough physical team today and we haven't heard that in a while. They're gonna need that with Stevenson and Treyvon Sunday night. Our defense needs to carry us in the playoffs

[21&500]

Can't leave this up to the refs.
come out swinging.

[Rock Lobster]

Denver and Patriots are the biggest pretenders in the AFL. The best teams are the Chargers, Texans, and the jaguars...I just don't think the Steelers and Bills have enough juice to make an impact this year.

Were gonna find out if Herbert or Maye are pretenders.

[Boltx]

This entire week is going to feel like waiting to go to the dentist to get a root canal - just get it over with and break our heart, Bolts. That way we can at least move on to scheming our offseason.