The LA Chargers found a way past the Baltimore Ravens last weekend, taking advantage of a poor showing from the Ravens and they now find themselves on the road again, this time heading to New England.
While the Chargers will be pleased to have reached this stage, based on what we saw last weekend they are going to have to really up their game if they want to trouble the Pats in this one. When going up against Tom Brady, if you are giving chances then you have to put them away, you cannot settle for field goals against him, he will defeat you if you do that. Last weekend the Chargers had four solid attempts at scoring in the first half and every time they came away with a field goal, they cannot afford the same again, and they will know that.
If you want a positive from last weekend for the Chargers then that has to be their defensive play, which was very impressive. They focused on the running game that Baltimore have and ensured they didn’t have a chance to get going. Brady offers a different challenge as he likes to throw the ball, but after a huge confidence-boosting performance away from home in Baltimore, the Chargers will fancy their chances again.
After two losses in Miami and Pittsburgh, Brady and the Patriots won their last two regular season games at home to steady the ship. They will no doubt have spent the week off last week getting ready for this one, allowing them to focus on the Chargers in the days leading up to this one and get prepared for the game ahead.
If the Chargers are to win here, their offence must keep up with Tom Brady, and you don’t do that by scoring field goals, they have to put touchdowns on the board. Just how well Brady does is something that the Chargers defence will be looking at, and while they face a completely different type of player here, they will be looking to replicate last week’s performance against Baltimore.
LA have to be better in this one, and I think they will be. However, I still don’t think they have enough to go to New England and win this one, so I will be backing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to reach yet another championship game next weekend.
