How the West was Won
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Just some thoughts on Sunday’s amazing victory: At the end of the game I was ecstatic, but I could not believe that we had pulled off the win. Many sports writers picked the Pats in the game based solely on intangibles like the New England post-season mystique and prior performance (11-1 in the playoffs w/ 3 superbowl rings). Many people said that we’d need to play mistake-free to beat a Chargers team with superior talent. It was not a perfect game from Brady and luck was involved to some extent, but San Diego made the lion’s share of mistakes, mostly from the play calling perspective and dropped passes and interceptions.
One stat I heard on WEEI’s Dale and Holley show today: Sunday was the first playoff game in NFL history in which a team won while throwing over 50 passes. The running game was virtually non-existent, rather like the win against the Vikings in week 8 when we abandoned the run and focused on a weak secondary. The feared Shawn Merriman was blocked and frustrated at every turn, and as Rosevelt Colvin bounded through the locker room after the game he let out a triumphant yell “Lights out!”. Beating such a respected team could only charge up the team as they move on to face another tough opponent.
Looking ahead to next week’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, as usual, the strategy should be completely different. The pass rush should not be as fierce against Brady, and the Colts defense has displayed horribly poor tackling, but it is a fast defense. I like our running game stepping up in this one, and after a game in which no Pats running back carried more than 8 times I like how rested we will be at that position. Next Sunday I think will make the absence of safeties Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson conspicuous as we haven’t exactly stopped Peyton Manning for a couple seasons now. Stopping running backs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes will be crucial since Manning likes to work off play action once the run is established.
Sunday was a invigorating victory which could propel the New England Patriots to a fourth Superbowl ring, but the Colts will be a huge hurdle and, as Teddy Brushci says, these victories are never easy.
Reader Comments
Nice, article. I think there might be a chance that Rodney Harrison will be back this week! I doubt it, but he must be angry, it is the team that he got his first injury to.
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Peyton Mannning is ‘working’ on building up his inner self in hopes the Colts will beat the Pats in the playoffs. YES, he’s in therapy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QGdyb6AG2s
He’s going to need it!
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First, congratulations on your victory. Personally, I was confident my Chargers could easily handle any team in the league, with the exception of the Saints (they have destiny on their side) and the Patriots (you have the best coach on your side).
Both teams made a boatload of mistakes, both physical and mental, the Chargers just had a bigger boat. San Diego fans are very disappointed, just as you guys are elated.
I want you to know that not all of San Diego feels irate about the Patriots celebrating after the game. Yes, it seemed a little over the top, but you guys were the underdog, and did come from behind, so celebrating should be expected. Dancing Merriman’s signature dance on our field logo is a little classless, and I wouldn’t be surprised if in the locker room this week a few veterans on your club take the youngsters aside and teach them about wining with class (something the Patriots are known for).
The only way to make sure that another team doesn’t ‘disrespect us’ on our home field would be to win the game in the first place. That didn’t happen, so the Chargers, and the city of San Diego, should just shut up about it. You won, we’ll just have to deal with it.
I’m sure the two teams will play next season, try to remember how bad we felt now when we beat you next year.
In the meantime, good luck the rest of the way, and say HI to Rodney Harrison, many of us miss him dearly.
Mark in San Diego
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