Division Playoff: LA Chargers vs Patriots 1/13/2019

[PatsFan2003]

Aw come on, take one for the team.
Pretty please?

Well if you hear of an incident of road rage on the Long Island Expressway with multiple crashes and fatalities you'll know who's involved!

 

[YankeeRebel]

Sunday's forecast: Definitely cold, possibly snow, maybe a blizzard?

Subaru owners have nothing to worry about.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I have trouble with that because Brady has never played defense. Rivers is 0-7 against the Patriots and his defense has been beaten by Brady

The Chargers last played the Patriots in Sept. 2011 and in Sept. before that. Because of the way the teams have finished in previoud seasons, the Patriots have played against the Chargers in San Diego most of the time in the past 20 years. The Pats did beat them in SD in a playoff game. 2018 is a different year and different teams with the same QBs.

Pats DEF/OFC personnel is not the same as it was in the previous 7 games and the same for the Chargers...basically we're pitting the 2018 versions of these teams together.

The Pats have pretty easy marching orders here on DEF...effect the QB. If they do, they will win. It might not be good passing weather...sets up as a good old school cold weather playoff game.

 

[PatsFan2003]

Subaru owners have nothing to worry about.

Hey I own one of those!

 

[YankeeRebel]

Hey I own one of those!

Smaht guy

 

[redseat]

Brady did look better the last game so theres that to look forward too. But if he gets happy feet again the Patriots could be in trouble. Hunter Henry is back from IR for this game. Wonder how he handles coming back and if h will be used.

 

[BigKen]

Things are finally breaking right for the Chargers and just when that's happening, here comes the dagger of Los Angeles potentially having to play in a nightmare, east coast weather game against the Patriots on Sunday.

The first playoff matchup between Philip Rivers and Tom Brady since the 2007 season -- which will be on CBS (and streaming on CBS All Access) at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, by the by -- will not only feature the oldest combined age of two quarterbacks in NFL playoff history (78 years between them!) but it also might feature some seriously funky weather.

We are six plus days out right now, but it's worth noting that as of right now there's a decent chance we see some serious snow for the Rivers-Brady matchup.

That's a 50 percent chance of precipitation with a high below 32 degrees (a.k.a. freezing). For you non-meteorologists out there -- I took Weather and Climate twice in college so you didn't have to -- that means it would be snowing and potentially snowing like crazy. The timeframe of the current weather event lines up perfectly with the 1 p.m. ET kick too.

The Weather Channel is also calling for 50 percent chance of precip as well as very cold temperatures, so snow is looking like a possibility.

Locally, WBZ's Jacob Wycoff says the forecast is a little more optimistic for the Chargers chances of getting some sunny California weather. Or at least sunny weather anyway.

It's not hard to imagine Gillette Stadium caked with snow in January. It's one of the sights you imagine when you think about the Patriots and the playoffs.

The Chargers, with their California roots, probably prefer not to see it.

 

[TP76]

Skippy staying put.

 

[Southieinnc]

Smaht guy

I have a Surf, Japanese market version of a pathfinder.
So if it ever snows here I'll be golden!

 

[YankeeRebel]

I have a Surf, Japanese market version of a pathfinder.
So if it ever snows here I'll be golden!

Never heard of it. All Wheel Drive?

 

[Southieinnc]

Never heard of it. All Wheel Drive?

I mistakenly said Pathfinder, that was my last vehicle.
I'm driving a Surf which is the Japanese market version of a 4-runner......

 

[Rex Racer]

I'm not seeing snow in my long range forecast for Sunday. Temps will be in the low 20's with light (5-10mph) winds from the north.

That's brisk, but not brutal............................. unless you've been living in Southern California.

The game hinges on two things;

Give Brady a little time to throw and he will carve up the Charger defense. Being able to run the ball effectively early will set up play action and that is what the Pats do best.

Get to Rivers and he will make one or more big mistakes. He got away with a few horrible throws against the Raisins and NE has to make him pay for those.

 

[BigKen]

Chargers play a strict Zone Defense. Two safeties back about 15 yards from the line of scrimmage, two CB about 5-7 off the line. Linebackers are responsible for the TE and RBs coming out of the backfield. It will critical forCannon and Brown to push Bosa and Ingram wide so that Brady can step up. This is the kind of defense that Brady has historically had 400+ yard passing games.

This is also the type of defense that really struggles with passes to Edelman cutting across the back of the DL and having the slot CB trying to keep up.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Chargers play a strict Zone Defense. Two safeties back about 15 yards from the line of scrimmage, two CB about 5-7 off the line. Linebackers are responsible for the TE and RBs coming out of the backfield. It will critical forCannon and Brown to push Bosa and Ingram wide so that Brady can step up. This is the kind of defense that Brady has historically had 400+ yard passing games.

This is also the type of defense that really struggles with passes to Edelman cutting across the back of the DL and having the slot CB trying to keep up.

Agreed. Those screens over the middle may force the Chargers to try something different. Dorsett and Edelman could be a real threat and I think the RBs out the backfield as well. Look for Gronk to be a blocker this game a few attempts to keep them honest but I feel our smaller faster guys are the key.

 

[Shoeshine Boy]

If I was the Chargers I'd shake things up a bit for this...Brady usually does quite well against Cover 3 teams. Gronk is a shell of himself, it would be a waste of James to put him on Gronk at this point...let James play a hybrid LB role and shadow the RB'scoming out of the backfield all day. Let Nwosu and/or Phillips hang with Gronk. They showed they weren't afraid to mix things up against the Ravens last week, if they're smart they'll do it again.

 

[YankeeRebel]

If I was the Chargers I'd shake things up a bit for this...Brady usually does quite well against Cover 3 teams. Gronk is a shell of himself, it would be a waste of James to put him on Gronk at this point...let James play a hybrid LB role and shadow the RB'scoming out of the backfield all day. Let Nwosu and/or Phillips hang with Gronk. They showed they weren't afraid to mix things up against the Ravens last week, if they're smart they'll do it again.

True while they mixed it up they still played zone exclusively.

 

[richig07]

I lean Chargers, but think it will be a great game

 

[Shoeshine Boy]

The Patriots announced Tuesday that they promoted tight end Stephen Anderson from the practice squad. They placed tight end Jacob Hollister on injured reserve in a corresponding move. Hollister is out with a hamstring injury, which kept him sidelined six games.

 

[BigKen]

The weather is going to be a major factor for the Chargers. They have not played in rain, severe wind, Temps below 50 degrees this entire season. They may think that they're macho and can handle anything but the first hit in 20 degree temps with a 15 mph wind that brings the wind chill down to 0 brings reality quickly.

Rivers is having a good year, actually better than average but he hasn't tried to grip ballthat is as hard as a rock and as slippery as an eel. QBs that don't have experience in these elements, tend to try to grip the ball further back thorw it at a higher trajectory to get the ball where they want it to go. Because they can't grip the ball the same, their accuracy becomes limited . Rivers is no spring chicken either, he's 37 years old and taking a hard hit in the cold is not easily shaken off.

Another thing that most people don't think about is that breathing is more difficult in cold weather. people who do not live in this area need more than 24-48 hours to adjust.

A perfect example .........This morning I awoke at 5:00 am. I let the dog out and it was snowing a heavy wet snow. The flakes were about the size of a quarter to a half dollar. I had a light breakfast and a coffee and got dressed and went out to clear the front porch and an area to get my car. Under the 3" of fresh snow was a layer of frozen rain on a 2" layer of slush. I probably cleared a total of 180 square feet and I had to go inside and rest. I needed to get to some warm air so I could expand my lungs and catch my breath. It was 33 degrees outside. At 8:00 am I went back out and it was 38 degrees and I used the snowblower and cleared off all three cars and the rest of the driveway and patio. No problem.......

I've lived up here for my entire life and i know how difficult it can be to work in the cold. The Chargers will be at a distinct physical disadvantage if the weather is not warmer than 35 degrees with any wind. If it's snowing they will be exhausted by the fourth quarter. Playing football at the NFL level is difficult and taxing in perfect weather or inside a dome. It's punishing in the elements.

 

[TP76]

Weather is way, way, way over-rated, and won't be a factor. We've been in the high 30's/low 40's in the mornings, so they can somewhat simulate it.

Also in California, if you want colder, you go up in elevation... it snows, even here in San Diego county.