Los Angeles Chargers: Staff predictions for Chargers-Patriots

The Los Angeles Chargers are trying to do the unthinkable: go into Foxborough and defeat the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.

There are very few things that are constant in this world. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west, the 405 freeway is going to be a mess and the New England Patriots will make the AFC Championship Game. The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to provide a tendency breaker.

The Patriots have been to seven consecutive AFC Championship Games and are looking to make it eight in a row against the Los Angeles Chargers.

This is different for the Patriots, though. This is easily the toughest matchup that the Patriots have had in the Divisional Round of the seven years as the 12-4 Chargers present an extremely dangerous matchup.

Not only is the team better top to bottom, but this also serves as one of Philip Rivers‘ last real chances to win a Super Bowl. Throw in the revenge game narrative from the playoff games from a decade ago and the Chargers are going to be fired up to be the ones to take down the Patriots.

As a Chargers fan myself, I cannot be more anxious for Sunday morning to roll around and get this game over with. I don’t want to look ahead at all. 

Here is how I, and the rest of the LA Sports Hub staff, see this game going down.

Jamaal Artis (18-9): 27-24, New England Patriots

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is 0-7 against the New England Patriots and Tom Brady. For once, Rivers will have the better team going into their matchup, with Melvin Gordon running the ball and Melvin Ingram on defense.

But look at this as the last hurrah for Brady and his Pats. Chargers make it a game but ultimately lose. Sorry, Phil will be 0-8.

Redan Lopez (20-8): 27-24, New England Patriots

No doubt this will be a close one. I’m very conflicted over this, but I cannot bet against Tom Brady at home and New England on a bye in the playoffs.

This game will go back and forth with a ton of lead changes. In the end, I think Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will lead a game-winning drive with a field goal to clinch the Patriots’ berth to the AFC Championship.

Jason Reed (27-4): 31-21, Los Angeles Chargers

I really, really did not want to commit to picking the Los Angeles Chargers just to avoid throwing any bad karma at the team. However, after seeing that Jamaal and Redan literally picked the exact same score, I have to go against the grain and pick my Chargers.

This game scares me. It feels like a game that the Patriots get a lead early and the Chargers continue to knock on the door but can never fully close the gap and lose by a possession. It has all the makings of being that kind of game.

However, if this year has taught me anything it is that the Los Angeles Chargers are a completely different Chargers team than in the past and to expect the exact opposite of what usually happens to the team.

The Chargers have a huge skill gap and that is going to show in this game. I see the defense stepping up huge and limiting the Patriots offense to just three touchdowns while Philip Rivers connects on three passing touchdowns of his own to go along with a defensive touchdown and a field goal.

If the Patriots win this game they will probably somehow beat the Chiefs or Colts and make yet another Super Bowl. Let’s hope the Chargers stop them in their tracks here in the Divisional Round.