Will the Patriots just die already? That’s what a lot of haters are hoping for when the Chargers travel to the Patriots in this 2019 NFL Divisional Playoff showdown. Philip Rivers has never beaten Tom Brady. Go figure. The Chargers come into this one as the 5th seed and fresh off a win over the Baltimore Ravens. LA actually has a better record than New England but goes on the road because Kansas City won the AFC West. New England is 4.5 point favorites according to Vegas. Here’s three reasons why each team can win this 2019 NFL
Los Angeles AT New England (NE -4.5) Sunday, January 12th, 2019: 1:05 ET (CBS)
WHY THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS WILL WIN
1: The Chargers Have The Better Roster
Let’s go position by position. Actually, let’s not. This one is actually really simple. The Chargers have the better running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, defensive ends, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties. I’m being 100 percent serious. This is the worst Patriots roster of my lifetime. They have NO PLAYERS. NONE. ZERO. The Patriots have Stephon Gilmore, Trey Flowers, Devin McCourty, and the slightly better offensive line. That’s it. The
2: The Chargers Have The Better Team
There are two groups of teams in the NFL. There are teams playing with a quarterback on a rookie contract. Then there are teams playing with a veteran quarterback on a veteran contract. Then there are the Patriots who have Tom Brady who takes pay cuts every single year and the Patriots still have a shit roster. How does that happen?
Philip Rivers needs a Super Bowl to cement his legacy. Don’t you think he is tired of watching Eli Manning get credit despite the fact that he
3: The Chargers Have The Better Squad
The LA Chargers just might have been the best team in the NFL this year. Don’t let that stupid 5 seed fool you. If the Chargers played in any other division, they would have a bye. This Chargers team went 12-4 this year. That’s a better record than New England. That’s with no home field advantage. They have been playing on the road all year. This roster is just too good. Point to any spot on the roster (outside of guard) this Chargers team has virtually no holes. The Chargers rank 3rd in the NFL in DVOA. LA is also 7-1 on the road. They thrive off of big opposing crowds. 8-1 if you include the recent playoff win over Baltimore.
WHY THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WILL WIN
1: Home Field Advantage
No one wants to admit this right now but the Chargers aren’t playing very well right now. They held on for dear life against a Ravens team that couldn’t move the ball. They also played the Ravens twice within the past few weeks which means you’re banged up. Philip Rivers and this offense have really cooled off the past three weeks. Over the last three weeks, LA is scoring 18.3 points, 239 total yards, 153.7 passing yards, and a 55.2 passer rating. You’re also going into Foxboro where the Pats don’t lose. There is even a chance of snow on the horizon.
New England is the only team in the NFL undefeated at home. 8-0. They also virtually never lose home playoff games. Tom Brady has been in the league for 800 years and has only lost 3 home playoff games. New England is 11-1 after a home playoff bye which is exactly what takes place in this one. The Chargers are also traveling from west coast to east coast to west coast to east coast. Don’t ask me why the Chargers went back to LA after beating Baltimore. That’s like 10,000 miles of idiotic traveling for no reason. Stupid. Pack for two weeks you fool, Anthony Lynn. That statement alone tells you that the Chargers have no chance.
2: Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history. We know this. However, I want to talk about the job Belichick and defensive coordinator Brian Flores have done with this secondary. Predictably, the Pats found their Malcolm Butler replacement (undrafted J.C. Jackson) and turned him into the best corner in football. It never stops. Why not take the local Walmart greeter too. Jackson has allowed a league-best 42.0 passer rating against. By comparison, Xavien Howard ranks 2nd in the NFL with 62.6 passer rating against. Again, Jackson was undrafted out of Maryland and probably stinks (just like Malcolm Butler does) but this is just what Bill Belichick does. He’s the best teacher in the game.
Philip Rivers has the 22nd ranked passer rating against man coverage. No team plays more man than New England. They trust their guys on islands and it works. Jackson has allowed 0 touchdowns and recorded 3 picks. Stephon Gilmore is allowing just a 46.7 percent catch rate. That ranks 2nd in the NFL. Think about this. Slot corner Jonathan Jones who is as fast as hell has allowed just one completion more than 20 yards. This is Belichick’s bread and butter. Coach up the DB’s. Patrick Chung has been playing since the dinosaurs were around and he’s somehow still productive. Ask Eagles fans how they feel about Pat Chung?
3: Tom Brady
0-7. That’s Philip Rivers’ record against Tom Brady. 0-7. The Chargers will not win because they are not well coached and Tom Brady always beats Philip Rivers. That’s it. Nothing else to it. For those first 7 meetings, Rivers came to battle with fewer pieces. Now he has way more and will still lose. The weapons Brady has stink. Doesn’t matter. The narrative has been that Brady is declining. This is true. Doesn’t matter. Gronk looks like he should retire. Doesn’t matter. Josh Gordon was a failed experiment. Doesn’t matter. The Pats always win this game.
New England will win. They always do. There is no reason that they should win from a talent standpoint. This is the equivalent of Stanford beating Alabama with a brilliant head coach. That’s it. That’s the only difference. New England. Swallow the points. They win comfortable. Always do. No reason to pick against despite the fact that you should. Trust me, that makes sense.
