We may all agree to disagree, but I just think the Chargers are definitely not where they were around the time of the two big 2nd half comebacks. They struggled in a number of games against questionable competition, really putting in just one quality game against Denver at home, in a game with a bit of a misleading score. They struggled to beat the Raiders, Bills, Cardinals and Seahawks, and didn't exactly do much against the Chiefs besides for a couple of long LT runs. This isn't exactly devastating competition we are talking about here, the Chargers were big favorites in all of these games. Rivers has had a number of bad games in the 2nd half of the season, has to be a worry if you lay more than a FG.
You all can argue it all you want, but power ratings are unemotional. Sagarin's pure points predictor says Pats are 2 points better. Usually the NFL lines reflect these ratings fairly closely, when they deviate its almost always a case of a public team or a team coming off a huge win. I normally don't bet dogs in this week of the playoffs, but have a hard time staying away from this one. Once again I am putting almost no stock in what the Pats did years ago, I am looking at exactly what teams are going on the field right now.
I don't care who was better in October or at any of these points far back in the season people want to talk about. I think the Pats are the best team playing and we shall see how my opinion plays out.
arty:
