I can understand why alot of folks, including many football pundits, are picking the Patriots to upset the Chargers. Belichik and Brady verses Rivers and Marty ball. Looks like a big mismatch no matter how you slice it.While I understand why it makes alot of sense to pick the Patriots to upend the Chargers this week-end here are some reasons why I think the Chargers are going to beat the Patriots.

1. The Chargers have three of the best players in the league at their position including the most valuable player in the league. While Tomlinson gets the majority of the press Antonio Gates and Shawn Merrimann are two great players in their own right. Merriman is a beast who is going to raise havoc with the Patriots and Gates has the potential to help slow down the pass rush I expect from the Patriots and keep the chains moving.

2. Although Philip Rivers is in his first year he really doesn't need to do much except give the ball to Tomlinson and hit a few short passes to Gates and Tomlinson. And, once the Patriot defense is softened up a bit they should get some big plays down field....and....don't turn the ball over!


3. Marty is not the same coach who has failed time and time again. He "has" loosened up quite a bit and I think he will come out with a more aggressive offensive game plan than the past. Call it a hunch...

4. The San Diego players are highly motivated...They have been sitting around all week listening to the pundits and the media give New England a lot of love... and...if you want to know how far motivation can take a team just take a look at what happened with the Boise State Broncos and Florida Gators over the past couple of weeks...

5. Home field advantage...Charger fans are underated...They are not like their laid back Southern California cousins from L.A. They are much more like the crazy passionate fans in Oakland

6. The Charger team is underrated. Because Tomlinson gets so much attention a lot of people aren't aware of how many good players the Chargers have on both defense and offense. They have a lot of big tough working class guys who are going to go toe to toe with the big bad New England players.

7. New England is not as good as the past and while Tom Brady is a great player I don't think he will be able to overcome the Chargers advantage at all of the other skill positions. New England may come up with a game plan to slow down Tomlinson which may work in the early part of the game but keep an eye on what happens in the third and fourth quarters when those big guys in the trenches start to run out of gas....and....Merriman is a terror with a non stop motor which won't stop until after the Super Bowl...and... If and when San Diego gets a lead watch out for the beast who is going to make life uncomfortable for Brady and the rest of the offense....Final score....San Diego 24 New England 13....