[OLD HEAD]

Tough call tonight. Leaning toward the Patriots hoping the distractions of Viedogate had no influence on the Pat's focus. I think they are pretty equally matched but defense and the kicking game of the Chargers bother me.

Patriots -3.5 (1) Unit
Good Luck!

SUNDAY NIGHT

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-0) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0)

SERIES

CHARGERS
PATRIOTS

SERIES LEADER

17-13-2 Patriots
STREAKS
10 of past 12 Patriots
COACHES VS. OPP. Turner: 1-1
Belichick: 3-4

LAST WEEK
W 14-3 vs. Bears... Chargers Win
W 38-14 at Jets....Patriots Win

LAST GAME
10/2/05: Chargers 41 at Patriots. San Diego snaps New England's 21-game home win streak. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for 2 TDs.

LAST GAME AT SITE 10/2/05

BROADCAST NBC (8:15 PM ET): Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer (Field reporter). Westwood One Radio: Dave Sims, Bob Trumpy. SIRIUS: 123 (Westwood), 126 (SD), 122 (NE).


STATS

PASSING Rivers: 22-31-190-0-1-73.3
T. Brady: 22-28-297 (3C)-3 (T2C)-0-146.6 (1L)

RUSHING Turner: 10-41-4.1-0
Maroney: 20-72-3.6-0

RECEIVING Gates (TE): 9 (T2L)-107-11.9-1 (T3C)
Moss: 9 (T2L)-183 (1L)-20.3-1 (T3C)

OFFENSE 263.0
431.0 (3C)

TAKE/GIVE +2 (T3L)
0

DEFENSE 202.0 (2C)
227.0

SACKS Cesaire, Phillips, Weddle: 1.0
Vrabel: 2.5 (1L)

INTs McCree: 1 (T1L)
---

PUNTING Scifres: 40.7
Hanson: 53.0

KICKING Kaeding: 2 (2/2 PAT; 0/1 FG)
Gostkowski: 8 (5/5 PAT; 1/1 FG)


NOTES
CHARGERS: Club has won 11 consecutive regular-season games.
QB PHILIP RIVERS has 15-2 record (.875) as starter highest among active QBs. Rivers has 97.0 passer rating in road games.In 4 meetings vs. Patriots (incl. 06 Div. Playoff),
RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON is averaging 137.0 rushing yards-per-game with 7 TDs. Tomlinson has 4 career 200-yard rushing games with 1 vs. Patriots (217 yards on 9/29/02).
RB MICHAEL TURNER averages 5.9 yards per carry for career.
TE ANTONIO GATES led team with 9 catches for 107 yards (11.9 avg.) & posted 4 receptions for 39 yards (9.8 avg.) on 3rd down last week. Gates aims for 10th career 100-yard game. Gates totaled 6 receptions for 108 yards (18.0 avg.) in last meeting vs. Pats.
For career, WR VINCENT JACKSON averages 16.4 yards-per-catch.
Chargers defense did not allow TD last week & forced 4 turnovers. Had 3 INTs vs. Patriots in AFC Divisional game (1/14/07).
LB SHAUN PHILLIPS, DE JACQUES CESAIRE & rookie S ERIC WEDDLE each recorded 1 sack last week.

PATRIOTS: Club has won 5 consecutive home openers.Pats defeated Chargers 24-21 in AFC Divisional Playoff (1/14/07).
BILL BELICHICK (125-84) is 1 of 4 active head coaches with 125 career victories (JOE GIBBS, 163; MIKE HOLMGREN, 160; MIKE SHANAHAN, 140)
QB TOM BRADY connected with new WRs (RANDY MOSS, WES WELKER & DONTE STALLWORTH) for 16 comp. for 263 yards & 2 TDs last week vs. Jets. Brady is 22-1 (.957) as starter on artificial turf.
Pats are 6-0 when RB LAURENCE MARONEY has 15+ carries. Had career-high 20 att. vs. NYJ in Week 1.
WR Moss leads league with 183 receiving yards.
LB JUNIOR SEAU played with Chargers for 13 season (1990-02) & made 12 straight Pro Bowl appearances from 1992-2003 (incl. 03 season with Mia.).
LB MIKE VRABEL has 3.5 sacks in last 2 regular-season games.
CB/KR ELLIS HOBBS returned kickoff 108 yards for TD last week, longest KR in NFL history & tied for longest play in NFL history (CB NATHAN VASHER & WR DEVIN HESTER).