On Brady, “if LT were healthy”, he would’ve rushed for less than 100 yards and maybe scored a TD… like he now routinely does in the playoffs. Big deal. On Rivers, was he really going to play that much better than he did? Really? If so, how would a healthy Rosie Colvin have impacted that? Just curious… if we’re going to play the “if he was healthy” game.

San Diego may have the most talent, top to bottom, of any team in the NFL… but fortunately, they’re mental midgets. If they ever get the mental acuity to match their physical skills, *then* they’ll actually be as good as they think they are. And only then, Mr. Olshansky, might the Pats *actually* worry more about the Chargers than the Chargers worry about the Pats. Until then, the Pats can rely on the fact that whatever the talent gap working against them, they can more than make up for it with the mental edge working for them.

All that said, its too bad Rivers runs his mouth so much… after what he did to play in the AFC Championship Game, and considering how well he played, I could really like him a lot. Unfortunately, I just cannot get past his punk attitude. Who knows… maybe that’s part of what helps him perform well. Dunno - but I wouldn’t mind if he were more Peyton/Brady in his personality, and less… TO.

And on LDT, the best RB in the game right now - and I won’t even argue about that with the AP fans out there - but something about him bothers me. Perhaps he’s just a quiet guy, and that’s it… but is sideline demeanor bothers me as well: (a) His team is playing huge playoff games in Indy and then NE, and he’s out hurt (which I don’t doubt, fwiw), but he’s just moping rather than doing what he can to help the team’s energy, emotion, etc. (b) After the game last year, he says the Pats and their coach are classless. Um… as he *seen* his own team in action? I agree that what the Pats did after that game went over the line, but I understand they did it cuz they were sick of the Chargers act. Memo to LDT: You get what you give.

And if the Chargers want to play the “if” game… then what would’ve happend *if* they’d had a real NFL head coach instead of Norv Turner. On the Pats 36, 4th-and-5, down by 9 with 9 minutes to go… and he punts? That was the *worst* thing he could. Heck, it would’ve been a “better” decision to try the 53-yd FG in that situation. Now, that would’ve also been a bad decision (given the wind conditions, and Kaeding’s seeming inability to hit a big postseason kick) - but it would’ve been better than punting. Clearly, he needed to go for it. Heck… throw one downfield to give your big WRs a chance to make a play on the ball - and if they don’t catch it, maybe the refs make some phantom PI call. Yaneverknow. But do something that gives your team a chance to get points while you have the ball in a game that’s drawing to a close.

What’s more likely, that his offense makes a game-changing play at that point - or that his defense (facing Tom Brady) makes a game-changing play at that point? Dumb move.

Someone suggested that if Belicheck were coaching the Pats and Norv were coaching the Pats, then the Chargers probably would’ve won that game. I’m not sure that I can argue that point, to be perfectly honest.

And I *still* can’t figure out how Norv Turner coached his team past the Colts. He’s still not that good a coach.

Read: He’s a stud.

Read #2: EFF all those SD players and fans playing the ‘we almost beat them’ and ‘if LT and Rivers had been healthy’ cards.

Btw, I like Ron Jaworski, I really do, but I’m sick of his tired act. Does he really feel the need to claim that he can scientifically pinpoint the time in the game where Brady got hurt and analyze it’s impact on the game?

I’m undecided between the following two scenarios: (1) He tweaked the ankle a bit on Sunday and it was recommended that he wear the walking cast for a few days just as a precaution, and/or (2) He knew he’d be videotaped walking to his supermodel girlfriend’s apartment and decided to have a little fun (recall that he’s been on the weekly injury report with the same “shoulder” issue for the past three or four years or so).

In short, much ado about nothing.

P.S. No… I don’t think it had anything to do with his poor performance last Sunday.