AFC: Tough to swim against the stream on this one. The Colts were the last best hope for somebody to beat the Patriots. San Diego came up with an heroic effort last week, but it’ll be tougher to play undermanned for a whole game, knowing it going in, than doing it on the fly.
The Chargers best hope is their defensive line, and they have to avoid the Jaguars’ mistake from last week, roll the dice and try everything to pressure Brady. It probably won’t work, but pull out the stops, for God’s sake.
Patriots 45, Chargers 13.
NFC: One theory about the Eagles’ struggle this year is that in a year when Andy Reid needed his assistants most, some of them weren’t there. Like Steve Spagnuolo, the former Eagles’ linebackers’ coach who left a year ago to become the Giants’ defensive coordinator.
Spagnuolo has by all accounts done a brilliant job coaching up a Giants’ defense that probably isn’t that talented. The point: It’s possible that no team in the league (OK, except the Pats) has been coached as well as the Giants. They are arguably better than the Pack on defense, in the ground game and on the offensive line. They’ve won nine straight on the road, perhaps because being away from the Big Apple seems like a vacation for them.
Given the weather in Green Bay, it’s not gonna feel like a vacation today. But I love the Giants’ kharma right now. They feel like a loose, fearless team playing with house money.
Giants 23, Packers 20.
If logistics (family schedule, etc.) allow, we’ll try some live or quasi-live blogging with the games tomorrow.
Peace
