AFC Championship Prediction: Chargers Over Patriots

Crunch time Sunday. The last stop on the road to the Super Bowl begins at 12:00 p.m. January 20^th for the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers. The Patriots tromped Jacksonville 31 to 20 last Sunday and were hoping for a re-match with the Colts who denied them the AFC Championship in 2007. No such luck: San Diego bolted past the Colts with a 28 to 24 win. So who stands to win this Sunday?

No players are listed as definitely out for Sunday's game on either team, but Patriots Tom Brady, Stephen Neal, and Donte Stallworth were listed as limited participation in practice on the injured list. Mel Mitchell and Ryan O'Callaghan didn't practice.

San Diego mouthpiece quarterback Philip Rivers may have to sit on the bench during Sunday's big game, right next to "Superman," LaDainian Tomlinson, due to injuries suffered in last Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Antonio Gates, Jamal Williams, and Shawn Merriman are also on the injured list this week and doubtful for the AFC Championship Game.

So with a trio of starters iffy for the Championship, can the Bolts beat the Pats?

With an impressive pass-rushing defense, the Chargers are going to make Tom Brady work for his supper. The Chargers have more sacks and less fumbles than the Patriots. Add an equally tough rushing offense - nearly twice as many yards as New England in the last five games played (Patriots 118 for 383 yards, Chargers 155 for 706 yards) - and the Bolts may upset the Pats and hand them their second in a row AFC Championship defeat.

If, that is, they can avoid penalties and interceptions (they threw 8 compared to the Patriots 3 in the last five games) and find a way around the instinctive weak-side linebacker Tedy Bruschi and the passing game of the Pats. Compared to the Chargers 1031 passing yards in the last five games, the Patriots 1515 passing yards make it no big surprise that they are favored to win.

But they were picked to win last year against the Colts. The Chargers and coach Norv Turner are on a nine-game winning streak. They may just surprise Bill Belichick and the Pats and make it ten.