Game Predictions

Well, here we are on the eve of the AFC and NFC Championship games. We here at redsoxandstuff.com have listened to all the experts opinions on the two match-ups tomorrow and with that said, have ignored all of it and have come up with our own predictions based on nothing other than good old fashioned instincts. So, here they are....

Patriots 27
Chargers 17

Packers 24
Giants 13


Packers vs Patriots in the Super Bowl!

What's with all the hate?

All the hype and talk over the upcoming Patriots game this weekend vs the Chargers has me thinking, why all the hatred toward the Patriots? When did it all start? What are the reasons? The best that I can seem to come up with is this: In America we love a winner....as long as you don't win too much. It wasn't too long ago that the Patriots were America's darlings. It was in the aftermath of 9/11 when the Patriots took on the St. Louis Rams as huge underdogs and it seemed like everyone in the country was pulling for them. They were the little engine that could. A team full of role players and no one gave them a chance. I guess the only thing that Americans really love more than a winner is the little man trying to beat a giant. Just six years later here we are looking at a team that has started from humble beginnings and turned themselves into a dynasty.

Why is it that in America we all strive for perfection but when someone else is knocking on that door, we turn on them and try to tear them down? What is it about people that makes them turn their backs on a winner? What have the Patriots done to deserve all the hatred except for winning? Spygate you say? Well let's really look at that.

The Haters will say: They cheated in that first game and don't deserve all the credit they have received for this season.

A Pats fan will say: How the hell is cheating in one game, the first game, going to help you go undefeated over the course of a season? Yes, they cheated, they got caught, and they paid the price. Besides, everyone tries to steal signs in professional sports.

I am partial to the second line of thought.

The Haters will say: Bill Belichick is an arrogant jerk!

A Pats fan will say: Bill Belichick is a great coach who keeps his players in line and accepts nothing short of perfection from his players. Besides, he doesn't get paid to be Mr. Personality, he gets paid to win football games. Which, by the way, he does better than anyone else lately.

The Haters will say: The 1972 Dolphins were a better team.

A Pats fan will say: Who gives a shit what you think about that? The two teams will never play one another and it is impossible to say who would have won. The fact is this, the Pats are the best team in football right now.

But what is the truth? Could that one game have possibly given the Patriots an edge over every other team in the NFL? Surely a rational person can't believe that. Can they?

I believe it's as simple as this: We as people look for any reason to unleash our jealousy and envy upon a winner. Apparently it is just easier for people to take a negative and run with it than it is to give credit to a team who has built a dynasty upon hard work and a "team first" attitude.

To true fans of the game I say this: Enjoy this very special season. It is something that will not come around again anytime soon. To all the Haters I say this: jealousy is an ugly quality and the fact that you can't appreciate something special when you see it is just plain sad.

Internal Communication

We at redsoxandstuff.com have gotten our hands on an internal communication from the city of San Diego

To All City Employees:

The San Diego Chargers have had a great season and are in the playoffs again! The Chargers have a playoff game this Sunday against the New England Patriots in Foxborough , Massachusetts . The winning team will represent the American Football Conference (AFC) in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 3, 2008 in Phoenix.

In honor and support of the team, Mayor Sanders is encouraging all City employees, and all San Diegans, to show their team spirit by wearing Chargers colors – blue and gold - or appropriate team attire this Friday, January 18th.

Please encourage your co-workers and employees to proudly wear Chargers attire on Friday as we cheer the Bolts on!

We at redsoxandstuff.com are looking forward to receiving the follow up on Monday which we imagine will look something like this:


To All City Employees:

Our apologies for making you buy into and believe that the Chargers actually had a shot in hell of beating the Patriots this past weekend. For all of you who wore the blue and gold on Friday we recommend you burn the clothing and go back to enjoying the sun and the surf because the Bolts just can't seem to get the job done. Mayor Sanders apologizes for any mental anguish this request may have caused. The city of San Diego will make it's mental health professionals available at no charge between the hours of 10:00-2:00 for anyone who needs to talk.


PS

We will be using a new cover sheet for all TPS reports. Thaaanks.

Patriots vs Chargers

As the Patriots prepare to play the Chargers on Sunday it appears that Bill Belichik has taken some time to share his thoughts on the chargers with his team. Tuesday morning Belichick held what some people are calling his "toughest morning meeting to date". During that meeting he shared the Chargers stats with the team and stressed that they had the best stats in the game since December. He also referred to the Chargers as "the best team in the AFC" during his press conference. I guess it is possible that he forgot that the Patriots are also in the AFC, but I kind of doubt it. This game is being sold as a blow out in the making by the media and Belichick is making sure that the Patriots don't believe the hype. After the meeting, Richard Seymour was quoted as saying:

“I don’t know why there’s this perception that we’re just going to run over the Chargers, that all we have to do is show up and the game is won. We’ll be going home if we take that approach. That’s the bottom line. We’ll be going home.”

We have seen throughout the season that Belichick is a master at keeping his team both focused and humbled. Not one peep of trash talk has been heard out of the Patriots camp. Not one ounce of disrespect for their opponent, and no talk of taking this game lightly. It is hard to believe that Belichick has been able to keep a team with so much success so grounded in reality.

On the other side of the ball are the Chargers.

This is a team that, last year, couldn't say enough about the "lack of respect" that was shown by the Patriots after their infamous post game celebration in San Diego. Leading that team at the QB position is Philip Rivers, who it seems, makes a second career out of talking shit. For a team that is so focused on respect they, may want to look behind their center and have a word with their "leader". From his trash talking directed toward Jay Cutler, to his confronting of a fan in Indianapolis, it is clear that he is far from being an example of class and respect. I only wonder what LT had to say about that to his QB. My guess is nothing.

Then there is Igor (who's name really does a good job of describing his appearance and mental capacity) who just couldn't help but put his foot in his mouth the other day with his comments. I guess he didn't see the Patriots humiliate Anthony Smith after making his "guarantee", or he did and he's just too dumb to know better.

Will the Patriots blow the Chargers out this weekend? I don't know. What I do know is this: two great teams will step onto the field this Sunday, and at the end of the game, one team will go home and the other will go to the Super Bowl. Smart money says the Patriots will be on their way to Phoenix. But then again, there's a reason that they play the game.

One piece of advise for the Chargers: Win or lose, remember the words of Ron Burgundy and "Stay classy San Diego".

Igor Olshansky?

I would like to take a few short moments to address the following comment by Igor,

"Who? New England?" Olshansky said. "Seriously, I mean, they're more worried than we are, I promise you. Believe me. They know what's up."

The who? Well Igor let's go back to week 2 of the season, does 38-14 sound familiar? Maybe you've blocked out the ass whipping that the Pats laid upon you because it was too painful to cope with. I guess that would explain the amnesia.

They know what's up? I bet they do Igor. I think "what's up" would be that they are a team with a perfect record going against a team who is physically beat up that they just happen to have beaten the last two times they met.

I guess come Sunday we'll all see what's up, out there, on the field.

SOME QUESTIONS

The last round of the playoffs is now upon us and with that we now know which four teams will be fighting it out to get to the Super Bowl. With that knowledge, it leaves me with questions.

1. Should the Chargers lose to the Patriots (and they will)

• Will LT cry like a baby, as he did in 2007, after losing to the Pats in the post season?
• Will Philip Rivers finally shut his mouth and stop yapping like he's won something?
• Will LT change his 'if we play them 10 times we beat them 9" to "if we play them 10 times we beat them 7, maybe"?
• Will Merriman do his stupid dance at midfield anyway just to make himself feel better?
• Will any Charger player challenge Terrel Owens for weepiest post game interview of the season?

I can't help but wonder.

AM I WRONG?

Is it just me or does the relationship between Jessica Simpson and her dad border on very, very creepy? Do you think that when it comes time for Romo and Jessica to get into the sack that he's curled up at the foot of the bed like the family dog? How many other dads out there make comments to the media about their daughters rack like “She’s got double-D’s! You can’t cover those suckers up!” Take a look at this picture taken by dear old dad. Now listen, personally, I'm grateful that he took it, but it still doesn't make it normal. I'm actually sitting here wondering if the indentation in the other pillow is from her dad spooning her prior to the picture being taken. What do you think?

Just for conversation purposes I've added one more picture to make my case.

Creepy.