Chargers - Ladainian Tomlinson

LT Joined the Chargers back in 2001, when San Diego traded their #1 pick to the Falcons and used their 5th pick to draft the future league MVP. Looking back now, aren’t you glad we didn’t grab Vick! Three years later LT passed Paul Lowe to become the Chargers all-time leading rusher. In 2006 against the Broncos, LT broke the touchdown in a season record. He finished with 31 touchdowns.

LT is a class act. Always the professional. He brings good values and team leadership to a league where most players are finding their way into trouble. He was awarded the Walter Payton award for his “Touching Lives Foundation” off-field contributions.

LaDainian’s Future
LT has 2-3 good years still under his belt. Like San Diego favorites in the past, LT will seek out a contender team, in hopes to add value to their line up and grab a super bowl ring. The big team rumor out there is the New England Patriots where former Chargers Junior Seau, Wes Welker and Rodney Harrison found their Super Bowls. If he becomes another member of the San Diego Sports Curse, I’ll be pissed but I hope LT finds his way to a good team, with quality team mates. The Spano’s have already acknowledged they will retire his number, and they should offer him the 1 day contract where he can retire as a Charger.

Chargers Future
With LT’s departure, the Chargers now have a HUGE hole in their line up. Daren Sproles is not your every down running back. We will have to look toward free agency and the draft to find a replacement for LT. Luckily for us this draft looks to be rich with running backs.

The weekends games start tomorrow and I’m feeling super anxious and excited to see how they all play out. So 8 teams, left and looking across the board I don’t think many people had both AFC Wild Card and Both NFL Divisional teams winning their games. Road victories are touch, and I think all the road teams have their handsful this weekend.

The Match Ups

#4 Phoenix Cardinals vs. #1 New Orleans Saints
The Cardinals sure know how to put up points, but so do the New Orleans Saints. Both teams are historically relatively new to the playoffs. That given I expect to see another high scoring affair, but the difference in the game will be a mistake, and most likely that will be a turn over giving the other team a short field. I’m liking the Cardinals in this game. Can’t put a finger on it… just a hunch.

#1 Indianapolis vs. #6 Baltimore Ravens
The Colts were the hottest team in the NFL for quite a time, with their perfect record, but they finished the season with 2 losses and a bye. They really haven’t played a game for 3 weeks and because of their #1 ranking they didn’t need to. The Ravens come in hot off a strong defensive win in New England. But when these two teams met in Baltimore earlier in the season, Peyton Manning was able to deliver a game winning drive. Ravens are going to have a difficult time keeping up with the Colts at the RCA Dome. Colts win and host the AFC Championship.

#3 Dallas Cowboys vs. #2 Minnesota Vikings
The Cowboys wiped out the Eagles last weekend in Dallas this time. I was quite surprised, but this week the Cowboys won’t have their go-go dancers, err… cheerleaders rooting them on from their stripper poles. Farve is experienced in the playoff and knows how to handle pressure. I can’t say the same for Tony Romo getting his first playoff win last week. Adrian Peterson might be the key to this game. A healthy dose of AP will keep the Dallas Offense off the field and give Minnesota the advantage. Vikings Win.

#2 San Diego Chargers vs. #5 New York Jets
When I first saw the Jets made the playoffs, I thought of the Jets Chargers Wild Card playoff a few years back where a missed field goal cost the Chargers a win. Seeing the Jets come back into San Diego, my mind goes back to that game again, but these are two very different teams. So everyone’s talking about the #1 defense going against the #4 pass happy chargers offense. Somethings got to give, and I believe its going to be the Jets D. Despite their outstanding secondary, I don’t think they have enough personnel to cover all the Charger receivers. I see Norv, putting Gates in motion to the outside, to expose blitz packages, and think Floyd is going to have a field day. Chargers win and head to Indy.

Another week another set of predictions. Championship games next weekend and then the SuperBowl two weeks later.

The Wild Card match ups this week feature three rematches from the previous week and a divisional match up. They are all teams that are familiar with each other, so there should be a lot of action, and a whole lot of strategy by the head coaches.

The Match Ups

#4 Cincinnati Bengals vs. #5 New York Jets
This is the first of the previous week match ups. The Jets dominated the game last week, but the Bengals were very vanilla, not showing anything. the Jets #1 Defense and Head Coach Rex Ryan will have his handful this week, as the Bengals pull out all the stops, against a weaker New York Jets team. Bengals win and travel to Indy.

#3 New England Patriots vs. #6 Baltimore Ravens
This probably is the toughest game to pick. New England is favored by a field goal, but they are also at home, so that means jack squash. Wes Welker, New England’s Wide Receiver (and former Charger Kick Return Specialist) left the game last week with an ACL and MCL injury. Neither team has been exceptional this year, but I expect the Baltimore defense to dominate and second year quarter back Joey Flacco to take a win, and pack their bags to San Diego.

#3 Dallas Cowboys vs. #6 Philadelphia Eagles
The Cowboys wiped out the Eagles last weekend in Philadelphia. No easy task, but they also beat the Eagles earlier in the season at the new Cowboy Stadium. Philadelphia Andy Reid is nearly perfect in the first round of the playoffs, and Dallas Quarterback Tony Romo has yet to win a play off game, but I expect both of those things to change this weekend. Dallas is getting hot at the right time. Dallas wins.

#4 Phoenix Cardinals vs. #5 Green Bay Packers
Another previous week match up, which the Packers won, easily. I would normally say, who cares about this game, either teams will be eliminated next week, but the Cardinals proved me wrong last year, and found their way to a Super Bowl. For that reason alone, I like the veteran Kurt Warner and the Phoenix Cardinals to send the Pack home, ending their season.

There you have it. If I was in Vegas this is where my bets would fall. I’m anxiously awaiting the results of the games to determine who the Chargers, Colts, Vikings and Saints will match up against in the divisional round.

Speaking of… here’s a classic King Stalman commercial:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E8wxvXE1IA]

Let’s face it the Padres haven’t given us San Diegans much of an excuse to support and go see them. Hopefully next season. But the bolts first game is on Monday night against the Raiders and I’m ready for some NFL football. To top it off the AFL and the Chargers are celebrating their 50th anniversary. This should bring out a lot of the older players, throw back uniforms, classic footage, memorabilia and merchandise.

Chargers have not had many changes this off season. We lost Igor to Dallas, but we picked up Larry English and hope Shawne Merriman has an amazing season. Mean while Jay (cry baby) Cutler and Tony Gonzalez left the division, Castle joined the Chiefs, and the Raiders are still making dumb moves that will keep their losing ways for years.

So for the 2009 NFL Season here is my prediction for what they are worth:

Regular Season:

AFC – West: Chargers / Chiefs / Broncos / Raiders

AFC – East: Patriots / Dolphins / Bills / Jets

AFC – South: Colts / Titans / Jaguars / Texans

AFC – North: Steelers / Ravens / Bengals / Browns

NFC – West: Cardinals / 49ers / Seahawks / Rams

NFC – East: Giants / Cowboys / Eagles / Redskins

NFC – South: Saints / Falcons / Panthers / Buccaneers

NFC – North: Vikings / Bears / Packers / Lions

Playoffs:

AFC Wild Cards: Patriots over Titans

AFC Wild Cards: Ravens over Colts

AFC Divisional: Patriots over Steelers

AFC Divisional: Chargers over Ravens

AFC Championship: Chargers over Patriots

NFC: Wild Card: Cowboys over Saints

NFC: Wild Card: Bears over Cardinals

NFC Divisional: Vikings over Cowboys

NFC Divisional: Bears over Giants

AFC Championship: Vikings over Bears

SUPERBOWL:

Chargers over Vikings

They might be a little Charger bias, but I predict a great season. Especially when you get to play 10 of your games against the bottom half of the preseason power rankings.

So its Joke time:

“Why are the Raiders like an possum? Cause they play dead at home and get run over on the Road.”

Oh and my favorite bail bonds commercial here: King Stahlman’s Raider Ad from years back.

NFC West: Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers, Rams
NFC East: Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Redskins
NFC South: Saints, Buccaneers, Panthers, Falcons
NFC North: Vikings, Packers, Bears, Lions

AFC Wild Cards: Cleveland, Jacksonville
NFC Wild Cards: Giants, Packers

AFC Champion: Chargers
NFC Champion: Cowboys

Superbowl Champion: Chargers

nuff said…

Here’s a classic video from years back.