San Diego at New England
Time: 11 a.m., Patriots by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 21-14 at San Diego on Sept. 29, 2002
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer played LB for long-lost Boston Patriots from 1969-70. As a head coach, Schottzie 6-1 against his former club. … Chahguhs finally got ye olde pigskin in LaDainian Tomlinson’s hands last week. Dude responded with 192 yards rushing, six catches vs. Giants. L.T. caught 100 passes in 2003, but hadn’t caught a ball in ’05 until last week. … Talk about clutch. Since Pats’ Super Bowl run began in 2001, Adam Vinatieri has made 21-of-23 field goals in the fourth quarter. … Pats an uncharacteristic minus-3 in turnovers. … Chargers’ Keenan McCardell leads league with four TD catches. Now if Drew Brees just had some confidence in someone else. No other San Diego receiver has found the end zone.
Prediction: Chargers 20, Patriots 19
