January 16, 2008
The New York Times
By Judy Battista

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots Coach Bill Belichick set the tone for the
week Tuesday when he delivered a blistering accounting to his players of
the Chargers’ strengths. Then, he backed up his argument by passing out
a sheet full of glowing statistics attesting to the Chargers’ worthiness
as the next team to try to end the Patriots’ perfect season.

The Patriots are favored by 14 points.

But Belichick was taking no chances that his players might not fully
comprehend how much the Chargers have changed since the Patriots blew
them out, 38-14, in Week 2. So he detailed for the Patriots and for
reporters how, over the last eight games, the Chargers have allowed an
average of 13 points, have scored an average of 28.5 points, and how
Chargers opponents turned the ball over 48 times.

That is why nearly every Patriot who spoke Tuesday noted that the
Chargers were the best team in the A.F.C. during the second half of the
season. The fuzzy logic continued when Belichick said that the Chargers
— because they played in the wild-card round — actually have a better
record than the Patriots since Thanksgiving.

“They’re good, they’re real good,” said Belichick, sounding slightly
exasperated that everyone in the media room was not following his line
of thinking. “They beat the Colts twice. I don’t know what else they
need to do or can do. They couldn’t do any more. They’ve done everything
they could do since that middle part of the season.”

Belichick, perhaps looking to cut off any distractions, was even more
edgy than usual in his news conference Tuesday. He repeated the phrase
"it’s a one-game season" at least three times. His voice was tinged with
incredulity when someone asked about whether the knee injury sustained
by quarterback Phillip Rivers, who is listed as questionable, would
impact his preparation.

When a reporter tried to ask an obligatory weather question — the
forecast calls for temperatures in the teens — Belichick cut off the
question, jumping in: "I’m not really too worried about the weather. I’m
worried about the Chargers, that’s who we’re playing."

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