Is there really any reason to think the San Diego Chargers (13-5) can go into Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday and beat the marching-to-history New England Patriots (17-0)?
Oddsmakers don't think so, as the Pats are nearly two-touchdown favorites on WagerWeb.com.
After all, the Pats already spanked San Diego 38-14 in Week 2, and that's when the weather was more conducive to a California team than it will be this weekend, with temperatures expected to be in the teens.
And did I mention that San Diego's top three offensive players are hobbled?
Quarterback Philip Rivers and running back LaDainian Tomlinson left Sunday's Divisional Round upset over the Colts with knee injuries.
"They are going to be listed as questionable," coach Norv Turner said of their status for the AFC Championship Game.
Tomlinson, the NFL's leading rusher for the second consecutive season, did not return after leaving in the second quarter with a bruised left knee.
"I think I'll be ready," said Tomlinson, who carried seven times for 28 yards Sunday.
Tomlinson said he will spend countless hours with the team's trainers in an effort to play.
"I'm going to do whatever I can to be out there," he said, "and hopefully, I will be. I'll listen to what they want me to do and work hard, but I think I can do it if I just give it a little rest, too."Rivers was 14-for-19 for 264 yards and three touchdowns before he got hurt late in the third quarter while landing awkwardly after throwing a pass.
He expects to play and actually said he could have returned vs. the Colts if needed.
"I don't know at this point," Rivers said of starting vs. the Patriots. "But I certainly plan to [try]."
Meanwhile, Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates played against the Colts with a dislocated toe but was clearly affected and only caught two passes for 23 yards.
Gates said he may have aggravated the injury; he wasn't even expected to play against the Colts.
"The way I feel today, I don't know," Gates said Sunday while hobbling away from the RCA Dome in a protective boot. "I'm putting weight on it, running, cutting. The only thing is, I'm not supposed to be doing it. It is a dislocated toe."
"The thing about a toe is you play on it and you actually make it worse than it was. I can't guarantee I'll play the next game."
Gates will see a specialist Monday about his dislocated left big toe and then begin the process of seeing whether he can play another game.
"The foot is a weird thing, man," Gates said.
If Rivers can't play, Billy Volek, who replaced him Sunday and led the Chargers' on a game-winning fourth-quarter scoring drive, will start. If Tomlinson can't play, his backup, Michael Turner, who rushed for
71 yards on 17 carries against the Colts, will start.
If Gates can't go, Brandon Manumaleuna, a blocking tight end who caught just 10 passes this season, will replace him.
"I think we're a lot better football team than we were when we played them in September," Turner said. "I know they're a lot better football team. I hope we can rally and get healthy so we can go in there and give it our best."
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