Chargers key in AFC playoffs against Patriots is obvious: Get to Brady
By Jason Cole
Los Angeles puts its 8-1 road record to the test against a New England team that’s undefeated at home.
Can the Los Angeles Chargers bring enough pressure across country to get the best of Tom Brady on Sunday at 1 p.m. in New England?
The Chargers ended the interesting rookie campaign of Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson with a flurry of seven sacks in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Those sacks were part of the relentless pressure the Chargers used to limit Jackson to 14 completions in 29 attempts and force him into three fumbles and one interception.
While Brady’s body of work and physical ability are a long way removed from Jackson in almost every way imaginable, there is one quality the two men share: Neither of them likes pressure.
The Patriots were 11-5 this season, but were 4-4 in the eight games in which Brady was sacked at least twice. New England’s fifth loss of the season came against Pittsburgh, which led the league in sacks this season.
Extending that to the past four years and including playoff games, the Patriots are 27-13 when Brady is sacked two times or more. They are 26-2 when he is sacked either zero or one time.
Given that, the question is whether the Chargers pass rush, which is led by edge rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, will be able to get to Brady enough. The Chargers have gone 8-1 on the road this season and are actually 8-0 outside of Los Angeles County. Their only “road” loss was against the crosstown-rival Rams.
In those eight road victories, the Chargers have 29 sacks, an average of more than three per game.