Like most Patriots fans, I'm feeling much better about the team's chances now than I did at the start of the month. But the next game up scares me. I know San Diego has only a 2-4 record, that they've had some bad losses this year, that they just got beaten by the Rams (the Rams!), that they've lost a lot of talent off last year's team due to trades, injuries, hold-outs, etc. But I have a nagging feeling that this game is going to be much, much harder than it looks on paper. And--after the jump--here's part of the reason why.

This article in today's New York Times Fifth Down blog highlights why the Chargers should have more wins. 

It basically makes the case I was afraid of: that they have underperformed at key times and in key places, have had some key breakdowns that have cost them games, but that by a lot of metrics for measuring football performance, they are actually still pretty good.  It suggests that any week now the Chargers will become the Chargers--a dangerous, dynamic, effective team capable of beating anybody. I rather suspect that is correct. I can't see San Diego finishing up at 6-10 this year. Surely, sooner or later they are bound to put it all together and pile up some victories.

I just hope it doesn't start this Sunday.