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TEAM TALK
- Andy Hart previews the Los Angeles Chargers headed to Gillette Stadium in the divisional round on Sunday.
- Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate which Patriot other than Brady is most important to the team’s success in the playoffs.
- Angelique Fiske reports Devin McCourty surprised a young friend battling sickle cell with two tickets to this year’s Super Bowl.
- Don Banks’ Snap Judgments, Wild Card Weekend: Musings, observations and the occasional insight on a low-scoring but nevertheless riveting first round of the NFL playoffs.
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Tom Brady spends time with throwing coach during playoff bye week.
- Ryan Hannable’s Sunday 7: History shows Rob Gronkowski can turn things around, have monster divisional round.
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots Sunday news, AFC East notes: Since 2001, the Patriots have had 13 byes, the most in the NFL.
- Michael Hurley tells us all we need to know about the Los Angeles Chargers: They’re good.
- Doug Kyed previews Patriots vs. Chargers: What gives New England the playoff edge?
- Tom E. Curran gives us five things to know and/or ignore this week about Pats-Chargers: Gus Bradley matters.
- Ryan Hannable believes the Patriots got the worst-case scenario, having to face the Chargers in the divisional round.
- Karen Guregian also calls the Chargers the worst-case scenario, for the Patriots to have as their next opponent.
- Tom Keegan suggests we pray for ice, snow and bitter cold at Gillette Stadium as apparently bad weather is the Patriots’ best hope to beat the Chargers.
- Christopher Simoneau (FullPressCoverage) Reports of Patriots’ death just another internet rumor.
- Andrew Callahan offers his first impression of Patriots-Chargers, with kickoff set for Sunday, Jan. 13, at 1:05 p.m.
- David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Patriots to face off against Los Angeles Chargers in AFC divsional round.
- Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Chargers beat Baltimore, sets up great matchup with New England: These aren’t your dad’s Bolts.
- Matt Dolloff says now that the divisional round is set, all that’s left to do this week is hype it all up.
- Joshua Schrock notes Philip Rivers and the Chargers ‘really don’t care’ about the Patriots’ dynasty. “Any squad, any place... we’ll be there next Sunday.”
- David Latham (LastWordOnSports) Why Tom Brady is poised for another playoff hot streak.
- Kevin Duffy calls the Chargers the most accomplished divisional round opponent for the Patriots in the past decade.
- Zack Cox agrees and adds since losing to the Jets at home in 2010, New England has gone a perfect 7-0 in the divisional round, with the win over the Ravens the only one worth remembering.
- Bob George (PatsFans) After a crazy weekend, Patriots are on to the Chargers.
- Joshua Schrock suggests Tom Brady will struggle against the Chargers because even though he won both playoff games in the past (last time in 2007) he struggled in those games.
- Nick Goss also points out that Tom Brady’s playoff stats vs. the Chargers aren’t encouraging.
- Tom Brady posts an Instagram message to the Chargers: “See you next Sunday in Foxboro! Let’s have some fun! #LFG”
- Karen Guregian tosses out some superlatives that help capture the 2018 Patriots season.
- Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) A quick look ahead to the Patriots 2019 offseason: There’s no better weekend than wild card weekend when you’re on the bye week.
- Evan Lazar and Alex Barth explain why the Los Angeles Chargers will be the toughest test for the Patriots. (6.45 min. video)
- WEEI notes that the Patriots’ point spread is the closest of all divisional round games.
- Evan Lazar shares his film notes on Trent Brown to see if the Patriots should resign the left tackle this offseason.
- Steve Doerschuk (CantonRep) Josh McDaniels very interested in Browns job.
- Joshua Schrock NFL Rumors: If Josh McDaniels leaves, Kliff Kingsbury could be replacement. /Could this be the Brady/Kliff?
NATIONAL NEWS
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady, Philip Rivers will be oldest pair of playoff starting quarterbacks.
- Brad Gagnon (Bleacher Report) Chargers finally giving Philip Rivers clear road to elusive Super Bowl title.
- Gary Gramling (SI) Sunday Freakout - Wild-Card playoffs takeaways: The cruelest end for the Bears, Ravens offense solved, Dak gets it done.
- Albert Breer (SI) Monday Morning QB: The Eagles, Chargers, Cowboys and Colts advance—and look dangerous.
- Peter King (ProFootballTalk) FMIA Wild-Card Weekend: Double-doink misses, grass-green stains and one golden grab.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Sorting the Sunday Pile: Nick Foles magic rolls on, Philip Rivers gets revenge, Lamar Jackson boos unfair.
- Around the NFL (NFL.com) Twelve things we learned from Wild Card Weekend.
- Jay Cohen (AP) Rivers versus Brady in divisional round of NFL playoffs.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) All four home teams favored in divisional round.
- Marcus Spears and Damien Woody (ESPN) Who do you trust in the playoffs: Brady, Mahomes or Brees? (1.37 min. video)
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots prepare for Josh McDaniels to leave (unless he doesn’t, again).