Colts-Ravens, Eagles-Saints, Seahawks-Bears, Patriots-Chargers

All trends are provided courtesy of Everyedge.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers – Qualcomm Stadium (Grass)

Line: Chargers -5 (Opening: Chargers -4½)

Over/Under: 46½ (Opening 47)

2006/07 Records: Pats 13-4 (10-7 ATS), Chargers 14-2 (9-7 ATS)

Game Time: 4:30 p.m. EST

Key Injuries

New England: Rodney Harrison (knee) is out.

RB Heath Evans (shin) and TE Ben Watson (knee) are both questionable.

QB Tom Brady and DE Richard Seymour will play but are suffering from shoulder and elbow injuries.

Chargers: There are no significant San Diego injuries (once again, first-round bye) but DE Luis Castillo (ankle) and S Bhawoh Jue (knee) are both less than 100 percent.

Key Everyedge Trends

The Patriots have a record of 7-4-1 ATS in their last 12 playoff games, but are only 5-4 ATS in their most recent nine.

New England has a mark of 3-2 ATS in their last five playoff games played on the road.

The Patriots are 3-2-1 ATS in their last six playoff games as a road underdog.

New England is 9-2 ATS in their last 11 road starts (including the loss to Denver in last year’s playoff).

The Patriots are 4-0 ATS in their last four starts and are 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.

San Diego is only 5-5 ATS in their last 10 home starts, including 2-3 ATS in their most recent five.

The Chargers are 1-5 ATS in their last six playoff games (although it is worth noting that the majority of those losses were over a decade ago).

San Diego is 5-8 ATS in their last 13 games as a favorite of four points or more.

WinnerOnline Opinion: Philip Rivers hasn’t played in a truly big game since his days at North Carolina State and dating back to his days in KC, Marty Schottenheimer teams have fallen flat on their faces in the postseason more often than not. LT aside, the Chargers don’t have as much playoff experience as the Pats. Take the Pats outright, or at the very least, to lose by less than 5-points.