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One of the biggest differences between winning and losing in the NFL is injuries. Take a look at SD.
Last year they finished a pedestrian 8-8 after losing Merriman in week 1. Incidentally, that is the same week that Brady went down to much more fanfare, but losing Merriman had at least as big an affect on the Chargers as the Brady loss had on NE.
This year the Bolts are 9-3, looking strong, and challenging for the #2 seed in the AFC.
We have played most of this season without Troy or Aaron Smith. While Smith is on IR and seemingly forgotten, he is a key component to this D. To make things worse, the replacements are Tyrone Carter, Ryan Mundy, Nick Eason, Ziggy Hood.....and Kirschke when he is not hurt.
I'm not making excuses, I'm not saying that we should not have beaten KC, Oakland, Cincy (twice), or Chicago. I'm simply pointing out the reality that we are a much better team with those two players in the lineup, and probably do not suffer those same 6 losses by a grand total of 21 points.
Five of our losses were by three points! The other by six. Last year were 6-2 in games decided by a TD. This year we are 1-5 in games decided by three or less, 1-6 in games decided by 6 or less. Get the picture? We are easily a Troy/Smith away from battling for the 2 spot. Healthy and we compete - injured and we fold. Let us hope that when injuries hit us next year they will not be in positions where our backups create as big a drop off.
Last year they finished a pedestrian 8-8 after losing Merriman in week 1. Incidentally, that is the same week that Brady went down to much more fanfare, but losing Merriman had at least as big an affect on the Chargers as the Brady loss had on NE.
This year the Bolts are 9-3, looking strong, and challenging for the #2 seed in the AFC.
We have played most of this season without Troy or Aaron Smith. While Smith is on IR and seemingly forgotten, he is a key component to this D. To make things worse, the replacements are Tyrone Carter, Ryan Mundy, Nick Eason, Ziggy Hood.....and Kirschke when he is not hurt.
I'm not making excuses, I'm not saying that we should not have beaten KC, Oakland, Cincy (twice), or Chicago. I'm simply pointing out the reality that we are a much better team with those two players in the lineup, and probably do not suffer those same 6 losses by a grand total of 21 points.
Five of our losses were by three points! The other by six. Last year were 6-2 in games decided by a TD. This year we are 1-5 in games decided by three or less, 1-6 in games decided by 6 or less. Get the picture? We are easily a Troy/Smith away from battling for the 2 spot. Healthy and we compete - injured and we fold. Let us hope that when injuries hit us next year they will not be in positions where our backups create as big a drop off.
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