Tom Brady Reveals The Key To Patriots Beat Chargers In Playoffs

Tom Brady and his teammates are having the most important game of the season Sunday. The New England Patriots are playing the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium for their AFC divisional-round game.

The Chargers made the divisional round by winning the game over the No. 4 seed Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. The team’s offense is packed with playmakers, but the Chargers’ defense is actually the biggest obstacle for the Patriots. Brady cannot really say he had luck against edge rushers Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Desmond King and safety Derwin James build an underrated secondary in the league.

Brady is playing in his 38^th career playoff game. He is aware of the challenge, and knows that the Patriots will need to do their best.

“We played them last year and we didn’t play particularly well. I think what’s challenging is it’s a very fundamentally sound defense. They don’t really give you any plays, they don’t void any zones, they put pressure on you with a great rush. And I think that’s the challenging part, is anytime they can rush four guys and force the ball out quickly, I mean, they are all reading the quarterback, they break on the ball, they force turnovers,” Brady said during his appearance on WEEI’s Mut & Callahan.

“Any sloppy play in the pass game results in a turnover, and this is not — you hold the ball for an extra tick of a second and it’s a strip sack by Ingram or Bosa, and I think it’s one of those games where we have to play on time, we have to stay ahead on down and distance, we have to play a great complementary game, and it’s got to be well-balanced and it’s a great test. I mean, we’ve earned the right to be playing in this weekend’s game, and we’ve got a great opportunity, and we’ve got to go out and have our best game of the year.”

New England enjoys several major advantages. There will be snow, and the Chargers will play another 10 a.m. West Coast kickoff.