Patriots Week 4: Stop LT

The Patriots (2-1) meet the San Diego Chargers (1-2) Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The two teams have an interesting history as original AFL franchises, however, the Patriots have taken a path to greatness the past 10 years, while the Chargers history is like their star running back, hit and miss.

LaDainian Tomlinson (above celebrating a 2002 victory over the Patriots) is one of the best players in the NFL. Tomlinson rushed for 217 yards and scored on runs of 58 and 37 yards in the 2002 meeting as the Chargers defeated the defending Super Bowl XXXVI champions 21-14. The win broke a 10 game winning streak by the Patriots, from 1973-2001. That Chargers team also included Rodney Harrison, who left the following season to join the Patriots and help them win the Super Bowl in 2003 and 2004. This time around, the Patriots will have to put the clamps on LT.

Chargers quarterback Drew Brees (above with Tom Brady at the Pro Bowl) made a surprising trip to the Pro Bowl last season, after the Chargers took Phillip Rivers in the 1st round (after being unable to sign Eli Manning). Brees led the Chargers to a 12-4 season last year, before they lost at home to the Jets in the playoffs.

This is an actual photo of the 1963 AFL Championship ring the Chargers received after defeating the Patriots 55-10.

This is what Championship rings look like now-a-days...