Turning over the turnover numbers

One of the bigger storylines this week leading up to the Patriots/Chargers AFC Championship Game has been the Chargers extraordinary ability to create turnovers. Well, one of the bigger football-related storylines anyway. As in any game played in the NFL, usually the team who wins the turnover battle wins the game. This is the case even more during the playoffs, where each game could be your last, thus making each mistake that much more critical. The teams in the postseason are all great teams and can capitalize on a mistake much better than say, the Oakland Raiders (sorry guys!). For these final two teams in the AFC, it is a case of strength vs. strength.

(All stats were compiled from NFL.com)
The Chargers were the best team in the NFL this year in turnover differential, being +24 in that category. Anotonio Cromartie in particular made creating turnovers his calling card, leading the NFL with 10 interceptions in the regular season, despite not starting the season at corner. He also added another pick this postseason to his total last week against Peyton Manning and returned it for a touchdown. I know, it was called back on a holding penalty, but that was a pretty bogus call. When the Patriots faced the Chargers in Week 2 of the regular season, Cromartie was not yet in the starting lineup. The Patriots, however, are not too far behind San Diego in the turnover differential category, having a +16 mark in the regular season. That was good enough for third best in the NFL, behind SD and the Colts (+18). Asante Samuel again led the Patriots in interceptions with 6.
While the Chargers are the best in turnover differential, the Patriots are the best team in the NFL at securing the football. They lost only 6 fumbles and Tom Brady threw only 8 picks. Backup QB Matt Cassel also threw 1 pick in mop-up duty, but he is unlikely to see any action Sunday (one can only hope). Philip Rivers, on the other hand, threw 15 interceptions in the regular season, though he is listed as Doubtful for the game on the Injury Report. If backup QB Billy Volek starts, he threw one pick in the regular season in limited action versus Tennessee in Week 14. As a team, the Chargers lost 8 fumbles during the regular season.
This matchup of strength vs. strength will likely go a long way to determining who represents the AFC in the Superbowl. Ron Jaworski stated on ESPN’s Sportscenter Friday night that the Chargers will likely drop 8 back in coverage like Jacksonville did and force Tom Brady to be patient and take his checkdowns. If they do this, I think the Chargers will most definitely lose. Brady is patient enough