A year ago, the San Diego Chargers were 2-3, just as they are now. They went on to the AFC Championship against New England, which just happens to be the team they play Sunday night at home.

"It gives you a confidence that you can do it, but you know that it's obviously different," LaDainian Tomlinson says of the challenges of overcoming a slow start.

"At this time last year it wasn't New England, Buffalo and the Saints on the schedule the next three weeks. It's a different year and for us we've just got to find a way to put it together."

The Chargers are favored by six points, in large part because the Patriots quarterback is Matt Cassel instead of Tom Brady, who wrecked his knee in the opener.

Cassel is breaking out of head coach Bill Belichick's "be careful" box, though, throwing a 66-yard TD pass to Randy Moss in San Francisco last week.

The game marks the fifth time the Chargers and Patriots have met in the last four seasons. The Patriots have won the last three, including their 21-12 win in Foxborough, Mass., in last season's title game and 24-21 the year before in San Diego, a playoff game the Chargers gave away.

Especially against the Patriots.

CHARGERS 24-21

CAROLINA (+1 1/2) AT TAMPA BAY

Carolina might be on par with the three top NFC East teams.

PANTHERS 20-17

NEW YORK GIANTS (-8) AT CLEVELAND

The Browns want "revenge" because New York's starters led 30-3 after 17 minutes of an exhibition game.

GIANTS 30-3

JACKSONVILLE (+3 1/2) AT DENVER

Everything's breaking right for the Broncos. Not so for the banged-up Jaguars.

BRONCOS 24-17

BALTIMORE (+4 1/2) AT INDIANAPOLIS

This year's Colts are not the Colts of the past five seasons.

RAVENS 17-16

DALLAS (-5) AT ARIZONA

If the Cowboys don't get to Warner, this could be an upset ...

COWBOYS 32-31

PHILADELPHIA (-4 1/2) AT SAN FRANCISCO

A must-win for the Eagles? We said that last week and they lost.

49ERS 20-19

CHICAGO (-3) AT ATLANTA

Two teams that shut down Michael Turner, Tampa Bay and Carolina, have each beaten the Falcons 24-9.

BEARS 24-9

MIAMI (+3) AT HOUSTON

The Dolphins have only two turnovers this season. The Texans had three in the final four minutes last week.

DOLPHINS 22-13

GREEN BAY (+2) AT SEATTLE

The Seahawks are back on Pacific time.

SEAHAWKS 27-24

ST. LOUIS (+13 1/2) AT WASHINGTON

The Rams might play harder for Jim Haslett than for Scott Linehan. Doesn't really matter, does it?

REDSKINS 31-3

OAKLAND (+7 1/2) AT NEW ORLEANS

The Raiders seemed to have liked Lane Kiffin, which makes JaMarcus Russell's homecoming a tough debut for Tom Cable.

SAINTS 27-17

CINCINNATI (+6) AT NEW YORK JETS

The last time the Bengals were at the Meadowlands, they took the Giants to overtime.

BENGALS 26-23 (OT)

DETROIT (+13 1/2) AT MINNESOTA

Matt Millen's gone and Rod Marinelli says he won't quit. Figure that the next Lions head coach won't have a last name starting with "M."

VIKINGS 24-6

Last week: 9-4-1 (line); 8-6 (straight)

Season: 44-29-1 (line); 47-27 (straight)




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