Philip Rivers is apparently pretty good at math, but not good enough to figure out how the Chargers are at 2-3 when they were the odds on favorite to win the AFC West. (They still are, to many -- because as witnessed again today, Denver has no capability to stop anyone on offense.)

My pick: The Chargers should make a stand here. It's a home game. They need to gain a game on the Broncos, and the Patriots aren't exactly the tightest on the defensive side. But the Bolts' D has been bad in terms of getting a pass rush going. Patriots 23, Chargers 17.

If Tony Gonzalez gets traded before the deadline, do they have to re-shoot that shot of him in the Sunday Night Football open?

The Chargers are in the powder blue uniforms, which should be their regular home unis, honestly -- although I like the old powder blues because they were actual throwbacks, complete with the old school helmet design.

"The urgency lamp is shining brightly in San Diego." - Al

"Offensively they have a good offensive line." - John (via Dan)

We're off to a rousing start.

I like Subway OK, but I don't get any subs there that involve that crappy marinara, so none of that new $5 footlong sub for me.

Andrea Kremer is telling us that LDT's toe is still bugging him. I feel more and more competent about my earlier concerns about the Chargers' offense. The Bolts will get the ball first -- and that means Darren Sproles. Stephen Gostowski kicks it into the end zone, and Sproles takes a knee.

Philip Rivers floats a big one to Vincent Jackson for 48 yards, and they're inside the Pats' 35. Well, that's an auspicious beginning. Rivers hits Antonio Gates for five more. LDT grabs 2 on his first carry of the night.

In the starting line-ups, Ellis Hobbs mentions his high school. If I went to Iowa State with the way they're playing, I wouldn't mention them either. On 1st down, LDT rushes his way into the middle for two or three yards. Rivers to Jackson on a slant for another 1st down, and it's goal to go at the 8.

Think the Patriots miss Asante Samuel much? - 49er16

Just a little. 2nd and goal is a juggled and incomplete pass to Antonio Gates (Rivers rolled out and threw the ball away on 1st.) 3rd down gets the pass thrown out of the end zone; offensive holding is called, but the penalty's declined -- Nate Kaeding's on the way after the injury time out.

Every time I think the Chargers are looking good, they show a sideline shot of Norv. - Dan

We'll be keeping tabs of how many times Tom Brady is mentioned and how many times we catch glimpses of Norv Face. Help me out with these, won't you? 25-yard FG is up and good by Kaeding, 3-0, Chargers.

Speaking of Norval, it's always amusing to see that LDT Chunky Soup ad at the "Did I do right by my boss?" part and see Norv as the boss. Makes me laugh every time.

"Randy Moss, Rand...University." Nice.

Ellis Hobbs takes the kick out to about the 22. Cassel to Wes Welker for 9 yards on his first play. Sammy Morris goes for six on the next for a first down, and we are told that BenJarvus Green-Ellis (of Ole Miss) will be in the game at RB later, probably. He wins the name derby for tonight. Cassel hits David Thomas for another first down, which Morris follows up with another 7 yards. 2nd and 3 at the SD 40 is a throw-away by Cassel. Cassel scampers on 3rd and 3 for the first, winding up on the Bolts' 36.

The Pats are idling here, after a deep pass to Moss is incomplete and Morris gets stuffed. 3rd and 10. Pass is to Welker, but he's five yards short. Gostowski's coming on for a figgie try.

"Welker is stopped by his left ankle." - John
"80% of his passes are behind 10 yards....or less than 10 yards." - John on Cassel

Gostowski misses wide left. Rivers hits Brandon Manumaleuna for 4 yards to start. Tomlinson goes for a couple yards up the middle. First down as Gates dives for the catch. Rivers floats another rainbow to Malcom Floyd for the TOUCHDOWN, beating Deltha O'Neal badly. Kick is up and good, 10-0 Chargers.

When they showed Moss on the sideline, he looked like he was ready to leave already. - 49er16
Ah... San Diego Charger cheerleaders... this should be a good Sunday Night for no other reason. - Rob in WI

If you'd like to ogle the Charger Girls further, here you go.

The Pats go three and out after Cassel throws behind Benjamin Watson. Another Pats player is down on the ground and hurt. Nick Kaczur's out, the punt comes down to Sproles and it's up to the 44 -- but someone ran into the punter. It's only a 5 yard version, so they'll kick again. Sproles takes that punt across the 45, where he gets tackled by Hanson.

"That should never happen to a very good punt returner. The punter should never be able to tackle you." - John

LDT rumbles to the Pats' 34, then grabs four more on the next play. He takes the next pass from Rivers to the 26, a yard shy of a first. The 3rd and 2 pass is overthrown and out of bounds, so Kaeding will come out again. 44 yard FG is up, and it hits the left upright. No dice.

Sammy Morris rushes for three yards to start. Cassel hits Moss on a screen, 3rd and 1 when the 2nd quarter starts. As we return, we're watching the Pats have to make do with players falling left and right, and Cassel couldn't get anything downfield on 1st down. 2nd is a short pass to Welker. He throws it to Faulk on 3rd down, but it's short and he doesn't get the first down. Hansen boots it, and it's downed at the Chargers' 3 yard line.

Mike Tolbert gets the carry to burrow for a couple of yards, and we get a glimpse of Norv, although it is not quite Norv Face. LDT goes to the 10 on the next carry. The Rivers bomb to Vincent Jackson doesn't work, as Hobbs has inside position. Mike Scifres punts it to the Bolts' 43, and the Pats have great field position.

Pats get seven on the first play -- ooh, Tom Brady mention! They're talking about his ACL surgery in Los Angeles. Morris gets a couple on 2nd, and then moves the chains on the next carry. Brady Counter is at 3 tonight. Five wide and an empty backfield, and the Chargers swarm and sack Cassel on first down. Handoff is to Heath Evans for 2 yards. Right idea on 3rd down -- sideline hitch to Randy Moss, good throw by Cassel, but the ref called it incomplete, as Quentin Jammer got his hand in there. Gostowski nails a 48-yard field goal. 10-3, Chargers.

Sproles gets tripped up at the 23 on the kickoff return. Swing pass to Tomlinson, who grabs 10 yards. He can't get around the corner on the next play, and Al notes he's gone above 11,000 yards for his career. Vincent Jackson makes a nice catch on the sideline at the 49, but two plays later, he drops a ball he should have had from Rivers.

I'd forgotten Bo Jackson's real name is Vincent. 3rd and 13 is air-mailed into double coverage to Jackson, and the WR had to play DB as Brandon Meriweather almost picked that ball off -- and that's Meriweather on the ground. The Chargers down Scifres' punt at the Pats' 6 yard line.

"Scifres is a guy who has every kick. You know how you talk about a quarterback who can make every throw? He's a guy who can make every kick." - John

Sammy Morris gets stuffed again going over the right side. Brady Mention #4, specifically "Tommy." 3rd and 2 now, and Faulk can't get the first. Hansen punts to Sproles, who hits the corner and gets to the Patriot 46. Flag on the play -- a face mask on the Pats, so the Chargers get to start at the NE 31.

"Well maybe Brady wans't Brady when he started, but it didn't take long for Brady to be Brady." - Al, mention #5.

Andrea is talking about her boyfriend. - 49er16

LDT gets two yards to start. Two minute warning, SD's got all three time-outs.

I've been alerted that Seattle vs. Tampa Bay is next week's SNF game. That is a cosmic combination of impending suck. If there is a Game 7 in the Boston-Tampa Bay baseball playoffs, I will be live-blogging that instead. (A potential Game 7 is scheduled for a week from tonight.)

Rivers hits Malcom Floyd at the 13 for a nice catch. Time out called. Tomlinson burrows all the way inside the 5, it's now 2nd and 2. Rivers hits Jackson over the middle for six more. Kick is up and good, 17-3, Chargers.

Pats will start at their own 17. Cassel gets nailed and fumbles, but the Pats recover. Faulk rushes for a few yards. New England runs the clock out, and it's 17-3, Chargers, at the half.

It's amazing that someone that looks like Norv can produce such a great looking daughter. - 49er16

"All you ever done is make a hot daughter, Norv!" The same principle goes for Wade Phillips.

See you in the second half thread.