Why Bother?

It's official, the New England Patriots will be the Chargers' first playoff opponent next Sunday in the divisional round at Qualcomm Stadium.
Which means, the Chargers might as well call it a season.
Many Charger fans were hoping to see the Chiefs or Jets at Qualcomm Stadium next weekend, but no such luck. In fact, this probably marks the first occasion all season in which the Bolts haven't gotten a lucky break.
A sign of bad things to come?
Really, the only chance the Chargers had was to get a cupcake-like matchup in their playoff opener, cruise to a big lead, rest some key players in the second half, then come back tanned, well-rested and ready to go for the AFC championship game the following week.
But that ain't gonna happen now.
Standing in the Bolts' way is a Patriots team that pasted the New York Jets 37-16 on Sunday. New England might not be as dominant as it was a few years ago, but Tom Brady is still the quarterback and Bill Belichick is still the coach, so 'nuff said.
Aside from those two, the Patriots lack star power and are a nearly anonymous bunch. In fact, we're not sure the average Charger fan can name three Patriots players. After Brady and Rodney Harrison, it probably gets a little fuzzy. But then again, we're not sure the average Charger fan can name the three branches of government.
Brady is the best big-game quarterback, the best clutch quarterback in the league. And if that's not enough to concern Charger fans, the Bolts will be facing a pissed-off Tom Brady.
You know he hasn't forgotten about being snubbed for the Pro Bowl, and next Sunday, Brady will be squaring off against the erratic, temperamental kid who beat him out for that Pro Bowl spot.
Good luck, Philip Rivers.
When Rivers peers across the line Sunday, he'll be looking at a Patriots defense that loves to embarrass young quarterbacks, loves to force them into mistakes. Remember, Ben Roethlisberger's first playoff experience two years ago against New England? Not a pretty sight.
If the Chargers somehow get all the right bounces and all the refs' calls and beat the Patriots, that would set up a likely showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. (Sorry, Peyton).
And sorry, but we just can't see the Chargers beating both the Patriots and Ravens in back to back weeks, and we can't see Marty Schottenheimer outcoaching Belichick and Brian Billick in back to back weeks.
Everything we just said about the Patriots we can just about double for the Ravens. Baltimore's defense is the best in the league and has the kind of speed and physical play to contain LaDainian Tomlinson and force Rivers to make plays.
Good luck with that, Opie.

And the Ravens' offense has a pretty good veteran quarterback who performs well under pressure and isn't going to get intimidated. These playoffs could be Steve McNair's moment to show people how good he really is.
So those of you who have made travel plans for Miami to watch the Bolts play in Super Bowl XLI might want to start making alternate arrangements for that weekend.
How many weeks until spring training starts?