FanNation - The Republic of Sport

     At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, I wonder if Don Shula or Mercury Morris put up this damsel in Florida to claiming Randy Moss assaulted her. Something rancid this way smells about the whole deal - she should've gone to the cops at the first opportunity if he really did anything.

     Those '72 Dolphins, and some sleazy Florida lawyers, will do anything to derail a Patriots' perfect season. They don't believe the Chargers can do it.

      I'm not dismissing San Diego so easily. After all, they won at Indy with guys dropping like flies. They really lost a lot at running back when LaDanian Tomlinson went down (and believe, any Patriot who was around early in the '05 season can remember Michael Turner scorching the Gillette Stadium turf in a 41-17 Charger romp.

      And Philip Rivers - a little more talented than Ryan Leaf, but just as big a putz. For a guy in cold storage for almost two years, Billy Volek did a terrific job on that game-winning drive. If I'm a Charger fan, I'm not panicky about Volek getting the call if Rivers is no go.

     And the defense - sure, Peyton Manning threw for 400 yards on it, but in the end, Shawne Merriman got to him when necessary. Antonio Cromartie is a guy who can be trusted to hold his one one on one with Moss. The D should get much of the credit for the current eight-game winning streak.

     In other words, this isn't the same Charger team that got yotch-slapped at Foxboro in Week 2, injuries or no injuries. I'm working under the assumption that LT and Antonio Gates will be out there - the jury has yet to reach a verdict on Rivers.

     If only these guys weren't shooting off their mouths again. As if the Pats need to be pumped up. I'm sure the letters and e-mails to Roger Goodell demanding Moss' suspension, though he has yet to be criminally charged, have already begun.

     Jacksonville took Moss right out of the offense last week, and it didn't bother Tom Brady a bit. He spread the ball around to other guys, and he let Laurence Maroney move some piles. The defense, for all the knocks it gets from the press and the Neteratti, comes up big when it has to.

     Plus, it's winter. The only 24-degree kickoff San Diego ever sees back home is of the Celsius variety.

     It won;t be a blowout, but the Pats will punch that ticket on the 3:10 to Glendale.

     PATRIOTS 27, CHARGERS 16.

     Meanwhile, out on the frozen tundra, where the temperature will settle into single digits by the 5:30 p.m. CST kickoff, it's tough to pick against the Packers.

     After the offense posted six touchdowns in six possessions on a Seattle team known for its pass rush, and the defense was virtually lights out after spotting the Seahawks a quick 14-0 lead, don't bet the mortgage against Green Bay.

     Is the Giants' defense capable of one more big effort? It will contain Brett Favre, but not stop him - this isn't the over-the-hill Favre of two years ago. And now we know two early fumbles turned into enemy touchdowns don't stop Ryan Grant.

     Can Eli Manning stay on this roll? I trust he won't be throwing 34 incomplete passes (unless it gets really windy like it did against the Redskins in early December), Charles Woodson and Al Harris may intercept a few of them. Seriously, Elisha has earned big props the past few weeks, but the ride ends here.

     PACKERS 24, GIANTS 10.