Article:Chargers vs. Patriots defensive and special teams players

Defense Chargers: Shawn Merriman: 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Luis Castillo: 2 sacks Jacques Cesaire: 2 sacks, forced fumble Stephen Cooper: 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 23 yards Clinton Hart: sack Shaun Phillips: 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 36 yards, touchdown Marlon McCree: forced fumble, 3 interceptions, 20 yards Eric Weddle: sack Igor Olshansky: 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles Jamal Williams: forced fumble Rayon Bingham: 2 sacks Carlos Polk: sack, 2 forced fumbles Jyles Tucker: 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Antonio Cromartie: 10 interceptions, 144 yards, touchdown Clinton Hart: 5 interceptions, 73 yards Matt Wihelm: sack, 3 interceptions, 11 yards Drayton Florence: 2 interceptions Eric Weddle: 1 interception Quentin Jammer: 1 interception Igor Olshansky: 1 interception

Patriots: Teddy Bruschi: 2 sacks Junior Seau: 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, 28 yards Adalius Thomas: 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, interception, 65 yards, touchdown Mike Vrabel: 12 sacks, 5 forced fumbles Rodney Harrison: 2 sacks, forced fumble, interception, 2 yards James Sanders: forced fumble, 2 interceptions, 43 yards Vince Wilfork: 2 sacks Ty Warren: 4 sacks Randall Gay: 3 interceptions, 52 yards Jarvis Green: 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Brandon Meriweather: forced fumble Rosevelt Colvin: (out for season with injury) 4 sacks, 3 forced fumble, interceptions, 4 yards Richard Seymour: 2 sacks Asuante Samuel: 6 interceptions, 89 yards, touchdown Eugene Wilson: interception, 54 yards, touchdown Ellis Hobbs: interception

Edge: front four: Patriots, linebackers: Chargers, secondary: to close

Special teams Kicking:

Chargers:

Kicking: Nate Kaeding: 24 field goals of 27 attempts

Punting: Mike Scifres: 81 punts, 46.1 average, 9 touchbacks, 36 inside 20, long of 70

Patriots:

Kicking: Stephen Gostkowski: 21 field goals of 24 attempts

Punting: Chris Hanson: 44 punts, 41.4 average, 6 touchback, 13 inside of the 20, long of 64

Edge: Both have good kicking games, however Kaeding turns ice cold in the playoffs, I am giving this one to the Patriots.

Return game:

Chargers:

Punt Returns: Darren Sproles: 24 Returns, 9.5 yards per return, long of 45, touchdown Craig Davis: 6 returns, 8.7 yards per return, long of 24

Kick Returns: Darren Sproles: 37 returns, 1008 yards, 27.2 yards per return, 89 long, touchdown Michael Turner: 6 returns, 139 yards, 23.2 yards per return, long of 28 Cromartie: 3 returns, 67 yards, 22.3 yards per return, long of 26

Patriots:

Punt returns: Wes Welker: 25 returns, 10 yards per return, long of 35 Troy Brown: 6 returns, 9.2 yards per return, long of 28 Chad Jackson: 2 returns, 3.5 yards per return, long of 6

Kick returns: Ellis Hobbs: 35 returns, 911 yards, 26 yards per return, long of 108, touchdown Wes Welker: 7 returns, 176 yards, 25.1 yards per return, long of 33 Chad Jackson: 5 returns, 85 yards, 17 yards per return, long of 39 Willie Andrew: 4 returns, 149 yards, 37.3 yards per return, long of 77, touchdown Kevin Faulk: 2 returns, 47 yards, 23.5 yards per return, long of 27 Heath Evans: return, 13 yards, 13 yards per return, long of 13 Mike Vrabel: return, 3 yards, 3 yards per return, long of 3

Edge: I am going to give this one to the Chargers, because Darren Sproles scares me. Ellis Hobbs is also banged up and not returning as well as he was at the begging of the year.

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