Bill Williamson

The task? Pick the winner of the AFC championship game. So don’t screw it up by trying to be too smart.

New England will win the AFC championship game and reach the Super Bowl.

It’s that simple. How could it be otherwise?

It’s the Patriots. If, for some reason, New England loses next week, it will go against everything I know, and mean something is wrong with the universe.

Let’s not outsmart ourselves. If New England doesn’t win, it’s not because anyone called it. If the San Diego Chargers somehow win in Foxborough on Sunday, no one outside of the Chargers’ inner circle can take credit. “Calling” such a win for San Diego would be folly.

I laughed all last week whenever someone picked Jacksonville to beat New England. It was an example of people trying to be too smart for their own good. Anyone who picked the Jaguars — who played as well as possible — couldn’t have really meant it. They were just taking a moonshot, trying to make themselves look good in a low-risk gamble.

This is the Patriots. They are 17-0 and as special as anything we’ve ever seen. They are a sure thing — and you always go with a sure thing.

There is just no way the Patriots will lose.

And that’s no knock on the Chargers, who have won eight consecutive games, including a road win against the defending champion Colts. Few people thought that San Diego would win that game, but this is another matter. New England can't be beat.

There is no other way to approach it. Tom Brady is too accurate. He has too many receivers to choose from, the line protects him too well, and the rushing attack is underrated. And that's just on offense, without even talking about the experienced defense and the game's best coach, Bill Belichick.

There's a reason the Patriots are 17-0. They don’t know how to lose. Whenever things get close, all the Patriots do is make plays to win the game.

I love it when people want to make it interesting by saying that the Patriots have ... holes. The reasoning? Close games against the Eagles, the Ravens and the Giants. That's it.

Apparently, people have doubts when you don't win every game by 30 points. Hardly. They aren’t going to lose. There are no holes.

And that’s the reason why they are going to win Sunday. An unbeatable team just doesn't lose.

Get the Picture?

AFC championship game Patriots 21, Chargers 12 Pats hold off Chargers in frigid AFC title game Celizic: Super Bowl no gimme for Patriots Defense bends, doesn't break for Pats Rivers' right ACL was 'totally gone' L.T. fires back at Neon Deion's criticisms Expert: Brady demands perfection, gets it SN: Secret Service would love Pats' O-line   Slide show: Quarterbacks and their women Team pages:  Chargers  |  Patriots

On offense, they are brilliant. On defense, brilliant. Coaching, brilliant.

It’s across the board.

The Chargers don’t match up in any area. But don’t feel sorry for the Chargers. No team can match up against the Patriots.

The Chargers don’t have an X-factor to give them a chance, especially dealing with injuries to stars LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates.

The Chargers showed great spunk with their upset win against the Colts that was sparked by reserves. But that isn’t going to fly in New England. Nothing does. Nothing but Patriots’ victory flags.

Don’t out-think yourself, the Patriots can’t lose. It just won’t happen.

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