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New England’s Kevin Faulk celebrates after scoring on a 2-point conversion to tie the game against San Diego during last season’s AFC divisional playoffs. The Chargers just may have something that they can tangibly use against the Patriots this week: the revenge factor.

“They (the Patriots) are more worried than we are,” said Olshansky, one of the mouthiest members of a notoriously mouthy Chargers outfit. “They know what’s up.”

It’s all real. It’s not Anthony Smith. It’s not Paul Spicer. This is a team of men holding a grudge against another group of men. Funny things can happen when emotions spark this much.

When the Patriots pulled off their upset by the sea last winter, several players went to the middle of the field and mimicked San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman’s “Light’s Out” dance and then vigorously carried over their party into the bowels of the stadium, making sure San Diego’s players heard the revelry.

Many Chargers spent the minutes after the game having to be calmed down, and Tomlinson went as far to say that Patriots coach Bill Belichick was the catalyst of the Patriots’ over-the-top celebration.

Eight months before “SpyGate,” the Patriots had a legitimate enemy. Of course, the Chargers already had an opportunity to exact some revenge in Week 2 and were promptly blown out by 24 points at New England. So who knows exactly how far Revenge Part II will take them. But all the Chargers have to do to re-energize themselves is tell each other that it is their turn to dance on the Patriots’ field and ruin their the No. 1 seed.

The point is that the Chargers do have something in their favor Sunday. No one else has had anything to hold against New England. The Chargers have their anger. It’s something and they’ll need every emotion they can muster.

Even though San Diego has won eight straight games, they are a deserved two-touchdown underdog going into this game. The Chargers are horribly beat up with Tomlinson, quarterback Philip Rivers and Gates all battling injuries that could hamper their ability to perform.

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The Chargers need an outside force to play a role. Their only chance may be their anger.

Will anger overcome destiny? Probably not, but every other force has failed against New England, so, anger, please, step to the forefront. It’s the Chargers’ only chance.

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