San Diego Chargers Face New England Patriots

Late on a Sunday afternoon in January of 1995, the San Diego Chargers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game. That night - and the two weeks that followed - was the happiest time San Diego Charger fans have shared together.

People danced in the streets, made preparations to fly to Florida, and when their hopes and dreams were answered, Charger fans young and old filled Qualcomm Stadium and rallied together for their team.

They stood in the stands and completely lost their minds while watching local radio personalities Jeff and Jer light a San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice jersey on fire. Those flames burned for the next two weeks until about five minutes into the 1995 Superbowl in Miami when the 49ers QB Steve Young shattered their hopes of glory by throwing touchdown pass after effortless touchdown pass.

The final score in the NFL history book reads that San Francisco won 49-26. Even to this day Charger fans fear hearing the same haunting phrase from the broadcaster: This just in, the 49ers have just scored again.

The San Diego Chargers 2008 season started out rough, but they managed to put together an eight game winning streak to close the season and win their first playoff game since their last Superbowl run. Now, the Chargers find themselves going back to the east coast to face the New England Patriots in The AFC Championship game with hopes of making it to the 2008 Superbowl in Phoenix, Arizona.

If there is a plus side to facing Patriots, it's that there really isn't a whole lot of pressure on San Diego. The Pats have just completed the first perfect 16-0 regular season in NFL history and have just convincingly beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars in their only playoff game. If the Patriots beat the Chargers and go on to win the Superbowl, they will be the only Championship team ever to go 19-0. This is problematic for two reasons: it will probably never happen again and it will mean that for the rest of our lives, and our children's lives, we will be forced to hear about how great the 2008 Patriots were.

Due to minor nagging injuries, the best Chargers offensive players, Ladainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, will both play on Sunday - but not at their signature all-pro level. And Quarterback Phillip Rivers (our city's recent self proclaimed national voice) is listed as questionable and likely will be replaced on game day by journeyman QB Billy Vollek.

Last year during the divisional playoff game at Qualcomm, the Patriots beat the Chargers in a close contest. After the game, an overly emotional LT accused New England of showing low class during their end of game celebration. To make things worse, before San Diego played the Pats in week two of this season, LaDainian Tomlinson said, "I think that if we played with last year's teams ten times, we would win nine of them." Unfortunately, the 2006 NFL MVP had to eat his words because New England shelled San Diego 38-14.

If the Chargers win Sunday, it will be a miracle, and the city will erupt with a euphoric burst of emotion. If they lose, the city will need to dull its pain. Either way, a lot of people will be calling in sick to work on Monday, and here are some places around town that will probably contribute to the tardiness.

Best San Diego Sports Bars and Restaurants to Cheer for the Chargers

Saska's Lounge in Mission Beach
The Lights Out Patio at Saska's Lounge might officially be Charger Central for the Mission and Pacific Beach areas. Their menu includes Bolts Brats ($6.50 for a brat and a beer), an "LT" Burger, and the "Big Dielman" Burger. On non-game days, Saska's is a dimly lit mellow beach tavern and restaurant, but come kickoff on Sunday, it will be an energized Mecca for all that care deeply about the Gold and Blue.

Downtown Johnny Brown's
This bar is right next to The Civic Center in the heart of the Gaslamp. It has everything you want in a sports bar: great beer, great food, and great sightlines to watch sports on TV. Also, it puts you right next to City Hall. As of now, the City of San Diego is opposed to building a new stadium for the Chargers. If the Bolts pull it out and the Chargers go to the Superbowl, where better to start a rally for the new stadium than right down near the buildings where decisions are made.

Neighborhood Downtown
This swanky burger, beer and wine bar is a great place if you want to have focus on the game in a relaxed atmosphere. It would never be considered a bonafide sports bar, but it is a place that appreciates the serious sports fan that needs to get out of the house, but doesn't need to have some slobbering idiot with a football jersey on spill a pitcher of Miller Lite on them.

Neighborhood features a wide selection of all the best local micro brews and an extensive wine selection. If the Chargers are successful on Sunday and they end up going to the Superbowl, they are planning to release a Superbowl Burger that will be a chard prime patty w/ worcestershire sweet onion BBQ Sauce. Judging from their other selections, this will make the burger loving part of your brain explode and is all the more reason to hope the Chargers succeed.

Insider tip: Their sweet potato fries transcend sports.

Great San Diego Bars and Lounges for Coping with the Death of Your Dreams

Seau's in Mission Valley
On Sunday, ex Charger great Junior Seau will be starting at linebacker for the Patriots, even though he still has a Charger themed restaurant in Mission Valley. If you are pretty sure - like everyone else in the country - that the Chargers are going to lose, you might want to go to Seau's for the game. The food is great, they have every beer imaginable, and their screens are everywhere and enormous. But if the Chargers lose, and their fans pack Junior Seau's joint, some day he will have to look at his restaurant's game day numbers and take a long, long look at himself in the mirror. Sadly, this is one of the only things Charger fans can do when hit with a loss.

The Red Fox Room in North Park
The Red Fox Room is more than a dive bar, it feels like a sanctuary for those who have seen it all and been through it all - way too often. The Red Fox is the darkest bar in San Diego, and along with the décor, and their great selection of reasonably priced scotch, it is perfect for reflection.

If you're lucky, an old man will step up to the piano and sing a slow seventeen minute version of the San Diego Super Chargers song that will force out those tears you have been holding back since 3:30pm. Of course, if you are at The Red Fox Room on Sunday night after the Chargers lose, luck will not be something you have in your life.