Tom Brady is 11-1 in playoff games as a starting quarterback. Philip Rivers is starting his first.

That makes New England’s trip to San Diego on Sunday a mismatch at the game’s most important position. It’s also a mismatch (at least by postseason record) at coach, where the Patriots’ Bill Belichick is 12-2 in the playoffs and the Chargers’ Marty Schottenheimer is 5-12.

Beyond that, however, the Chargers have a huge talent advantage, which is one reason they are a five-point favorite in what might be the marquee game in the second round of the playoffs. In fact, start with LaDainian Tomlinson, the NFL’s MVP, and keep going through Antonio Gates, Shawne Merriman and a bunch of lesser- known but very skilled Chargers.

“It’s no one-man band out there,” Belichick says of San Diego, whose 14-2 record was the NFL’s best in the regular season. “They have a lot of good players.”

“Good,” doesn’t always cut it in the playoffs.

Experience does, especially at quarterback.

So expect Rivers to see things from Belichick’s defense that he hasn’t witnessed before. Rivers was on the bench last season when Drew Brees quarterbacked San Diego to a 41-17 regular-season win in Foxborough, a game in which Tomlinson ran for 134 yards. Rivers probably won’t learn from looking at tape, either, because the Patriots adjust better than anyone to their opponents. What they did against the Jets last week may have no relationship to what they do against the Chargers on Sunday.

Maybe all Rivers has to do is hand the ball to Tomlinson a few times and watch him run. Or throw it to him. Or to Antonio Gates.

New England quarterback tom brady stretches. The Patriots practiced Thursday in Foxborough, Mass. Brady's 11-1 playoff record could give the Patriots an edge against first-year starter Phillip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Could happen.

The guess is that it won’t.

PATRIOTS, 20-19

Indianapolis (plus 4) at Baltimore

If the Colts’ defense can play the way it did against the Chiefs, Peyton Manning can provide enough offense to win. Even against Baltimore’s defense.

But this isn’t the RCA Dome, and the Ravens’ middling offense can’t possibly be as inept as the Chiefs were last week.

RAVENS, 24-22

Philadelphia (plus 5) at New Orleans

The Eagles, who lost 27-24 in New Orleans in October, are the hottest team in the NFC with six straight wins.

The Saints are the feel-good story.

But this game may turn simply on the dislocated elbow incurred by cornerback Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia’s best cover man in the Eagles’ 23-20 win over the Giants last week. New York exploited his absence for the tying touchdown in the fourth quarter and Brees is sure to try to do the same.

SAINTS, 31-25

Seattle (plus 8) at Chicago

Rex Grossman is liable to be paying attention this week the way he wasn’t the finale. He’s also likely to be on a short leash. Any sign of a passer rating of nil and Brian Griese will be in the game.

Shaun Alexander didn’t play in the Seahawks’ 37-6 loss at Soldier Field on Oct. 1 and some significant Chicago defenders (Mike Brown and Tommie Harris) won’t play in this one.

The spread is too big, but …

BEARS, 16-12