Bruschi's return from stroke boosts defense

By: MICHAEL KLITZING - Staff Writer | Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:26 AM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Tedy Bruschi was a mere spectator the last time the Chargers and Patriots played. And, in his recollection, it wasn't pretty.

"They just had their way with us," Bruschi said, "especially in the second half."

The drubbing in question came in Week 4 of the 2005 season, as the Chargers marched into Gillette Stadium and beat the defending Super Bowl champions 41-17.

At the time, the Pro Bowl linebacker and mainstay on all three of New England's championship teams was stuck on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a stroke some nine months earlier. From the sideline, he was living and dying with every snap.

That Sunday in particular, he surely did more dying than living. Such experiences were part of what spurred him to press on in a comeback attempt few thought was possible ---- or advisable.

"Being out last year and just watching and not being able to contribute gave me a lot of motivation to come back," Bruschi said on a conference call Wednesday as he and the Patriots prepared for their rematch with the Chargers in Sunday's divisional playoff game at Qualcomm Stadium.

This season, the 11-year veteran might have reclaimed the level of play he was known for before his health scare. Bruschi followed up his much-chronicled comeback in 2005 ---- he returned to action less than a month after the Chargers' game and was named the Associated Press co-Comeback Player of the Year ---- with a team-best 124 tackles.

Does he feel all the way back? That's a question he has consistently declined to answer since his return.

But after his scare, he admits he's "having a blast."

"I feel great," Bruschi said. "I'm having fun out there, I'm flying around out there (and) I still believe that I'm making major contributions to make this team win."

LaDainian Tomlinson, who rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns last year against the short-handed Patriots, would agree. He knows the impact of Bruschi isn't merely statistical.

"Obviously, he's their leader," Tomlinson said. "He's the one that is able to diagnose a lot of plays and make plays for them. And also just understanding what's going on out there, he can coach them up and let them know what he's thinking.

"Before they didn't have that, and I think it hurt them at the time. But now he's back, and you can see he makes a lot of difference on that football team."

How much of a difference? Patriots coach Bill Belichick ---- hardly a sentimental sort ---- scoffed at the notion that having Bruschi on the field could have stemmed the tide of the 24 unanswered points the Chargers tallied after halftime in last year's meeting.

"They dominated the game and deserved to win and won convincingly," Belichick said. "I don't think one player would have made any difference in that type of outcome in the second half at all."

Bruschi is also well aware of the challenges he and his defensive teammates will face come Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.

No surprise, first and foremost on his mind is Tomlinson, who has rushed for a combined 351 yards in his past two meetings with New England. Bruschi marvels at the way the NFL's MVP puts defenders in bad position to make tackles, calling his cutting ability and burst of speed "just better than everybody else."

"You've got to find a way to get LaDainian to the ground," Bruschi stressed.

That won't be easy ---- even with Bruschi on the field this time.

But it sure couldn't hurt.

-- Contact staff writer Michael Klitzing at mklitzing@nctimes.com.

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