The AFC Divisional Round will feature quite the showdown between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers. It should come as no surprise that head coach Bill Belichick is not taking quarterback Philip Rivers lightly.

Both teams have had their fair share of crucial matchups for more than a decade. According to ESPN's Erc D. Williams, Belichick has high praise for Rivers.

“He’s a big, strong player that’s hard to tackle in the pocket,” Belichick said. “He has a great judgement. I have a ton of respect for him. He’s a smart guy that really understands football, understands his team and knows how to win. He’s had tremendous career.”

Belichick's admiration for Rivers is certainly understandable. Much like his own quarterback in Tom Brady, the Chargers' star has managed to fend off the effects of Father Time to maintain his high level of play. Although Rivers has given the Patriots a run for their money in the past, Belichick has to feel confident going into Sunday's game.

Despite his Hall of Fame-worthy career, Rivers has never been able to defeat New England with Brady under center. In fact, he is 0-7 all-time versus the Patriots' star. It should also be noted that four of those losses came on the road in Foxborough. To make matters worse, his touchdown-to-interception ratio in those games is 7:10. It has been more than a decade since these two teams met in the postseason. Rivers is hoping that this will be the time he is finally able to get over the hump.