Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) will face the New England Patriots (3-12) in an intriguing matchup on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST, airing on NFL Network. The Chargers are favored by four points according to BetMGM NFL odds. Historically, the Patriots hold an advantage in the series with a record of 27-16-2. So far this season, the Chargers hold a solid 10-5 record against the spread, while the Patriots are 6-8-1. In their most recent encounter on December 3, 2023, the Chargers edged out the Patriots with a narrow 6-0 victory in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Looking back at last week’s performances, the Chargers triumphed over the Broncos with a score of 34-27, while the Patriots narrowly lost to the Bills, 24-21. The offensive rankings show the Chargers sitting at 24th overall, with a rush offense at 23rd, passing offense also at 24th, and scoring at 19th. On the defensive side, the Chargers rank 16th overall, with their rush defense at 15th and pass defense at 17th, but boast the number one scoring defense, allowing just 18.3 points per game. In contrast, the Patriots occupy the 29th position in offense, with their rush game at 14th, passing game falling to 32nd, and scoring at 30th. Their defense is ranked 21st overall.
A significant player to watch on the Chargers is wide receiver Ladd McConkey. He has been a standout, leading the team with 69 receptions for 960 yards. If he reaches 1,000 receiving yards, he would become only the third rookie in franchise history to do so, following in the footsteps of Keenan Allen. Additionally, McConkey needs just three more receptions to break the rookie record for the Chargers.
For the Patriots, all eyes will be on quarterback Drake Maye, who has thrown a touchdown pass in his last seven games. This performance ties him with Jim Plunkett for the longest streak by a rookie in the franchise’s history. Should he find the end zone against the Chargers, he will set a new rookie record with eight consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
The key matchup to focus on will be the Chargers’ defense against the Patriots’ offense. Los Angeles has been particularly difficult to score against, allowing the fewest points in the league at an average of 18.3 per game. Conversely, the Patriots’ offense is coming off a strong start last week, where they took a 14-0 lead against the Bills but struggled to maintain consistent scoring over the season.
In terms of injuries, the Chargers are facing some challenges as defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia, linebacker Denzel Perryman, and right guard Trey Pipkins missed the first practice of the week. Safety Marcus Maye has been placed on injured reserve. On the Patriots’ side, center Ben Brown is in concussion protocol, while safety Kyle Dugger is dealing with ongoing ankle and quadriceps issues. Additionally, cornerback Marcus Jones missed the first practice due to a hip injury.
This will mark the second consecutive season that the Chargers compete against the Patriots in Foxborough. Last season, the Chargers broke a seven-game losing streak against New England, a dominant stretch from 1973 to 2001, where the Patriots won ten straight contests against the Chargers.
As for statistics, a win for the Chargers could secure their second playoff appearance in three years. Head coach Jim Harbaugh aims to advance to the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. Quarterback Justin Herbert is on the brink of breaking Peyton Manning’s record for the most passing yards in the first five seasons of any NFL quarterback, needing just 153 yards to do so. Running back Gus Edwards achieved a seasonal high of 68 rushing yards and recorded his sixth game with two rushing touchdowns last week. Meanwhile, tight end Stone Smartt has enjoyed a productive stretch with 11 of his 14 receptions in the last three games.
However, the Patriots find themselves amidst a five-game losing streak and sit at 30th in the NFL for red zone scoring, managing to convert only 21 out of 44 attempts into touchdowns. Despite this, they achieved a season-high 28 first downs against the Bills last week. Maye has excelled, recording a completion rate of 67.6%, which is closely approaching Dak Prescott’s record for rookies.
For fantasy players, Herbert is nearing several milestones as he approaches 3,000 passing yards and aims to surpass 20 touchdown passes this season. Achieving this will place him among an elite group, including legendary quarterbacks Manning and Russell Wilson.
