The Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, 10-5 ATS, 6-9 O/U) face off against the New England Patriots (3-12, 6-8-1 ATS, 9-6 O/U) in an inter-conference matchup this Saturday afternoon. The Chargers secured a victory against the Broncos last Thursday, while the Patriots suffered a defeat against the Bills in their last game. Notably, the Chargers dominated the Patriots with a 6-0 win on the road last season.
Can the Patriots turn things around and stop their losing streak on Saturday? Continue reading for insights and predictions.
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Chargers Eyeing Playoff Position
The Los Angeles Chargers are on the brink of securing their ninth win this season. Despite some inconsistencies, they are poised to clinch a wildcard spot in the AFC with a 95% chance of playoff qualification. Currently, they occupy the last wildcard position but have the potential to move up. After a tough stretch of two consecutive losses, including a disappointing 40-17 defeat at home against the Buccaneers, they bounced back with a commendable 34-27 victory against the Broncos while covering the 2.5-point spread. The Chargers have managed to cover the spread in three of their last five matchups.
Quarterback Justin Herbert delivered a strong performance last week, throwing for 284 yards. The 26-year-old has topped 250 passing yards in five games this season, totaling 3,243 yards with an impressive 18:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Running back J.K. Dobbins has been sidelined for a month due to a knee injury and is questionable for the game. Gus Edwards, who has been a key player, is dealing with an ankle injury and has been ruled out, having accumulated 365 rushing yards this season.
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey has emerged as a standout, achieving 80 or more receiving yards in four of his last five games and totaling 960 receiving yards. Joshua Palmer also contributes solidly with 543 yards. The Chargers’ offense has struggled recently, scoring 23 or fewer points in four of their past five games and averaging 307 yards per game.
Defensively, the Chargers rank among the NFL’s elite, allowing 20 or fewer points in 11 games. They’ve been particularly effective on the road, though their recent performances have seen them concede 40 and 27 points in their last two outings. In their victory over Denver last week, they allowed 355 total yards. Their pass defense is currently ranked 15th, while their rush defense sits at 17th.
On average, Los Angeles scores 21.9 points per game, which places them 19th in the league, while their defense allows just 18.3 points, the best in the NFL.
Patriots Seeking Redemption Against Chargers
The New England Patriots are determined to halt their six-game losing streak. It has been a challenging season for them as they search for a consistent identity. Their last victory came on November 10th, when they defeated the Bears 19-3 on the road. Recent losses to the Dolphins, Colts, and Cardinals have compounded their struggles. However, they showed some competitiveness in a narrow 24-21 loss against the Bills last week, where they were significant 15-point underdogs. The Patriots have covered the spread in two of their last five contests.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye has provided a glimmer of hope since taking the reins. The 22-year-old completed 82% of his passes in the recent game against the Cardinals, throwing for 261 yards. Across 10 games, he has generated 2,159 passing yards with a 14:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been a consistent performer, exceeding 60 rushing yards in five of his last six games and surpassing 100 yards once, totaling 800 rushing yards. Tight end Hunter Henry recorded 39 yards last week, bringing his total to 74 receiving yards. Demario Douglas is another contributor with 541 receiving yards. The Patriots have struggled offensively, scoring 24 or fewer points in each game during their losing streak, averaging 298 yards per game.
While the Patriots’ defense has shown some resilience, it has struggled lately, allowing 25 or more points in four of their last five games, including 25 points to the Colts. They did manage to limit the Bills to just 324 total yards in their recent loss. Linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Kyle Dugger are both questionable for this matchup. The pass defense ranks 11th, while the rush defense is rated 24th.
Currently, New England averages 17.3 points per game, placing them 30th, while their defense concedes an average of 24.1 points, ranking them 24th.
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