On Sunday the 5-6 New England Patriots travel to SOFI Stadium to take on the 3-8 LA Chargers.
Date: Sunday, December 6, 2020
Game Time: 4:25 PM EST
Venue: SOFI Stadium, LA
Network: CBS
All-time record: Patriots lead series 25-15-2 (including playoffs)
When They Last Met…
Chargers 28-41 Patriots
January 13, 2019
In the first game of their 2018 season playoff run, the Patriots hosted the Chargers at Gillette Stadium.
The first quarter saw 21 points scored in what was an exciting encounter. On the game’s first possession, the Patriots roared downfield with ease to allow Sony Michel to walk in the ball for the opening score.
On their first drive, LA responded quickly, Philip Rivers stepped up in the pocket to avoid a sack and launched a 43-yard bomb to a wide-open Keenan Allen for the touchdown, tie game. The Patriots were out to prove a point, Brady sent passes to Julian Edelman a couple of times which moved the Patriots into Charger territory, and once again, the ball was given to Michel who ran it right to the far corner pylon for the touchdown.
Second-quarter underway, the Patriots regained the ball after a quick three and out by LA. Passes to Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Phillip Dorsett helped the drive along before Brady zeroed in on Dorsett at the back of the end zone for a 15-yard score.
What should have been a Patriots punt after Brady’s third-down pass went incomplete, was negated by a Charger penalty which kept the drive alive. After a fortunate break, Brady led the offense into the red zone and Rex Burkhead powered his way in for a 6-yard touchdown.
The Pats had the ball back again but had to punt after failing to get anything going, on the punt by Ryan Allen, Chargers safety Desmond King muffed the ball allowing Albert McClellan to recover. You know what happens next, right? Yep, Brady worked the team into the red zone once more, then Michel got home to complete his hatty of scores for the day, with 1:43 left in the half. HT Chargers 7-35 Patriots
The third quarter nearly started with another touchdown drive for the Pats, but after stalling, they settled with a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. LA, desperate for some sort of offensive production put together an impressive drive downfield to enable Melvin Gordon to score a consolation touchdown.
Again the Pats drove nicely but had to settle for three points from Gostkowski. The final points of the game were scored by LA as Rivers led them on a spirited fightback through touchdowns to Virgil Green and Antonio Gates, but the damage was already done. Final Chargers 28-41 Patriots
Performances
NE
QB Tom Brady 34/44 – 343 YDS – 1 TD
RB Sony Michel 24 ATT – 129 YDS – 3 TD
RB James White 15/17 – 97 YDS
WR Julian Edelman 9/13 – 151 YDS
CB Stephon Gilmore – 1 INT – 2 PD
LAC
QB Philip Rivers 25/51 – 331 YDS – 3 TD – 1 INT
WR Tyrell Williams – 5/7 – 94 YDS
WR Keenan Allen – 2/6 – 75 YDS – 1 TD
How The Patriots Win
The Charges have some great players and a good young QB who is progressing well, but, this season they keep finding a way to lose games. The Patriots need to get back to 0 turnovers in this game, last week Cam gave up two poor picks that could have easily cost them victory, fortunately, it didn’t. Protecting the ball is key.
The return of Austin Ekeler after a near two-month absence is a cause for concern for this Patriots defense. The Chargers struggled to fill the gap left by Ekeler, but now he’s back, the Pats will need to be ready for a serious duel-threat running back on Sunday.
I’d like to see more production out of the passing game on Sunday, even if it’s just a slight improvement, the Pats had 69 total passing yards against Arizona, that’s terrible, no wonder the run didn’t get going at all.
Talking of the run game, I’d like to see Sony get more involved after he appeared in just one snap last week. This is possible as I have faith in the offensive line to create gaps and get the ball moving, then pick apart the gaps in the backfield, sounds good in theory right?
Keenan Allen isn’t the only receiver capable of causing damage for the Chargers, but he is their biggest threat. Allen needs to be shut down, and then Hunter Henry who has the ability to cause issues.
Herbert has played really well at times this season, a different sort of QB to the run-option QB’s we’ve faced over the past three weeks, if the line can get some pressure on him, we could see some picks on Sunday.
TSM’s 5 Keys To Victory-
-0 Turnovers
-Shutting down Allen
-Getting the run going
-Having some sort of passing game, please
-Grabbin picks
Player Spotlight – Joe Thuney
Since being drafted seventy-eighth overall in the 2016 draft, Joe Thuney has become one of the Patriot’s most dependable players, and to prove that point, he’s started all 75 games he’s appeared in for the Patriots.
Now, one year on from the end of his rookie deal, Thuney currently sits under a franchise tag the team placed on him before the start of this season. I’ve said this before, Thuney is a smart player, and he’s one that can be trusted to take on additional responsibilities.
His natural position is a left guard, but this season he’s had to help out at center for a few games. One of the team’s better OL draft picks in recent years, he’s such a good player purely for how consistent he’s been since he was joining the team. Thuney will be a free agent in the offseason, and whilst I want him to stay, I think his future is destined to be on another team.
Familiar Faces
Former Patriots
Coaching Staff
Snr Coach Asst Chris Caminiti – (Dir. Of Operations 2002-04)
Former Chargers
Players
S Adrian Phillips (2014-19)
DT Lawrence Guy (2013-14)
Broken Records
Here’s some milestones that could be surpassed on Sunday.
QB Cam Newton
-With one more rushing touchdown this season, Newton will become the 11th Patriot to rush for double-digit TDs in a single season.
RB James White
-Needs two touchdown receptions to tie Larry Garron (26) as the most all-time in Patriots history for touchdown receptions by a running back.
S Devin McCourty
-With his next interception, Devin McCourty (28) will tie Ron Hall, Roland James, and Fred Marion for third all-time in Patriots history with 29 career
interceptions.
Score Prediction: Patriots 24-20 Chargers
I feel the Pats are on a bit of a roll at the minute, even when they play poorly, they still manage to come away with a win, I’m going with the same on Sunday, Patriots win by 4 to move to 6-6. LFG.
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