New England (3-4) at LA Chargers (4-2)
When: Sunday, October 31st, 2021
Where: SoFi Stadium,
Inglewood, CA
Time: 4:05 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -6/47.5
The New England Patriots are looking to get back to the .500-mark and make a run at the postseason when they visit the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Less than a year ago, New England came into this stadium and completely annihilated the overmatched Chargers 45-0. The Pats have won two of their last three games including an impressive 54-13 massacre versus the New York Jets last weekend. It will be tough to catch the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East, but New England is very much in the thick of the wild card race and a win Sunday would get them even closer. The Patriots are 8-for-8 in the red zone the past two games behind an improving Mac Jones at quarterback.
The Chargers meanwhile, have been licking their wounds during since a 34-6 loss at the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, but the bye has helped them get healthier. Last year’s embarrassing loss to the Patriots seemed to have woke them up. Since then, the Chargers are 8-2 straight-up and against the spread. Entering Week 8, Los Angeles sits a half-game behind the Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC West with the Chiefs and Broncos sitting at the bottom. The Chargers come into this contest as 5-point favorites, but are 0-6 SU and ATS in the last six meetings with New England.
The Patriots struggled to score points early in the season, but that has changed now. Over the last three games, New England has scored 25, 29 and 54 points. Jones has completed at least 70 percent of his passes in three of the last four games and did not throw a pick last week for the first time this season. You can say what you want about the Jets, but no team had scored more than 27 points against them until last week. Jones completed 24-of-36 for 307 yards and two touchdowns, while Damian Harris rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Fellow running backs JJ Taylor and Brandon Bolden are a threat to a Chargers defense that allows 162.5 rushing yards a game – worst in the league. Guard Shaq Mason (abdomen) and defensive tackle Carl Davis (hand) left the Jets game but were at least limited participants this week in practice. On defense, the Patriots are 12th, giving up 350.6 yards per game.
In last year’s game against New England, Justin Herbert completed 26-of-53 passes for just 209 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. It remains the only game of his NFL career in which he failed to throw a TD pass. Against Baltimore two weeks ago, Herbert threw for just 195 yards with a touchdown and a pick. L.A. couldn’t establish anything on the ground either, recording just 26 rushing yards on 12 carries and had the ball almost 17 minutes less than the Ravens. On the season, the Chargers are averaging 24.7 points and 377.5 total yards per game, while converting 45 percent of its third downs. The bye week came at a great time as everybody participated in practice for the Chargers on Wednesday, with only linebacker Drue Tranquill (chest) a limited participant.
The Chargers defense is starting to show some holes, while Mac Jones has the New England offense cooking. Look for New England to run the ball well today and keep this one close, if not win.
Pick: Patriots +5
Week 8 Staff Selections
