Patriots Pregame Thread Patriots Chargers Sunday @ 8pm - pregame thread

[patsinthesnow]

pats rushing EPA weeks 1-9: 31st
pats rushing EPA weeks 10-18: 3rd

The pats found a run game in the second half of the season. Henderson/Wilson improved as the year went on & Rhamondre/Onwenu are playing their best football in years. The chargers play the second most zone coverage in the NFL. Relying on the run game & PA is the way to attack them.

 

[sb1]

Both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt being out is of course a major advantage to the Pats.

 

[PatsFan2]

Chargers defense is good, not great. Maye will put up 30 against any defense in the league not named the Texans.
The only teams that can stay in games with Maye are teams that can score 30 against us. Bills and maybe the Jags in the AFC. Everyone else should be a 2 score win for the Pats.

Mahomes, Prescott, and Daniel Jones all had no issues with the Chargers defense. If Pats don't turn it over they are scoring over 30. NO way Chargers offense keeps up.

The 2 seed might be the ideal seed, yeah you get the extra game vs 1 seed but sometimes the layoff leads to rust. Chargers are weakest team, good chance Bills beat Jags and you get Texans or Steelers in round 2. I'd almost rather play Chargers then Steelers/Texans vs a week off and getting Josh Allen and the Bills. I have a hard time seeing Bo Nix beating Josh Allen so I see Pats-Bills AFC championship game, as it should be.

100% I wouldn't mind facing the Bills last when it's all said and done. Steelers are a very weak Fourth seed that would be a easy walk to the AFC-CG. I think the Bills are a dangerous Team but they are going up against some punishing Defenses that coup rough then up some. The 2 seed could be the path with the least amount of resistance.

 

[Ross12]

pats rushing EPA weeks 1-9: 31st
pats rushing EPA weeks 10-18: 3rd

The pats found a run game in the second half of the season. Henderson/Wilson improved as the year went on & Rhamondre/Onwenu are playing their best football in years. The chargers play the second most zone coverage in the NFL. Relying on the run game & PA is the way to attack them.

Ben Brown's been playing the last several weeks in place of Wilson. Wonder how much of that is Brown's improvement in the run game.

 

[sb1]

To be honest? Meh....just what I'd expect from a 7 seed.

 

[Ross12]

Folks look at the last few weeks of NE's DL performance and consider the pass rush to be "weak", and while it's not really a force, I think it's easy to forget how much the lack of Milton Williams impacts things. That left Barmore on an island to be game-planned against. Add Milton Williams back in, and it creates a lot of interior pressure, which then frees up the guys on the edges quite a bit more. They've also been missing Harold Landry for several games now - adding him back in will help too.

Specifically against LAC, that team is already weak at tackle, so they're already needing to focus on helping out there. They will have a hard time trying to add help in the middle to stop Williams & Barmore.

 

[PatsFan2]

denver offense is also pretty inept

denver & houston both have great defenses and JV level offenses

I don't think Houston is Denver bad Offensively.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Folks look at the last few weeks of NE's DL performance and consider the pass rush to be "weak", and while it's not really a force, I think it's easy to forget how much the lack of Milton Williams impacts things. That left Barmore on an island to be game-planned against. Add Milton Williams back in, and it creates a lot of interior pressure, which then frees up the guys on the edges quite a bit more. They've also been missing Harold Landry for several games now - adding him back in will help too.

Landry has had some much needed rest now too, hes been banged up since early on. Hopefully he comes out like he did in September.

 

[Real fan 02]

Carlton Davis need to bring like when he's cashing his players check at the bank. He was giving up a lot of completions to a no name Miami Receiver. The Chargers have some players on the outside and inside.

Unfortunately C. Davis is a liability in coverage.. problem is we don't have another OCB that could replace him.. So hopefully Herbert doesn't exploit him.. do you think gonzo should take on McConkey or Jones?

 

[Real fan 02]

Landry has had some much needed rest now too, hes been banged up since early on. Hopefully he comes out like he did in September.

Probably better to leave Jennings in and have Landry rotate with him? Jennings is healthy and has been more effective.

 

[jdlboot14]

Let the hype begin. Although I was hoping (and predicting) we'd play the Chargers the last month, it's still going to be a super nerve-wracking game. This is the first playoff experience for most of our team, and who knows how they'll all face the added pressure.
I think Pats O will move the ball on them, but RZ % and no TO's will be the key.
Pats D needs to be sound keeping Herbert from scrambling, and not giving up explosive plays.

 

[Real fan 02]

Let the hype begin. Although I was hoping (and predicting) we'd play the Chargers the last month, it's still going to be a super nerve-wracking game. This is the first playoff experience for most of our team, and who knows how they'll all face the added pressure.
I think Pats O will move the ball on them, but RZ % and no TO's will be the key.
Pats D needs to be sound keeping Herbert from scrambling, and not giving up explosive plays.

Contain Hampton and I'm still weighing wether to put gonzo on McConkey or Marcus?? McConkey and Hampton are thier key guys.. blitz Herbert all day thier OTs can be had.

 

[jdlboot14]

Chargers & Pats are actually pretty closely matched defensively. Both teams rank in the top 10 in most categories.
Except for RZ D - Pats are 32nd, Chargers are 4th best - that's going to be the game.
Whether Pats can score in the RZ.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Herbert is an excellent QB. He is tough and has been playing thru that hand injury which now will have 2 weeks to heal. He is not afraid to scramble. Cannot just play man the entire game.
Their oline is hurt but can the Pats weak pass rush take advantage? Pats need to come up with a creative game plan to generate pressure. Disguised blitzes. Corner blitzing etc.

 

[jdlboot14]

Pats hold the advantage in most offensive rankings. Outpacing Chargers by ~10 spots in many categories.
We're close in rushing offense, but Chargers are 3rd best in 3rd Down offense - that will be the game.
Can Pats get off the field on 3rd Down and prevent Herbert from extending plays and scrambling.

 

[borg]

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
46.5 (-110)
+3.5(-105)
+164

New England Patriots (14-3)
-3.5(-115)
-198

 

[KamikazeKnight]

These chargers fans have forgotten who the boss is over this short vacation. Time to set them straight.

 

[PatsFan2]

Unfortunately C. Davis is a liability in coverage.. problem is we don't have another OCB that could replace him.. So hopefully Herbert doesn't exploit him.. do you think gonzo should take on McConkey or Jones?

We have to trust Marcus there: that TE O Gadsden is like a WR and Quentin Johnston can be dangerous: Gonzo needs to check him.

 

[PatsFan2]

We need another WR not named Stefon Diggs to step up. Boutte have been very quiet of lately: need more for our secondary WR's especially with Barefoot being out.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Probably better to leave Jennings in and have Landry rotate with him? Jennings is healthy and has been more effective.

I do still hope to see a bit of jennings. Always been a fan and he helps alot in the run game. But if Landry is closer to 100% now we need him in pass rush