At 4-7, things are already looking dire for the Chargers, thanks in no small part to a 20-10 Sunday Night Football loss against the Ravens last week. The New England Patriots have been adrift at sea for a while, and looked no better, at least offensively, in their 10-7 defeat to old foes the New York Giants.

 The NFL odds still have the Chargers as -6 favourites for this game, which says a lot about the Patriots too.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Perhaps facing the Chargers is what the doctor ordered for the Pats. In their last 10 encounters, New England has emerged victorious nine times. The last time the Bolts took down the Patriots was 15 years ago. They didn’t represent Los Angeles but rather San Diego and Philip Rivers was their QB. He’s been retired for a few years already.

Not much has gone right for L.A. this season in what is proving to be one of the more infuriating campaigns their fanbase has had to endure. That’s saying a lot given this franchise’s history. Five of their seven defeats were by one score and each time the Chargers had victory very much within their grasp. As such, the ATS tally is a moribund 3-7-1. Moreover, the offence isn’t clicking like it used to, which translates to a 3-8 record for the over.

Where to begin with New England? They’re 2-9 in the standings, 2-9 ATS, the over is 3-8, they’re 31^st in points scored per game (13.5), 23^rd in rushing yards per game (99.6), 25^th in total yards per game (293.5), 23^rd in passing yards per game (193.8) and Mac Jones has been benched mid-game multiple times. They haven’t scored at least 20 points in eight of their last nine contest and put up 10 or fewer in five of them!

Los Angeles Chargers

This author seems to preview a lot of Chargers games, meaning their games have to be watched to know what one is writing about. Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens was like a Twilight Zone version of their matches but with the same bitter taste of defeat at the end.

The Chargers have the worst defence in the NFL both with respect to total yards and passing yards per match. They’re also bottom 10 in points conceded. So, all things considered, they played pretty darn well against the visiting Ravens, limiting them to 20 points and Lamar Jackson to only 177 yards through the air. In fact, it was a 13-10 game with only a few minutes to go.  So naturally the offence stalled, picking up only 16 first downs, 86 rushing yards, and coughing up the ball four times. Keenan Allen has started a new habit of dropping passes as well. He also fumbled, as did Austin Ekeler and Justin Herbert. How head coach Brandon Staley is going work his way out of this hole is anyone’s guess. It might as well start against the lowly Patriots.

New England Patriots

It’s one thing to list off some mediocre-to-terrible offensive statistics when writing an article. It’s another to sit down and watch a game that supports those stats like last Sunday at the New York Giants, a 10-7 defeat.

This is not a very good team, at least offensively – although they’ve been shredded on defence a few times this season too. Mac Jones was once again benched after tossing a couple of picks that looked like mistakes a first-year QB in Week 1 would commit. Bailey Zappe filled in for the rest of the game and threw one too, and it didn’t look any better than Jones’. A healthy Rhamondre Stevenson can help keep some drives alive (21 carries, 98 yards, one TD), but the passing is so bad it’s easy to forget Juju Smith-Schuster is on this roster. The defensive line made the team proud with six sacks, but it came against arguably the worst o-line in the NFL.

Who Will Win Chargers vs. Patriots?

• Regular Season

Chargers Team Leaders

LAC

Touchdowns	Keenan Allen 8
Rushing	Austin Ekeler 628
Passing	Justin Herbert 3134
Receiving	Keenan Allen 108
Sacks	Khalil Mack 17
Interceptions	Asante Samuel Jr. 2

NE

Touchdowns	Hunter Henry 6
Rushing	Ezekiel Elliott 642
Passing	Mac Jones 2120
Receiving	Ezekiel Elliott 51
Sacks	Christian Barmore 8.5
Interceptions	Kyle Dugger 2

• Regular Season

Patriots Team Leaders

LAC

Touchdowns	Keenan Allen 8
Rushing	Austin Ekeler 628
Passing	Justin Herbert 3134
Receiving	Keenan Allen 108
Sacks	Khalil Mack 17
Interceptions	Asante Samuel Jr. 2

NE

Touchdowns	Hunter Henry 6
Rushing	Ezekiel Elliott 642
Passing	Mac Jones 2120
Receiving	Ezekiel Elliott 51
Sacks	Christian Barmore 8.5
Interceptions	Kyle Dugger 2

Weather

temp	44
condition	heavy-rain
wind	West 8mph

Injuries

L.A. Chargers

Deane Leonard (DB)

Ques Sun Heel - 04 / 01 / 24

Trey Pipkins III (OT)

Prob Sun Wrist - 04 / 01 / 24

Rashawn Slater (OT)

Prob Sun Knee - 04 / 01 / 24

Stone Smartt (TE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 04 / 01 / 24

Daiyan Henley (LB)

Prob Sun Groin - 04 / 01 / 24

Tuli Tuipulotu (LB)

Ques Sun Ankle - 04 / 01 / 24

Justin Hollins (LB)

I-R Shoulder - 04 / 01 / 24

Zion Johnson (G)

Doub Sun Neck - 29 / 12 / 23

Nick Williams (DL)

Out Sun Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 23

Kenneth Murray Jr. (LB)

Doub Sun Shoulder - 27 / 12 / 23

New England

Jalen Mills (DB)

Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 01 / 24

Tyquan Thornton (WR)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 01 / 24

Christian Barmore (DL)

Prob Sun Knee - 04 / 01 / 24

Myles Bryant (DB)

Prob Sun Illness - 04 / 01 / 24

Anfernee Jennings (LB)

Prob Sun Knee - 04 / 01 / 24

Jonathan Jones (DB)

Ques Sun Knee - 04 / 01 / 24

Matthew Slater (WR)

Ques Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 24

Jahlani Tavai (LB)

Ques Sun Teeth - 04 / 01 / 24

Shaun Wade (CB)

Ques Sun Hip - 04 / 01 / 24

Pharaoh Brown (TE)

Prob Sun Ribs - 04 / 01 / 24

Injuries

L.A. Chargers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deane Leonard (DB)	Ques Sun	Heel - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Leonard has a heel injury, leaving his status for Sunday's battle versus the Chiefs in question.
Trey Pipkins III (OT)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Pipkins III is tending to a wrist injury, but it is forecasted he will suit up against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Rashawn Slater (OT)	Prob Sun	Knee - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Slater is likely to battle the Chiefs on Sunday despite a knee ailment.
Stone Smartt (TE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smartt is limited due to a shoulder issue, and it is uncertain if he will take the field against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Daiyan Henley (LB)	Prob Sun	Groin - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Henley is projected to battle the Chiefs on Sunday despite a groin injury.
Tuli Tuipulotu (LB)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Tuipulotu is hindered by an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will take on the Chiefs on Sunday.
Justin Hollins (LB)	I-R	Shoulder - 04 / 01 / 24	0-1	0-1	+ -
Hollins has been shifted to the injured reserve list with a shoulder injury.
Zion Johnson (G)	Doub Sun	Neck - 29 / 12 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Johnson was absent from the previous contest due to a neck injury, and he is unlikely to line up for Sunday's tilt against the Chiefs.
Nick Williams (DL)	Out Sun	Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Williams missed the last clash with a shoulder injury, and he will not be available versus the Chiefs in Sunday's contest.
Kenneth Murray Jr. (LB)	Doub Sun	Shoulder - 27 / 12 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Murray missed the previous match with a shoulder injury, and he is not expected to face the Chiefs on Sunday.

New England

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jalen Mills (DB)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 05 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Mills is nursing an ankle injury, but it is not expected to impact his availability against the Jets on Sunday.
Tyquan Thornton (WR)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Thornton is laid up with an ankle injury, and he will not take on the Jets in Sunday's tilt.
Christian Barmore (DL)	Prob Sun	Knee - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Barmore is hobbled due to a knee issue, but it is likely that he will be in Sunday's lineup versus the Jets.
Myles Bryant (DB)	Prob Sun	Illness - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Bryant is ailing from an illness, but it is predicted that he will dress for Sunday's battle with the Jets.
Anfernee Jennings (LB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Jennings has a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Jets on Sunday.
Jonathan Jones (DB)	Ques Sun	Knee - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Jones is limited due to a knee ailment, and it is unknown if he will face the Jets on Sunday.
Matthew Slater (WR)	Ques Sun	Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Slater is hampered by a hamstring issue, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Sunday's game against the Jets.
Jahlani Tavai (LB)	Ques Sun	Teeth - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Tavai is tending a dental matter, and it is unclear if he will take the field against the Jets on Sunday.
Shaun Wade (CB)	Ques Sun	Hip - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Wade has a hip issue, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Sunday's clash versus the Jets.
Pharaoh Brown (TE)	Prob Sun	Ribs - 04 / 01 / 24	1-0	1-0	+ -
Brown is managing a rib injury, but it is projected that he will participate in Sunday's matchup with the Jets.