New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Chargers: Game 8 preview and prediction
By Hal Bent
HOW THE PATRIOTS COULD LOSE
A bad match-up week.
The Patriots are facing a tough match-up with the Chargers: Los Angeles is coming off a shutout of the Denver Broncos and their confidence is sky high after winning three straight games. The Chargers boast a pair of shut-down cornerbacks in Casey Hayward and Trevor Williams. They have the most dynamic duo of young pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
On offense, veteran quarterback Philip Rivers is surrounded with talent: wide receiver Keenan Allen is back from being slowed by injuries the past two seasons and is again Rivers’ top target; young tight end Hunter Henry is an end zone threat and has become one of the more reliable tight ends in the league; a pair of young wide receivers complete the depth with Tyrell Williams and their first-round draft pick Mike Williams; at running back they have the hard-charging Melvin Gordon.
This is not a good match-up for the Patriots: the Chargers can blanket the wide receivers and generate pressure from the edge on defense. On offense, Los Angeles has a potent passing attack and can join the long line of teams having thrown on the Patriots so far in 2017.