PATRIOTS VS. CHARGERS- INSULATING THE BOLTS

The Chargers are better than their 3 and 8 record.  Their biggest loss came last week against the Bills when they lost by 10.  Other losses were as follows: Chiefs (3), Panthers (5), Bucs (7), Saints (3), Broncos (1), Raiders (5), and Dolphins (8).

AFC EAST AGAIN- This will be the Chargers 4th and final game against the AFC East this season.  Oddly enough, they've face an AFC East opponent 4 weeks in a row, with their only win coming against the Jets.  

3RD DOWN- One of the things the Chargers are good at is getting their opponents off the field in a hurry.  They are currently 4th in the league with causing 3 and outs (22%).  Offensively, both teams are pretty equal when it comes to converting 3rd downs in general.  The Patriots are ranked 11th with success on 43.65% of their attempts (51.56% away and 45.71% last 3).  The Chargers are just above them at 10th with success on 43.75% of their attempts (52.78% home and 36.36% last 3).  While this is always a good thing to do, moving the chains at least once should be the goal of Josh McDaniels.  

SPECIAL TEAMS- The one place the Patriots are significantly better than the Chargers is on special teams.  This isn't because Folk is now a hero and the return game had a great week, the Chargers are really bad.  In every category they rank in the bottom quarter. 

• Gross punting 28th
  
• Net punting 31st
  
• Punt returns 27th
  
• Punt returns allowed 29th
  
• Kickoff returns 26th
  
• Kickoff returns allowed 30th
  
• Field Goals made/attempted 25th
  

Hopefully, this crappiness continues for them this week and the Patriots can use solid field possession to get back to 500.  Punter Tyler Long made it onto this week's injury report with a hip injury.

4 THINGS TO CONSIDER-  

1. Don't make mistakes.  We a had a few last week and still managed to win the game.  That was a very rare occurrence.
   
2. Watch out for the deep balls to the unknowns.  Tyron Johnson has 5 receptions, 4 are for 50+ yards.  Jaylen Guyton has 18 receptions with 2 that are 50+. 
   
3. Don't put team in must pass situations.  While he was limited early in the week, a limited Joey Bosa is still very dangerous. 
   
4. Chargers quarterback, Justin Herbert is having a solid rookie season despite the team's record.  He has a 105.9 passer rating against the blitz and has 12 passing touchdowns on 3rd down.  

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