The Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) are on the verge of a playoff spot. But they need to win and have help in Week 17 to do it. They visit the New England Patriots (3-12), trying to play spoiler as they rebuild. Our Chargers vs Patriots prediction is for underdog New England to cover the 4.5-point spread.
New England leads with a head-to-head record of 27-16-2.
Offshore Odds: Chargers Favored by 4 on the Road
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | -4.5 (-110) | -245 | O 42 (-115) |
| Patriots | +4.5 (-110) | +205 | U 42 (-105) |
LA Needs a Win or Tie and Indy Or Miami to Lose or Tie
December is about preparing for the holidays and scouring the web for people who know how to do NFL playoff math.
In Week 17, the Chargers’ playoff scenario is relatively simple. They’re in if they win or tie and Miami or Indianapolis lose or tie. Miami is playing Cleveland and Indianapolis plays the New York Giants. There is a significant chance playoff berths will still be up for grabs going into Week 18.
Despite its record, New England has been battling. In Week 16, they shook the Bills before losing 24-21.
LA entered 2024 transitioning from the disarray under former head coach Brandon Staley to Jim Harbaugh’s time-tested methods. They made cosmetic changes to the roster, clearing big names like Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Mike Williams.
Being in playoff contention is a byproduct of their underachievement under Staley and Harbaugh’s adherence to fundamentals and team play. Still, they have glaring needs to address this offseason including finding a star-quality running back and a number-one wide receiver.
LA’s defense has been superlative, but they are worn down. In particular, star end Joey Bosa and veteran linebacker Khalil Mack are running on fumes.
The schedule should save them. They play Las Vegas in Week 18. But Indy and Miami are also facing weak opponents. The Chargers are not guaranteed a playoff spot.
New England’s Record Contradicts Their Progress
From the top down, the Patriots organization is learning on the fly. After Bill Belichick’s long run as the unquestioned football czar, pain was unavoidable under a new regime.
However, they are hitting their stride under rookie head coach Jerod Mayo and rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Despite the poor record and controversy with Mayo calling his players “soft,” they came close to beating Indianapolis, the LA Rams, Buffalo, and Miami. They did beat Cincinnati and Chicago.
These games are learning experiences that will benefit them once they get better players. They’ll be playoff contenders faster than expected.
Chargers vs Patriots Prediction: New England Terrifies Another Contender
The perception is that the Chargers are the team with something to play for, but Mayo understands the value of player engagement and making players believe these games are important. These are playoff games for the Patriots. They scared Buffalo and will do the same to the Chargers.
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