6 Rings Mailbag: 3 crucial clashes in patriots Week 13 matchup vs. chargers
The 2-9, slowly fading New England Patriots are back at home this weekend for the first time since early November as they welcome the 4-7 Los Angeles Chargers to Foxborough for their Week 13 matchup.
As we do every week, both here at WEEI.com and on the 6 Rings and Football Things podcast feed, here are three crucial clashes to watch in this weekend’s Pats vs. Bolts matchup in Foxborough:
- Justin Herbert vs. Belichick, Pats pass defense
“Offensively, [he] can do everything you need a quarterback to do. He’s very athletic, can make all the throws.”
That’s what Bill Belichick told media on Wednesday morning when discussing the Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert is considered by many to be a top-five quarterback in all of football. Through 60 career starts, he’s thrown for 114 touchdowns to just 41 interceptions and averages 280 yards passing per-game. Statistically, Herbert was one of the more decorated quarterbacks through the early part of his career. He holds NFL records for most total touchdowns (77) and passing yards (,9350) through a players first two seasons.
In 2023, under new leadership with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore at the Chargers’ helm, Herbert has seemingly taken his game to an even higher level despite their 4-7 record, at least according to coach Belichick:
“Herbert’s had a lot of production with [the new offense],” New England’s head coach said on Wednesday. “Spreads the ball around a lot, besides Allen, but Allen obviously is the go-to guy. But, after that, they give a lot of touches to the other receivers, the tight ends, the backs, and it creates some explosive plays. Herbert creates some plays on his own when there really isn’t anything there. He pulls something out with a scramble or an extended play, or throwing into tight coverage that there aren’t too many guys who can get in there, but he can.”
Against the Patriots, however, Herbert has struggled. He’s 0-2 against Bill Belichick’s defense in his career, throwing for just two touchdowns to four interceptions with a passer rating of just 52.8.
This New England team is, admittedly, different at 2-9 on the season, and even though they’ve held opponents to just 40 points total in the last three games, their pass defense has struggled. Sam Howell threw for 325 yards at Gillette Stadium in early November, and last week, J.C. Jackson allowed seven catches for 107 yards against the Giants and Tommy DeVito while rookie wide receiver Jalinn Hyatt notched his first 100-yard game as a pro.
Needless to say, they face quite the task in stopping Herbert this Sunday.
- Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott vs. Chargers run defense
As for the other quarterback(s) in this contest, it’s looking more and more like Bailey Zappe will be starting Sunday’s contest for the Patriots, atleast according to reports that surfaced on Wednesday.
According to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed and MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Zappe took the majority of first team reps during Wednesday’s practice in Foxborough, with Daniels adding that Mac Jones ran the scout team offense.
So what does this mean for New England’s offense on Sunday? Well, given that Bill O’Brien, and the Patriots as a whole, for that matter, haven’t had much faith in Zappe since training camp, then the plan will mostly likely be to run, run, run.
Many believe that the Patriots could’ve defeated the Giants last Sunday if they just ran the ball 60 times. They, of course, didn’t do either, but still were able to have success on the ground rushing for 4.7 yards a pop on 31 attempts.
In total, Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton ran for 147 yards as well a third quarter touchdown to cap off Zappe’s first drive after replacing Jones.
Their opponents this weekend in the Chargers have a middle of the pack run defense, allowing 110.6 yards per game. More specifically, (h/t Taylor Kyles) all of the explosive runs LA has allowed over the last three weeks have been zone runs to the right side of the defense.
This matchup is how the Patriots get back on the winning side.
- Brandon Staley vs. Bill Belichick
Speaking of the winning side, the head coach who ends up on it following Sunday’s Patriots vs. Chargers game will likely keep their job for another week. The loser? Who knows at this point.
It’s the Hot Seat Bowl this weekend in Foxborough as both head coaches in Bill Belichick and Brandon Staley are seemingly hanging onto their jobs by a thread.
The Chargers, with arguably one of the more talented rosters in football, are just 4-7 this season and in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Staley, though notably a quality defensive coach, has struggled in the decision making/CEO department over his two-plus seasons with Los Angeles and, at least according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, will be fired barring a “miracle” down the stretch of 2023.
As for Belichick and the Patriots, they’re 2-9 through their first 11 games, putting them off to their worst start since 1992, when they finished 2-14.
While Belichick himself called the notion that he already has his next destination picked out “ridiculous” on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show on Monday, many NFL pundits have speculated over the last several months that the great coach of all time’s time in New England may be coming to an end.
Whether it’s an outright firing, a resignation, or a mutual parting of ways that does it is to be determined, but the writing looks to be on the wall.
A win against Los Angeles on Sunday, though? That’d help fill the dossier BB could bring to owner Robert Kraft in January should he need to vouch for his job.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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