The Los Angeles Chargers are all but in the playoffs but a win over the New England Patriots on Saturday will make it official. There are plenty of other avenues in which the Chargers make the playoffs, but Jim Harbaugh’s squad would like to just take care of business on their own.
That will require a win on the road in Foxborough and the team will have to get that with a running game that could be at far less than 100 percent.
The Patriots are 3-12 but they are a team that is still fighting, just ask the Buffalo Bills, who had to rally to beat them last Sunday.
How do the experts see this one shaking out? Let’s take a look.
NFL Week 17 Expert Picks: Chargers vs. Patriots
Marcus Mosher, The 33rd Team: Chargers 23, Patriots 20
Mosher: “The Los Angeles Chargers got a much-needed win against the Broncos to put them in position to make the postseason. They can clinch a spot with a win against the New England Patriots, who were extra feisty against the Bills last week.
This won’t be an easy game for the Chargers by any stretch, but look for Justin Herbert and the offense to do just enough to squeak by on Saturday afternoon.
Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report: Chargers 27, Patriots 20
Davenport: “A pretty good argument can be made here for taking New England and the points at home—it’s a sizable spread for a team traveling east for an early game on a Saturday. The Pats also hung around for most of last week’s game against the Bills before eventually losing by a field goal.
But the Bolts are coming off an impressive win over Denver. The Chargers are playing for something besides pride and screwing up their draft slot (Looking at you, Raiders. Looking. Right. At. You.). And while the Los Angeles run game remains a concern, a combination of Justin Herbert’s right arm and a stout L.A. defense will propel the Chargers to a seven-point win and cover.”
Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Chargers 23, Patriots 14
Bender: “The Chargers’ defense needs to get back on track, and this is an opportunity to do that. The Patriots have allowed 167.5 rushing yards per game the past two weeks, so Jim Harbaugh should get that working again, too. Los Angeles needs this one. The Chargers are 4-3 S/U on the road, but Justin Herbert has seven TDS and one interception in those games.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Chargers 24, Patriots 10
Iyer: “The Chargers tend to take care of bad teams under Jim Harbaugh. The Patriots qualify as such. Los Angeles will keep it simple with Justin Herbert throwing downfield, the power running game handling ample touches, and an attacking defense harassing Drake Maye. The long road trip won’t faze them, as the Chargers seem to operate better as nomads away from their lack of home-field edge in Los Angeles.”
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