The Chargers are set to face off against the Patriots on Sunday afternoon, looking to get back on track after being blown out by the Ravens.
There are a few key things that Los Angeles will need to do to secure a victory in Week 8.
First and foremost, the Chargers need to start being more efficient on early downs by putting quarterback Justin Herbert in more manageable situations, which means playing to his strengths and pushing the ball beyond the sticks. The Patriots will draw up something similar to last year when they limited Herbert to the worst performance of his career, which consisted of stunts/twists and disguised coverages. Therefore, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi must be on his A-game. More quick passes, play-action, designed rollouts, and extra protection are essential to mitigate it.
Defensively, Los Angeles needs to slow New England’s running game that will heavily feature Damien Harris, who’s been one of the more efficient backs in this league. When facing the ground game, physicality is needed at the point of attack to avoid holes from being opened up. Getting Justin Jones back will be crucial to aiding it. Jones has been out since the season opener. Furthermore, missed tackles at the second level can’t occur. Doing so will force the Patriots into passing situations, and Los Angeles is one of the best at defending it, especially against a quarterback Mac Jones, who, while improving, is still prone to rookie mistakes.
On special teams, the latest addition of return specialist Andre Roberts is vital to shorten the field for Herbert and company. Additionally, the other pickup, Dustin Hopkins, must pick up the slack left by Tristan Vizcaino and make all of his field goals and extra points. Most importantly, the coverage units must be physical and technically sound to avoid a repeat of last year when returner Gunner Olszewski ran wild.
