Other questions: Could the weather be beneficial to a team? Is this the week when frustrations boil over? Could there be changes on both sides sooner or later? Will Sunday’s story be more of a comedy than a drama? Can the Patriots score more than once?
The latest in the saga of the Patriots’ worst season in years begins at 1 p.m. Watch the game on CBS and follow here for updates, commentary and analysis from the Boston Globe sports team.
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A few more points on the board – 2:23 p.m
Chargers 6, Patriots 0 | :44 second quarter
The Patriots defense once again held firm, especially in coverage, to quickly force another field goal from the Chargers and keep New England in the game.
A familiar pattern – 2:22 p.m
A few missed throws, a false start, a three-pointer and a punt – the Patriots’ offense follows a familiar pattern. Derius Davis returned the punt to the New England 27 and immediately put the Patriots defense in trouble against them.
Another Patriots drive stalls at 2:04 p.m
Another promising drive — thanks largely to a 23-yard catch-and-run by Ezekiel Elliott — stalled just past midfield again, this time thanks to a seemingly avoidable delay of game on third-and-7 that put the Patriots within one third down and 12 They never came close to converting. That’s four punts for Bryce Baringer midway through the second period for those scoring at home.
• Patriots average 3.7 yards per rush and 3.9 yards per pass. The latter makes the former look pretty good. –Finn
• The Zappe Screen passes are full of Chargers. –Finn
Small crowd at Gillette Stadium – 2:01 p.m
With two teams under .500 in action and cold rain forecast, it wasn’t a huge surprise to see large amounts of empty seats in the upper deck of Gillette Stadium at the start of Sunday’s Patriots-Chargers game.
The Patriots have enjoyed great fan support over the past few decades, but 30 minutes before kickoff Tickets in the lower bowl were only $5.
Some points were scored – 1:57 p.m
Chargers 3, Patriots 0 | 9:09 second quarter
The Patriots defense did well to prevent the Chargers from a field goal after Los Angeles took the lead at the New England 47 and Justin Herbert quickly hit Austin Ekeler for 11 yards and Quentin Johnston for another 8 yards to cap off the drive to open. Jalen Mills made a great play to intercept a pass that could have put the Chargers inside the 5, and Herbert couldn’t connect with Keenan Allen on third down as Los Angeles settled for its first three points of the day.
Three-and-Out, Part 3 – 1:48 p.m
That’s another three-and-out for the Patriots, who reached third-and-2 at their own 17 but forgot to block Morgan Fox, who got free up the middle to pass to Ezekiel Elliott for a 6-yard loss bury and employ punter Bryce Baringer.
• The Patriots defense has done a good job so far. The Chargers have 62 total yards and are 0-for-3 on third down. –Finn
First quarter analysis: Zappe shows confidence – 1:38 p.m
One quarter is in the books here at Gillette Stadium, with the Patriots and Chargers locked in a scoreless tie.
• As expected, Bailey Zappe (3-6, 13 yards) was the Patriots’ quarterback. It was the second-year signal-caller’s first start of the season and the third of his NFL career.
The biggest difference in the transition from Mac Jones to Zappe can be seen in the overall sense of determination. There is a confidence (if occasionally misguided) in Zappe in contrast to Jones. Although Jones has seemed unsettled lately, he doesn’t seem afraid of making a mistake. Of course that’s not always a good thing, but it is what it is.
• After a three-and-out, the Patriots got going on their second drive as they earned a first down after a well-executed tush-push style QB sneak from Zappe and some nice connections from JuJu Smith -Schuster and DeVante Parker. However, as New England approached the Chargers’ red zone, things came to a screeching halt when Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled and gave the ball back to Los Angeles at their own 33 with 4:13 left in the first quarter. (Stevenson left the team with an ankle injury – his return is questionable.)
• Despite the fumble, Stevenson was the best part of the New England offense in the early going. He has nine rushes for 40 yards, a best for both teams.
• The Patriots swapped left tackle Trent Brown for left tackle Conor McDermott on the second drive. (Brown returned to the lineup on the following drive.) They also used Pharaoh Brown at fullback in a third-and-short situation. We haven’t seen Malik Cunningham in the game yet.
• Not sure if it’s an injury, but Keenan Allen wasn’t involved in Los Angeles’ early offense. The Patriots used several defenders against him in the early going, including Myles Bryant.
What a beautiful punt – 1:33 p.m
Another third-and-out for Bailey Zappe and the Patriots’ offense, but Bryce Baringer hits a 70-yard punt to turn the field around – he could be the bright spot for New England today.
The Chargers take over with 1:16 left in the first quarter.
• Should have picked Baringer as the player to watch. –Finn
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson injured – 1:22 p.m
A promising second drive by the Patriots ended with a foul by Rhamondre Stevenson after the Patriots had driven into field goal range. Stevenson was a crucial part of a solid performance, carrying five carries for 29 yards before Tuli Tuipulotu rattled him on Stevenson’s sixth run and jumped on the ball to stop New England.
To add insult to injury, Stevenson had to be helped off the field and was unable to put any weight on his right leg in a brutal scene for the Patriots.
• Unable to put any weight on his right side, Rhamondre Stevenson heads straight to the locker room after apparently injuring his right leg on the last carry. Before the game, Stevenson had begun to find a rhythm against the Chargers’ run defense.
The Patriots considered Stevenson’s return questionable due to an ankle injury. –Yang
• And we thought this season couldn’t get any worse. –Finn
• Stevenson’s injury occurred with 4:25 left in the first quarter. He had as many carries today (9) as he did in the entire game against the Commanders, when he ran for 87 yards. –Finn
The Patriots start with a three-way win – 1:09 p.m
A less than ideal start for Bailey Zappe and the offense, who went for a three-pointer at the start of the game. Zappe was 1 for 2 – DeVante Parker couldn’t hold on to a ball thrown slightly behind him on a slant route, Rhamondre Stevenson gained a few yards up the middle and a screen pass on third down didn’t even come close to the uprights when Bryce Baringer punted for the first time today.
Chad Finn’s players to watch and predictions – 12:54 p.m
Patriots players to watch: Malik Cunningham. Here’s what it’s become: The most interesting thing about this offense is that an undrafted rookie quarterback was released at the end of camp, returned, struggled in his previous opportunity, and trained primarily as a wide receiver. Hopefully Bill O’Brien has a package of plays prepared for him, and hopefully Cunningham is better prepared to execute than he was against the Raiders.
Chargers players to watch: Let’s stick with Keenan Allen, who I wrote about extensively in the Unconventional Preview. One fact about him I didn’t mention: The Patriots drafted Aaron Dobson 17 picks before the Chargers took Allen in the 2013 NFL Draft. Pooh. (And Dobson made four picks before the Chiefs took Travis Kelce. Double, ugh.)
Forecast: Chargers, 24-10. Jabrill Peppers wasn’t wrong, you know.
Pre-game scenes and observations – 12:38 p.m
• Patriots quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe ran onto the field together for warmups. Then Malik Cunningham joined them.
One thing seems far from certain: Zappe is preparing like he’s the No. 1 QB right now, with reps ahead of Jones and Cunningham.
QB reps in the early stages of warm-up: 1) Zappe; 2) Mac Jones; 3) Malik Cunningham.
Malik Cunningham practiced with multiple position groups during warmups. He threw with the QBs for several minutes but then stepped in as a receiver in a 7-on-7 warmup drill.
• Patriots OL warming up: LT Trent Brown, LG Cole Strange, C David Andrews, RG Sidy Sow, RT Mike Onwenu.
• Jabrill Peppers, Ty Montgomery and Jalen Reagor were returning starters for the Patriots’ warmups. Brenden Schooler and Myles Bryant also get returning reps.
Nicole Yang’s Players to Watch and Predict – 12:30 p.m
Patriots players to watch: Bailey Zappe. All signs point to nothing changing with Zappe in the starting lineup, but the 2022 fourth-round pick has a chance to show on Sunday that he’s worth sticking with. Coach Bill Belichick said he’s not thinking about 2024, but it certainly feels like Zappe’s future will depend on how he performs in this game and beyond.
Chargers players to watch: Whichever Chargers receiver lines up against JC Jackson. The rainy weather conditions might impact the game a little, but if Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito and receiver Jalin Hyatt could pick Jackson, imagine what Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen can do. Things haven’t been going well for Jackson in Los Angeles, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chargers had extra motivation to take it on him.
Forecast: Los Angeles, 24-17. The Patriots get a little push from Zappe, but still have a lot to show before they can be picked to win a game.
Chris Price’s Players to Watch and Predict – 12:13 p.m
Patriots players to watch: Malik Cunningham. The Patriots are definitely preparing him for success better this time than they did in the loss to the Raiders in October – he feels at home, has a healthier offensive line and is facing some winnable situations. The rookie had installed a number of plays over the course of the week that should suit his abilities. Now it’s up to him whether he can do it.
Chargers players to watch: Austin Ekeler. The dynamic back is a big part of Los Angeles’ offense. This week, Lawrence Guy compared him to former Patriots defensive back James White. If he can play like White this afternoon, it could be a long day for New England’s defense.
Forecast: Los Angeles, 17-13. The Patriots continue to fight with one hand tied behind their back. The defense, which has reduced its points allowed per game by nearly a touchdown in the last month, remains as competitive as any in the league. If only the offense would trend in the same direction.
The Patriots’ quarterback situation – 11:53 a.m
Quarterback Mac Jones, who started all 11 of the Patriots’ games in 2023, is active. He has not yet entered the field for pre-game warm-ups, which is a bit strange because he is active. I’m excited to see how he handles the new backup role on the sidelines.
In addition, Bailey Zappe, for example, has to be benched because of his performance. Are the Patriots going back to Jones? Or let Malik Cunningham take the reins? –Yang
Inactive: Deatrich Wise a late scratch – 11:41am
Patriots: WR Kayshon Boutte; WR Demario Douglas; CB Alex Austin; RB Jamycal Hasty; OL Verderian Lowe; DE Deatrich Wise Jr.
Charger: RB Isaiah Spiller; DB Yes’Sir Taylor; OL Zack Bailey; TE Nick Vannett; WR Simi Fehoko; DL Scott Matlock.
Analysis by Chris Price: All three quarterbacks on the Patriots’ roster – Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham – will be active on Sunday.
Rookie receivers Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder/illness) were out Friday. With Douglas unavailable and his track record with Bailey Zappe, there will likely be more targets for the experienced DeVante Parker. I also expect Tyquan Thornton to get more opportunities in the passing game.
Deatrich Wise Jr., who had “illness” added to his injury report Sunday morning, was one of several members of the roster affected by an error that affected several others. Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings will have more to do this afternoon with Wise out for the day.
Cornerback Alex Austin, who has been healthy scratches since arriving early last month, will sit again this afternoon. Running back Jamycal Hasty, another recent acquisition, is also a healthy scratch. And offensive tackle Vederian Lowe rounds out the group of healthy scratches.
Notable active players include left tackle Trent Brown. The veteran has been on and off the roster over the last month with multiple issues, including knee, ankle and chest issues (he was on the injury report this week with ankle and chest injuries).
Story from the tape – 11:20 a.m
If styles lead to fights, then at least the Patriots-Chargers have control over that.
The Chargers have one of the better offenses in the league, ranking 11th in the NFL with an average of 347.5 yards per game and eighth in the NFL with 24.5 points per game behind quarterback Justin Herbert. Their defense, meanwhile, leaves much to be desired, ranking last in the NFL with an average of 390.6 yards allowed per game. Los Angeles has allowed 24.5 points per contest this season.
On the other hand, the Patriots offense is about as boring as it gets. The Patriots rank 25th in total offense (293.5) and second-to-last in scoring (13.5 points per game). They had four games in which they scored fewer than 10 points and only one game in which they scored more than 20.
But the Patriots have a solid defense that has kept them close in many games. New England ranks eighth in total defense (316.8 yards per game), although it ranks just 21st in points allowed with an average of 22.5.
Some other important stat comparisons:
Total yards gained: Patriots 3,228; Chargers 3,822
Total yards allowed: Patriots 3,485; Chargers 4,297
Total touchdowns: Patriots 16; Chargers 31
Field Goals: Patriots 12-18; Chargers 17-18
Insights: Patriots -8; Chargers +3
There are still good spots available at Gillette – 11:00am
This screenshot, taken just before 11 a.m., shows available tickets for Sunday’s Patriots-Chargers game on TicketMaster.TicketMaster
The combination of lousy weather and lousy teams means there are plenty of tickets available on the secondary market for Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium.
A search for Ace Tickets just after 10 a.m. Sunday shows a low price of $32 for upper deck seats, while lower deck seats start at $84. The prices on StubHub are in the same range.
On TicketMaster around 11 a.m., seats in the 300s were showing as low as $10.
Patriots added to injured list – 10:45 a.m
The Patriots have amended their injury report and added “illness” to Deatrich Wise Jr.’s injury description. His status for the game remains questionable. The Patriots’ most recent injury report on Friday listed Wise with a shoulder injury.
Further injury names:
Out of: WR Kayson Boutte (shoulder/illness); WR Demario Douglas (concussion)
Questionable: LB Chris Board (rear); OL Trent Brown (ankle/chest); RB Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring); OL Riley Reiff (knee); OL Sidy Sow (ankle); DL Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder/illness)
Watching/Listening Instructions – 10:30am
Sunday’s game will be televised on CBS (Channel 4 in the Boston market) with Spero Dedes directing the play-by-play, Adam Archuleta as the analyst and Aditi Kinkhabwala as the sideline reporter.
On radio, Sports USA will have the national coverage and the game will be broadcast on Boston radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub with Bob Socci and Scott Zolak.
Patriots in Retro Uniforms – 10:15am
On Sunday, the Patriots will wear their throwback uniforms for the second time this season with red jerseys, white pants and helmets with the “Pat Patriot” logo. These uniforms are based on those from 1984 to 1992 and were also occasionally worn from 1994 to 2012.
The Patriots are 7-2 in throwback uniforms, although the two losses came in the last two games they have worn – against the Bills in 2022 and against the Dolphins in September.
The Patriots lost to the Dolphins in September while wearing their red throwbacks.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Forecast for Sunday – 10:00 am
According to AccuWeather, it will rain and drizzle throughout the afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The maximum temperature is just 46 degrees and is expected to reach just before kick-off at 1 p.m. Maximum wind gusts are forecast at 27 km/h
Of course, it all depends on how you look at it.
Matt Pepin can be reached at [email protected]. Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected]. Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @cpriceglobe. Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @GlobeChadFinn.