The Los Angeles Chargers take on the New England Patriots this Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.
Here are a few Patriots players who the Bolts must hone in on to increase their chances of coming out victorious.
RB Damien Harris
The Patriots know that the Chargers are susceptible against the run, which is why you can expect them to unleash Harris early and often. Harris has the eighth-most rushing yards (437), third-most rushing touchdowns (five), and already has three 100-yard games in the first seven games of the season, which is second-most in the NFL. Furthermore, bringing Harris down won’t be an easy task, as he is seventh in both rushing yards after contact (311) and forced missed tackles (20), per Pro Football Focus.
TE Hunter Henry
Henry returns to Los Angeles to face his former team on a bit of a hot streak. Quarterback Mac Jones has begun favoring Henry in the red zone, and the numbers show. He has hauled in a touchdown catch in each of the last four Patriots games. The Chargers, on the other hand, have allowed five touchdowns to tight ends this season.
EDGE Matthew Judon
The Chargers have seen a fair share of some of the league’s most premier pass rushers up to this point, and now they are set to face one who has continually gone under the radar. Judon, the sixth-year player, is just as good at defending the run as he is at applying pressure to signal-callers. He is sixth in the league with 20 combined quarterback hits and tackles for loss. Furthermore, he has 29 quarterback disruptions.
S Adrian Phillips
Henry is not the only former Chargers player who is having some success on their new team. Like in the blue and gold days, Phillips has played and thrived in an assortment of roles. In two seasons, Phillips has logged three interceptions, 143 tackles and his first career sack. This season, he has been sticky in coverage, allowing a passer rating of just 37.2.
DT Christian Barmore
For the second straight game week, there’s been a rookie listed among the crop. First, it was Ravens edge defender Odafe Oweh. Now, Barmore, the 6-foot-5 and 311-pound interior defensive lineman. The second-round pick has steadily established himself as one of the most disruptive players among the team’s front seven. With an explosive first step and power, Barmore has registered 17 quarterback disruptions so far while drawing a handful of penalties.
Returner Gunner Olszewski
If you remember the Patriots’ shutout win over the Chargers last season, you likely recall Olszewski’s punt return for a touchdown. But, of course, this happened when the special teams department was a dumpster fire, and while the coverage units are improved from then, it’s still a ways from being counted on as reliable. This season, Olszewski is averaging 11.1 yards per punt return and 23.3 yards per kick return.