.jpg "Chargers-at-Patriots-(CBS)")
It hasn’t been the smoothest start for New England, most notably its defense, but it still leads the AFC East and will aim to put together an easy win at home against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7. The Patriots are the defending Super Bowl champions and are coming off a nice win over the Atlanta Falcons in that title game rematch in Week 7.
The Chargers are better than their record suggests but will still be heavy underdogs in this matchup. If Los Angeles has any hope of making a push for the postseason, it will need to pull some upsets along the way, and this one would be a great start. However, it’s not going to be very easy against a Patriots team which will likely sooner or later begin to find its groove.
Watch this regular season Week 8 matchup live on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium.
Odds Analysis
There is no line yet as the Patriots played in the Sunday night game and the oddsmakers are still assessing how big the spread should be. The Chargers looked good last time out as well but New England is arguably the best team in the NFL and is playing at home so there is no question it will be favored.
The scoring total should be high with a pair of experienced quarterbacks under center.
Injury Report
Rob Gronkowski -- The Patriots’ star tight end has long been affected by injuries, with a thigh ailment keeping out of a win over the Buccaneers recently. However, he seems to be healthy now and is playing at a high level. The Chargers must slow him down or else they could be in for a long night defensively.
Stephon Gilmore -- The Patriots’ cornerback missed the game against the Falcons with a concussion. The Chargers have some nice wide receivers and it would be a welcome addition if he returns for this one. That is still up in their air at this point.
Joe Barksdale -- The Chargers’ right tackle is dealing with a turf toe injury and missed Sunday’s impressive shutout win over the Broncos. Los Angeles needs all hands on deck against New England, but turf toe can often be an injury that lingers for quite a while.
Player To Watch
Joey Bosa – The Chargers’ defensive end is a huge piece to this puzzle. He has 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles through seven games after racking up 10.5 sacks in 12 games as a rookie. Bosa has quickly established himself as one of the better edge-rushers in the NFL, and the Patriots would do well to keep a close eye on him.
The New England offense is missing Julian Edelman, who tore his ACL in the preseason, while Gronkowski is trying to shake the injury bug. Even so, it is still a dynamic unit with quarterback Tom Brady at the helm. If Brady gets time he should dice up the Chargers’ secondary.
That’s why Bosa’s presence is so important. New England often has trouble on offense only when Brady is getting consistently pressured. Bosa not only needs a sack or two but consistent pressure that keeps Brady off-balance. He has the talent to do so.
Free ATS Pick
The Patriots’ much-maligned defense has seemed to figure some things out of late and hopes to keep it rolling against a Chargers offense that can be up and down. Los Angeles will need to be clicking in order to keep this one close.
The Chargers are a decent team but won’t be any match for the Patriots at home. New England has not been the juggernaut as expected early in the season but has all the pieces to start blowing out opponents. This is going to be an easy win for the Patriots after a long run of close games.
NFL Odds: Patriots 30, Chargers 20
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
