Gillette Stadium finally got to celebrate a win for the first time this season, with the New England Patriots recording a resounding 54-13 victory at home over the New York Jets. However, a tougher test awaits them in Week 8 as the Patriots will next face a Los Angeles Chargers side that is 4-2 to start the season. Who will prevail in this Patriots vs Chargers clash?
New England Patriots installed as +5.5 underdogs
New England finally got its first home win in the Mac Jones era, with the Patriots destroying the New York Jets by 41 points at the Gillette Stadium. This season, Jones outplayed Zach Wilson as he recorded his first-ever 300-yard passing game in the NFL for the second time this season.
Jones completed 24 of 36 passes for 307 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for the Patriots, who earned their 12th consecutive win and sixth straight season sweep over the woeful Jets. Damien Harris and J.J. Taylor provided support via their ground attacks; each scoring two touchdown runs for New England.
Mac Jones and Damien Harris were very fired up after J.J. Taylor’s final touchdown run. pic.twitter.com/Dc57WhRiLB
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) October 25, 2021
With the win, Bill Belichick improved to 24-6 against rookie quarterbacks since taking over as coach of the Patriots in 2000. This season, he is a perfect 3-0 against rookie QBs, with two of those victories coming against Wilson and the Jets. Belichick will look to make it two wins in a row for the Patriots when they travel to LA to face the Chargers this coming Sunday.
For the Patriots to record the upset win, they will need to limit the production of Justin Herbert in that Week 8 matchup. The Ravens showed the blueprint on stopping Herbert, limiting him to a 67.8 passer rating in Week 6, his lowest of the season.
Related Article: Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills Week 8 Predictions, Picks, Odds, and NFL Preview
Los Angeles Chargers enter Week 8 as -5.5 favorites
The Los Angeles Chargers had their three-game winning streak snapped in Week 6 with a humiliating 34-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers had no answer for the Ravens' ground attack, with Baltimore racking up 187 yards rushing and three scores in the Week 6 loss.
It's back to the drawing board for the Chargers, who now trail the Las Vegas Raiders by a half-game in the AFC West standings. For Los Angeles to get its season back on track against New England, it needs to get a quality performance from Justin Herbert.
Justin Herbert throws a pick to DeShon Elliott.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 17, 2021
It's Elliott first game back since Week 3 and his first career INT.
He also had a sack earlier.
Ravens already up 17-0.pic.twitter.com/eJ63cZmdup
He struggled mightily against the Ravens in Week 6, completing just 22 of 39 passes for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Herbert, who was also sacked twice in that contest, did not get much help from his running backs as they recorded just 26 rushing yards on 12 carries against the Ravens.
Herbert has been phenomenal to start the season despite his poor showing against Baltimore. He has completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 1,771 yards with 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions, recording a 98.8 rating thus far this campaign.
Writer's Prediction
The Los Angeles Chargers win and cover the spread.
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