Image courtesy of Fox Sports

By Alan Segel
NEFJ Contributor

FOXBOROUGH — When the Los Angeles Chargers (I still have problems saying or seeing that in print) came into Gillette Stadium 54 weeks ago to face the Patriots, circumstances were certainly different than what they are now.

The Patriots were just a three-win team at the time and going through the motions of a second straight extremely disappointing season. The Chargers on the other hand, were 9-6 and headed for the playoffs. They said the usual things about the Patriots leading up to what would be their blowout 40-7 win. However, quietly the Chargers knew the Patriots were just not a good team.

The Chargers have watched to 2025 Patriots from their home 2,982 miles away and they most certainly know that the 14-3, second seeded, AFC East Champion Patriots are not the same unit they faced last December.

“The Patriots are maybe the top offensive team in football right now,” said Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. “Looking at the numbers they have and their MVP level quarterback, they are a tough unit. They also have one of the most accomplished – especially in the post-season – offensive coordinators in the game in Josh McDaniels.”

Minter also made a point of talking about head coach Mike Vrabel. He pointed to the Patriots’ toughness and physicality and the way that they play every game to win. Listening to his words, one gets the sense this is not just lip service. He and his Charger players understand what lies ahead after they touch down at TF Green Airport.

It is no surprise that the biggest area of emphasis for the Chargers is Drake Maye. The Chargers can read the numbers and they are gaudy. Maye finished with a team record 72% completion record. He also is just the eighth quarterback in NFL history with a 70% or better completion percentage, at least 4,000 passing yards (4,394) and at least 30 touchdown passes (31). He definitely has the attention of the Chargers defensive unit.

“The film says it all”, says cornerback Donte Jackson. “This kid can really do everything. He takes really good control of the offense and for being such a young guy you can tell the guys follow him on that field. He plays with so much confidence and is extremely dynamic. He makes a lot of crazy throws; he can scramble and can really do whatever his team needs him to do. He is the reason they have been a really solid group this year.”

The leader of the Chargers defensive unit is safety Derwin James, a five-time Pro-Bowler and four-time All-Pro (first team twice and second team twice). He has 12 interceptions and 19 sacks in his career and he is a player the Patriots need to know where he’s located at all times. He too, understands what the film says about New England.

“They have an offense that does a lot of things well,” James said this week. “It starts with Maye. He is a possible MVP of this league this year and he makes all the throws. They have two great running backs, receivers that get open and a tight end that can cause problems too. They have a lot of weapons but we have to make it about us.

“We have to turn the ball over and get the ball so we can give Justin Herbert (2-time Chargers pro bowl quarterback) as many opportunities as we can.”

There has been much talk this year – outside of New England – about the Patriots 14-3 record and the fact it may be because of the Patriots weak schedule. It is true the Patriots had the third easiest slate in the NFL, but James is not buying it.

“Their record was 14-3 and but you can’t buy into the schedule thing,” he said. “That is a great football team and they were fighting for the top seed. They are very well coached. Mike Vrabel is a great coach and I have a lot of respect for him. So, we know we are going to get their best. It is all we want and it is all we expect.”

The other player getting a great deal of attention from the Los Angles locker room is wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs finished this year with his seventh career 1000-yard season (1013); the first Patriots player to do that since Julian Edleman in 2019. Jackson suggests Diggs is dangerous mentally and physically.

“He is just super, super savvy,” says Jackson. “The dog can run every route and he is extremely adept at making you believe stuff that is not really happening as a corner. It is something you have to watch on film. He has been answering the call and is a huge piece for their offense this year.”

The playoffs always create a frenzied atmosphere and there is no doubt that Gillette Stadium will be rocking at 8 p.m. on Sunday night. The Chargers have more playoff experience than the Patriots (35 players making their playoff debut), so the Pats will rely on their fan base to help them move forward. The Chargers realize they are stepping into a hornet’s nest.

“It is going to be electric,” says Jackson. “New England is a place where their fans are used to games like this and they are definitely going to be ready. They have been doing this for a long time, showing up to playoffs games in Foxborough and making noise; a lot of noise. It will definitely be an electric atmosphere and we can’t wait to get there and feel the energy.”

The respect is certainly there according to Herbert.

“They are really good,” he said. “They are hardly ever out of position and it is a sign of players that play by the rules and listen to their great coaches. They play together; they play fast and communicate extremely well. They are a really good defense.”

Herbert missed the Chargers’ final game as head coach Jim Harbaugh rested him after he suffered a broken left hand (non-throwing) and had surgery on December 1. Herbert did play through it, but Harbaugh wanted to give him the extra time to heal heading into Sunday’s playoff game so he did not play in the Chargers loss to the top seeded Broncos.

“It is getting better and getting stronger,” Herbert said this week. “The hand is getting mobility back and it is getting back to where it was.”
All weather forecasts for Foxborough on Sunday point to dry conditions and temperatures in the 30’s during the game.

A little colder would be nice, but flip the coin Ron Torbert and let’s get started.