Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots Week 8 NFL Picks & Predictions 10/29/2017

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Gillette Stadium

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Los Angeles Chargers head to Gillette Stadium to play the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 29, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has New England as 6.5 point favorites. The total has been set at 49. The Chargers are 3-3-1 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-4-0. The Patriots are 3-4-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 4-3-0.

Valuable Los Angeles Chargers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Chargers are 3-4-0 against the over/under

The Los Angeles Chargers are 3-3-1 against the spread

Important New England Patriots Betting Trends

The New England Patriots are 4-3-0 against the over/under

The New England Patriots are 3-4-0 against the spread

Key Los Angeles Chargers Injuries

10/24/17 C Matt Slauson Bicep IR
10/22/17 RB Branden Oliver Hamstring is "?" Sunday vs. New England
10/22/17 DT Corey Liuget Back is "?" Sunday vs. New England
10/22/17 T Joe Barksdale Foot is "?" Sunday vs. New England
10/16/17 LB Denzel Perryman Ankle IR-Return Designation
09/23/17 CB Jason Verrett Knee IR
09/20/17 T Chris Hairston Illness out for season
09/05/17 G Forrest Lamp ACL IR

Key New England Patriots Injuries

10/22/17 LB Dont'a Hightower Shoulder injured last game, is "?" Sunday vs. LA Chargers
10/22/17 LB Elandon Roberts Ankle is "?" Sunday vs. LA Chargers
10/22/17 DB Eric Rowe Groin is "?" Sunday vs. LA Chargers
10/22/17 LB Harvey Langi Back is "?" Sunday vs. LA Chargers
10/22/17 CB Stephon Gilmore Concussion is "?" Sunday vs. LA Chargers
09/22/17 DT Vincent Valentine Knee IR
09/06/17 WR Malcolm Mitchell Knee IR
09/05/17 WR Julian Edelman ACL IR
09/04/17 LB Shea McClellin Undisclosed IR
09/01/17 CB Cyrus Jones ACL IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Los Angeles Chargers are 18th in the National Football League in points scored with 137. They have run 424 plays this year for 2,313 yards, which ranks them 11th in the NFL in total offense. The Chargers average 5.5 yards per play, which is 13th in the league. As a team they have accumulated a total of 138 1st downs this season, ranking them 10th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Los Angeles has run for 554 yards as a unit, which ranks 27th in the league. They've run 158 times, averaging 3.5 yards per rush as a unit. The Chargers have been penalized on offense 51 times for 396 yards so far this year, which has them 9th in the NFL in penalties. Philip Rivers has passed for 1,816 yards this year. He's completed 156 throws while attempting 256 passes for a completion percentage of 60.9%. His quarterback rating this season is 89.9. He averages 11.6 yards per completion and 7.1 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Los Angeles is 9th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense with 131. They have given up a total of 2,282 yards on D, which is 18th in the league. The Chargers are 16th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Their pass defense has allowed 5.5 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 9th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses have completed 141 throws on 215 attempts against the Los Angeles Chargers defense this season, ranking them 16th and 10th in the league. The Los Angeles pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,298 yards in the air, which is 10th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 201 attempts for 984 yards this season, putting them in 31st place in the NFL against the run. The Chargers have had 55 penalties for 440 yards on defense this year. That places them 25th in the league. They've allowed a score on 32.5% of possessions on defense, which is 11th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Los Angeles is 12th in the NFL in punt returns with 15. They've totaled 164 punt return yards and are averaging 10.9 yards per return, which is 8th in the league. Their longest punt return this season is 65 yards. They have returned 10 kicks for 187 yards on special teams, placing them 21st in kick return yardage. The Chargers average 18.7 yards per kick return and have a long of 25 yards this season. They are 13th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 2,721. The Los Angeles Chargers have tried 10 field goals this season and made 6, which is 31st in the league. Their kickers have a FG percentage of 60.0%. Los Angeles Chargers kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 17 for 17 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,810 yards on 36 punts, averaging 50.3 yards per punt. That ranks them 3rd in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New England Patriots have run for 775 yards as a team, which ranks 12th in the NFL. They've run 189 times, averaging 4.1 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Patriots have been penalized on offense 53 times for 463 yards so far this season, which has them 7th in the league in penalties. They are 4th in the NFL in points scored with 195. They have run 469 plays this season for 2,875 yards, which ranks them 1st in the league in total offense. The Patriots average 6.1 yards per play, which is 4th in the National Football League. As a team they have accumulated a total of 170 1st downs this year, placing them 1st overall as an offensive unit. Tom Brady averages 8.4 yards per pass attempt and 12.7 yards per completion. He has completed 174 passes on 262 attempts for a completion percentage of 66.4%. His quarterback rating is 108.4. He has thrown for 2,208 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Patriots rush defense has allowed 171 attempts for 815 yards this year, putting them in 22nd place in the league against the run. New England has committed 52 penalties for 446 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 27th in the NFL. They've given up a score on 36.4% of possessions on defense, which is 22nd in the league. They are 27th in the league in points allowed on defense with 166. They have surrendered a total of 2,987 yards on D, which is 32nd in the NFL. The New England Patriots are ranked 32nd in yards per play allowed with 6.6. Their pass defense has given up 7.7 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 30th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses have completed 179 passes on 268 attempts against the New England defense this season, placing them 31st and 31st in the National Football League. The Patriots pass defense has also given up a total of 2,172 yards through the air, which is 32nd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The New England Patriots have attempted 17 field goals this season and made 16, which is 5th in the National Football League. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 94.1%. New England kickers have made 95% of their extra points, going 19 for 20 this year. Their punters have totaled 1,208 yards on 28 punts, averaging 43.1 yards per punt. That places them 30th in the NFL in punting average. New England is ranked 22nd in the league in punt returns with 11. They've accumulated 131 punt return yards and average 11.9 yards per return, which is 4th in the NFL. Their longest punt return so far this year is 40 yards. They have returned 9 kicks for 170 yards on special teams, ranking 24th in kick return yardage. The Patriots average 18.9 yards per kick return and have a long of 26 yards this year. They are 2nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 3,284.

Who will win tonight's Chargers/Patriots NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Patriots -6.5

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