New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers Week 13: How to Watch, Betting Odds, Bailey Zappe Solution?
The New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, with both teams mired in disappointing seasons. New England has lost four straight and seven of its last eight and is trying to figure out the future of its quarterback position.
Los Angeles comes to Foxborough a loser of three straight and five of its last seven. The Patriots have had issues under center all season and while coach Bill Belichick has not announced the starter, everyone expects Bailey Zappe to take over for benched former first-round draft pick Mac Jones.
Zappe, for what it's worth, is 2-0 as a starter in the NFL after winning games against the Browns and Lions last season in place of an injured Jones.
On Thursday, when asked about the quarterback situation, Zappe responded with a grin, “Nothing is set in stone."
“I’m not going to make any announcements on our lineup at any position. So, it doesn’t matter what the position is,” Belichick said. “We haven’t won enough games. So, I don’t think anybody has performed well enough.”
New England Patriots
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Since Tom Brady left town for Tampa in 2020, Belichick and the Patriots have three losing records and zero postseason wins. The 24-year coach in New England sits 28 games behind Don Shula for the most coaching wins in the NFL, and he may have to pursue it elsewhere after this season.
One possible location is Los Angeles, where coach Brandon Staley and his 4-7 Chargers have seemingly taken a step backward this season. Staley began his coaching career with nine- and 10-win seasons in his first two years with the Chargers. But in last year's playoffs, they blew a 27-point lead to Jacksonville, and can't seem to recover.
The Chargers have also lost 10 in a row to the Patriots including three straight in the playoffs.
“When you’re going against one of the greatest ever do it, that’s why you do it, to try to compete against the best,” Staley said, who lost his only coaching matchup with Belichick in 2021. “Now, we get another chance at it. Like I said, nothing but full respect for him.”
WHAT: Los Angeles Chargers (4-7, 2-3 Road) at New England Patriots (2-9, 1-5 Home)
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
WHERE: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA (64,628)
TELEVISION: CBS / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub
TICKETS via SI TICKETS
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Patriots +5.5
TOTAL: 39.5
MONEYLINE: Chargers -250, Patriots +200
