The Patriots have a slew of players listed as questionable, particularly on the defense and offensive line. One significant potential absence could be center Ben Brown, who did not practice this week with a concussion. Coach Jerod Mayo said Lecitus Smith and Cole Strange are potential options to handle snapping duties if Brown is unavailable.

Downfield, the Pats will face tough matchups across the board, none tougher than Derwin James. The All-Pro safety plays all over Los Angeles’ zone-heavy defense, disguising blitzes and coverages. Maye will need to steer clear of James, while looking for his favorite targets in Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 17 of the Unconventional Preview, a serious yet lighthearted, nostalgia-tinted look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup … So, what constitutes a good day for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye against the Chargers on Saturday?

SportsLine's model simulated Saturday's Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots matchup 10,000 times and revealed its NFL best bets

Fans can watch the game for free by signing up for fuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both have free trials. You can also watch the game via Paramount+ or NFL+. Meanwhile, Sling provides one of the cheapest streaming options on the market.

Patriots, Broncos-Bengals and Cardinals Rams in Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season. Here’s how to watch, including time, channel, TV schedule and streaming info.