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Players to Watch: Patriots vs. Chargers
Patriots Football Weekly's Andy Hart gives you his players to watch during Sunday's matchup against the San Diego Chargers.
![Rob Gronkowski](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/srtf8zmhxeyaphcxtond.jpg)
![No. 12 was under a decent amount of pressure last week in Green Bay. Now, he faces a Chargers front ranked 29'th in sacks per pass play and a defense that's allowed 30-plus points in three of its last five games](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/i8j08toswkuu7hzqgk9l.jpg)
No. 12 was under a decent amount of pressure last week in Green Bay. Now, he faces a Chargers front ranked 29'th in sacks per pass play and a defense that's allowed 30-plus points in three of its last five games
![New England's shutdown corner clearly didn't feel good about allowing Jordy Nelson's 45-yard game-changing touchdown in Green Bay. Revis will have a chance to take out his coverage frustrations on second-year Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, far and away Philip Rivers top target.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/ip28ip7ld7uurmr0xmc3.jpg)
New England's shutdown corner clearly didn't feel good about allowing Jordy Nelson's 45-yard game-changing touchdown in Green Bay. Revis will have a chance to take out his coverage frustrations on second-year Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, far and away Philip Rivers top target.
![The veteran safety has been a very impressive story in his second tour of duty in New England. But Chung has had his ups and downs in coverage and this week he'll likely see a good deal of potential future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, who's aging but still productive.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/hjzihr0ualgaka17opab.jpg)
The veteran safety has been a very impressive story in his second tour of duty in New England. But Chung has had his ups and downs in coverage and this week he'll likely see a good deal of potential future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, who's aging but still productive.
![In two games of his return to New England, Blount is averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. The Chargers allow 4.3 yards a carry and have given up eight rushing touchdowns. #BlountForceTrauma](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/ozp0y7nzesxluzfxgtxd.jpg)
In two games of his return to New England, Blount is averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry. The Chargers allow 4.3 yards a carry and have given up eight rushing touchdowns. #BlountForceTrauma
![San Diego's quarterback is having a very impressive season, with a passer rating of 102.8 that's slightly higher than Tom Brady's. He's completing nearly 70 percent of his throws and leads one of the best third-down offenses (No. 3) in the game.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/wfe2z9h68imzdglvc9ud.jpg)
San Diego's quarterback is having a very impressive season, with a passer rating of 102.8 that's slightly higher than Tom Brady's. He's completing nearly 70 percent of his throws and leads one of the best third-down offenses (No. 3) in the game.
![The Chargers have not run the ball well in 2014, in part because Mathews missed seven games to injury. But the Patriots are still a bit suspect against the run at times and Mathews has found the end zone in each of the last two weeks.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/mj2u0v29cwwykjgcocnn.jpg)
The Chargers have not run the ball well in 2014, in part because Mathews missed seven games to injury. But the Patriots are still a bit suspect against the run at times and Mathews has found the end zone in each of the last two weeks.
![Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates are the stars of the passing attack. But the veteran Royal has had a combined 15 catches in the last two weeks as he heads into a potential matchup with a New England corner who's either struggling (Logan Ryan) or banged up (Kyle Arrington).](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/lnyzvgjgmqle7tercqys.jpg)
Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates are the stars of the passing attack. But the veteran Royal has had a combined 15 catches in the last two weeks as he heads into a potential matchup with a New England corner who's either struggling (Logan Ryan) or banged up (Kyle Arrington).
![San Diego's veteran Pro Bowl safety would be a key guy to keep an eye on even if he didn't have one of the NFL's best beards. (@weddlesbeard on Twitter!) Weddle is the Chargers play caller and key cog in the back end. He also might cross paths with Rob Gronkowski at times throughout the night.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/mujh4dfurwvdqs1yxt5f.jpg)
San Diego's veteran Pro Bowl safety would be a key guy to keep an eye on even if he didn't have one of the NFL's best beards. (@weddlesbeard on Twitter!) Weddle is the Chargers play caller and key cog in the back end. He also might cross paths with Rob Gronkowski at times throughout the night.
![The defensive tackle is the heart of San Diego's defensive line. He leads the team with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while ranking second with 15 QB hits.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/ulq4miwfixslyf55vld5.jpg)
The defensive tackle is the heart of San Diego's defensive line. He leads the team with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while ranking second with 15 QB hits.Â