Daily news and links for Thursday.
TEAM TALK
- Patriots-Chargers initial Injury Report.
- Evan Lazar’s Patriots Gameplan: Previewing Drake Maye vs. Justin Herbert in Saturday’s matchup vs. the Chargers.
- Game Preview: Chargers at Patriots. Series history, Scouting the matchups, tale of the tape.
- Broadcast Info: How to watch/listen to Chargers at Patriots.
- Sights and Sounds: Week 16 vs. Buffalo Bills. (3 min. video)
- Patriots Unfiltered: Bills recap, Practice report, Draft talk. (2 hours)
- Patriots Playbook with John Rooke: Bills Recap, Chargers preview. (2 hours)
LOCAL LINKS
- Andrew Callahan hands out Christmas gifts to Drake Maye and the 2024 Patriots. To Drake Maye: A receiver. /He’s going to exchange it for a LT.
- Doug Kyed reports Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett reward the O-line with Christmas gifts.
- Karen Guregian notes there were three missing starters at practice on Tuesday.
- Karen Guregian highlights Drake Maye pointing out at least one similarity he has with Chargers QB Justin Herbert.
- Tom Carroll notes Drake Maye doesn’t believe his aggressive style of play is leading to turnovers.
- Chris Mason relays Drake Maye on how WR Kayshon Boutte is beating man coverage every week.
- Doug Kyed explains how newest Patriots running back Terrell Jennings is like family to DeMario Douglas.
- Sara Marshall suggests that the Pats’ plans for their final games might change after the Chiefs’ Christmas Day win.
- Darren Hartwell highlights Albert Breer making a case for keeping Alex Van Pelt at OC, and using an analogy to how Andy Reid set Patrick Mahomes up for success with the Chiefs.
- Chris Mason’s Patriots mailbag: What is the Pats’ best plan at left tackle?
- Alex Barth’s Patriots Mailbag: Where things stand after a surprise performance in Buffalo
NATIONAL NEWS
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) NFL Christmas Day 2024 Takeaways: Chiefs clinch No. 1 Seed, Ravens rout Texans; Plus, putting together our nice and naughty lists.
- Jeff Kerr (CBS Sports) NFL Christmas overreactions.
- Kyle Koster (SI) Netflix just ushered in the future by acing its big Christmas Day test.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Top surprise Christmas gifts of 2024 NFL season. Who pleasantly suprised?
- Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Most disappointing veteran acquisitions of 2024. Matt Judon (ATL) included.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson MVP odds narrow.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Lamar Jackson passes Michael Vick for most career rushing yards by a QB.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins limited at Chargers practice.
- Matt Verderame (SI) NFL Quarterback Rankings: Lamar Jackson making the MVP race interesting. Drake May 20th.
- Staff (SI) NFL Week 17: Best games, Key matchups, Best bets and predictions.
- Ali Bhanpuri (NFL.com) Next Gen Stats: Postseason probabilities entering Week 17 of 2024 season.
- John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL Week 17 picks and score predictions. Chargers win 23-16.
- Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports) NFL Week 17 picks, odds, spread, best bets. Chargers win 20-17.
- MMQB Staff (SI) NFL Week 17 picks. All six pick Chargers to win.