The Chargers play in an open-air stadium, so it's not technically a dome, but it does have a canopy roof that mainly shields them from the elements. Even better, they play in Los Angeles, and that is not an area that gets New England cold or any extreme weather like sleet or snow. That won't be something they're spared on Sunday, as the weather report for Foxborough already looks like it will benefit the home team.
After being selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he would catch just two balls during his rookie year. He was quiet for the bulk of his sophomore campaign as well until he averaged 80 yards across his last three games, including a 117-yard performance in Week 18. Across his first 12 games that season, he'd average just 23.3 yards per game.
A bonus was that they snatched him from Buffalo, where virtually every 2024 catch he made was either a first down or a touchdown. That hurt the Bills in a classic case of addition and subtraction. The big receiver continued his big-play ways for the Patriots in 2025. He notched 46 receptions for 550 yards, two touchdowns, and 28 first downs. He's also the Patriots' biggest wide receiver at 6'4" and 221 pounds. That creates matchup nightmares for any defensive back, especially shorter ones.
The New England Patriots got good news on that front when it comes to Drake Maye's banged-up throwing shoulder. Lindsay Jones reported that Maye not only practiced in full on Wednesday, but took every first-team rep. That's a good sign that Maye, after taking most of last week off, will be about as close to 100 percent as possible entering his 21st game of the season.
A big reason the New England Patriots find themselves set to play the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX is the success of their pass rush, which leads the NFL in postseason sacks. Outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson has been helping spearhead the defensive unit in that department during the playoffs, with a team-high three sacks and 14 quarterback pressures, the second-highest total league wide.
The Bills have obviously been one of the NFL's best and most successful teams over the last eight years, going toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. But even though they've had a ton of regular season success, and Josh Allen has even taken home some significant hardware as the reigning MVP, they haven't been able to get over the proverbial playoff hump.
No, ESPN does not hate the Patriots. Wait, check that for a second. Rex Ryan definitely hates the Patriots. Give him some grace on that. The man coached the Jets for six years. You have no idea what that does to the soul. Some might also add Cam Newton to the Patriot Haters Club, since he seems to have a terrible take on something going on in Foxborough every time he appears on "First Take" or its ilk.
