Bedard: A mental and physical toughness test coming to Mayo's Patriots via Harbaugh, Chargers

Some thoughts on the Patriots as I continue to grumble about the shift to Saturday that has resulted in missing my son's high school hockey game ... sue me.

The biggest aspect of this matchup with the Chargers, to me, is that it's going to be a measuring stick for Jerod Mayo as (we think) he attempts to make this team mentally and physically tough. Mayo says a lot about what they're trying to do, but I can't say for sure he's actually trying to do that.

The Chargers are not all that talented and they didn't make a ton of additions to a team that went 5-12 last season. Sure, they have some spotlight players like LT Rashawn Slater, QB Justin Herbert and rookie RT Joe Alt on offense, and Joey Bosa (overrated), Derwin James and Khalil Mack (old) on defense. But the Chargers are a prime example of an experienced head coach - and his handpicked staff - in Jim Harbaugh making the whole better than the sum of its parts. 

Harbaugh knows exactly how the Chargers need to play in order to win each game, and it's certainly not sexy. They haven't won a game by more than a touchdown since handling the downtrodden Saints, Browns and Titans in successive weeks in early November. They don't really blow anybody out because they're just not that good, especially offensively. Herbert's best receiver is Joshua Palmer, who is a 3. For a while, blocking TE Will Dissly was a go-to guy for Herbert. The Chargers should get RB JK Dobbins back today, but their interior offensive line is weak and just lost RG Trey Pipkins, so the even worse Jamaree Salyer will likely start. 

So how exactly are the Chargers 9-5? Coaching that maximizes the roster, and attitude. And that's where the test is for the Patriots and Mayo.

The Bills were a team primed for a letdown, but the Patriots definitely impressed for the first time in a while hanging around in Buffalo.

They can do similar, in a different way on Saturday.

Harbaugh's teams have always been about physicality. Offensively, the Chargers are a run-first team that can't really run, but they try with multiple tight ends and a FB in Scott Matlock who used to be a defensive lineman and is 6-4 and 296 pounds. Tucker Fisk, a blocking tight end, is 6-3 and 285 pounds. They try to mash opponents and wear them down. Defensively, they try to beat you up as well in the trenches.

The plan is to beat up opponents for four quarters until the succumb down the stretch. 

The Patriots proved they could give the Bills a game and their best shot with a fast start. That was nice to see. On Saturday, the Patriots can prove they are mentally and physically tough by giving the Chargers all they can handle.

This is a pretty big gut-check for the Mayo regime near the end of Year 1. If the Patriots can match the physicality of the Chargers, that's another promising sign. However, if the Chargers — an LA dome team playing at 10 a.m. local time for them — come in here and emasculate Mayo's Patriots in a blowout where they are just outclassed for four quarters, that would be fairly embarrassing and not a good sign.

NICKEL PACKAGE

1. Josina Anderson is one of the best information reporters in our business, but I have to admit I had a lot of trouble following what she wrote about Jerod Mayo's future.

The Patriots have already done "broad evaluations" of Mayo and his coaching staff? I know they have been evaluating Mayo for a while on their own, but the Krafts usually wait until the season is over to make real assessments. How long ago did they do this? Was that just Mayo telling the Krafts who isn't doing their job in his opinion?

There are people in the building that blame the coaching for not making more of what they have (sounds like personnel people - and I agree), and others point at the talent (sounds like Mayo and/or coaches)? That's really healthy.

I'm having a hard time finding a point to the story. I can't tell what Anderson is trying to say.

2. Keion White's words to reporters this week, including Giardi, should be pretty alarming to people in the organization, especially the Krafts. One of the franchise's best young talents is obviously frustrated and not happy with what's going on. White was on the upswing entering this season, and started fast. That's Mayo's side of the ball, his expertise, and one of his few handpicked hires (DeMarcus Covington) is the coordinator. This is certainly not good.

My interpretation? He's not happy with new coaches Jerry Montgomery (players either loved him or hated in Green Bay) and outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins (the Ravens were not sad to see him go). However, this is where a strong head coach and defensive coordinator step in if necessary. The Patriots obviously have neither and therein lies a lot of big problems around here. Now you can understand why the defense has fallen off so much. If Mayo was going to do anything this year, he should have been able to save that side of the ball and at least make it respectable. Did the emperor not have any defensive clothes entering this job?

3. Thought these were very interesting and self-aware comments by Jerry Jones:

This is the state of offensive line development in the NFL, and a cautionary tale for the Patriots. There are few, if any, linemen coming out of college today that are plug and play. They are going to struggle. The Patriots need to keep drafting linemen, especially high, but they better have development plans like the one they had for Drake Maye. At worst, they sit for a while. At best, they prove they can play earlier.

4. The fact that the Patriots passed on Chargers WR Ladd McConkey in favor of a trade-down to net Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker will likely get a lot of air time and attention on Saturday. For better or for worse, I don't think many teams would have drafted an undersized 6-foot, 185-pound receiver who had durability issues at Georgia and was sort of a bit player. Obviously Harbaugh wanted him and it looks good right now, but if you're trading up to 34, we have to see how his longevity plays out. We also need to Polk and Baker when they have a position coach who has actually done it higher than the junior college level. Sanjay Lal, the Chargers' WRs coach, has instructed the position in the NFL since 2009. That's 15 freaking years!

5. BEDARD'S PICK

Season: 5-8-2 spread, 10-5 straight up.

Line: Chargers -4.5, 42.5 o/u.

I was really not impressed with the Chargers on film and it blows me away they've won nine games, but that's what you get with a great head coach. Part of me thinks the Chargers are going to lay the wood on the Patriots physically, and this could be embarrassing for Mayo. But I just don't think the Chargers are going to run away and hide from the Patriots.

Chargers 20, Patriots 17.