WINNING UP FRONT

The Chargers were among the league’s most efficient teams on the ground. The Patriots were among the worst at defending the run on a per-carry basis, allowing 4.9 yards a pop. The two units are trending in opposite directions, though. Los Angeles enters with two banged-up running backs. Melvin Gordon, who posted a career-high 5.1 yards per carry, is nursing a pair of sore knees. Third-down back Austin Ekeler was a game-time decision with a groin injury last week. He didn’t look like himself against the Ravens. Meanwhile, the Patriots defense seemed to find itself in the final few weeks, albeit against inferior competition. Bill Belichick tweaked his personnel, activating defensive tackle Danny Shelton for gameday and promoting 6-foot-6, 295-pound end Ufomba Kamalu from the practice squad. The front seven looked great against the Jets, stuffing running back Elijah McGuire at or behind the line of scrimmage on 10 of his 18 carries. The New England defensive front needs to keep this going against Gordon and Co. If the Chargers can run the ball, Philip Rivers’ day gets much, much easier.