The San Diego Chargers (1-0) take on the New England Patriots (1-0) this weekend.  The Patriots are coming off a game in which Tom Brady threw for 517 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In this weekly article, Pro Football Spotlight will bring you the upcoming opponent’s rushing and passing tendencies, as well as some additional data and observations. For example: Did you know that Brady had a completion percentage of over 60% when throwing the ball deep in week #1?

Every team in the NFL has strengths and weaknesses, tendencies, and go-to guys. They have plays they like to call during tight situations or directions they like to run when in the middle of the football field.

Let’s take a look at the rest of those tendencies…

Rushing Offense

Rushing Notes:

• Not a lot of tendencies after only the first week of the season in the run game for the Patriots.
• One area of note, is that the Pats ranked 4th in the NFL in week #1 by running 6 times at their right tackle.  When they ran over that right tackle they averaged 5.83 yards, per carry.
•  The Chargers only had the ball run toward their defensive left (offensive right) 6 times in the first week.  Once over the right tackle spot for 7 yards, and 5 times around the end for a 2.2 yard average (stat not found in chart) which was 10 in the NFL in week #1.

Passing Offense

Passing Notes:

• One glaring stat in the chart above, is that Tom Brady averaged 20 yards or more when throwing the ball deep in week #1.  Wow!
• Brady had a 60% completion rate when throwing the ball deep (stat not in chart).
• The Patriots ranked 3rd in the NFL in week #1 in attempts to the short left side of the field.  And per the usual, Brady had a pretty good completion rate in that zone, ending with 76% completion rate.
• Look for New England to pass just like they always have.  The key will be getting pressure on Brady so he doesn’t have the time to throw it deep…or at the very least…doesn’t have time to have such an eye popping 60% completion rate when throwing deep.