New England Patriots (9-3) at San Diego Chargers (8-4)

Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego – TV: NBC

*TV announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya

*Keys to the game: Troubling coverage breakdowns last week at Baltimore are a focus of preparation for San Diego this week. The issue for the Chargers starts with minimal pressure on the quarterback. In the past five games, they have only three sacks, which means QB Tom Brady could have five or six seconds to survey San Diego’s shaky secondary.

Blitzing Brady is not out of the question – the Packers were able to get to him with A-gap pressure – but it comes with significant risk, especially if the Patriots get their running game rolling.

Run-blocking is suspect for San Diego, yet the predictable plan of attack from the Chargers is not simple to slow down. WRs Keenan Allen (17 catches) and Eddie Royal (15) and TE Antonio Gates (9) have picked up the pace the past two weeks with RB Ryan Mathews back in the lineup. How the Patriots plot to contain Gates could be intriguing. CB Darrelle Revis, who practices against Rob Gronkowski on a daily basis, said he would like the assignment.

FRIDAY INJURY LIST

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

–Doubtful: LB Chris White

–Questionable: LS Danny Aiken (concussion), CB Kyle Arrington (ankle), G Dan Connolly (ankle), DE Dominique Easley (knee), WR Julian Edelman (thigh), T Cameron Fleming (ankle), LB Dont’a Hightower (shoulder), DE Chandler Jones (hip), WR Brandon LaFell (shoulder), RB Shane Vereen (ankle)

–Probable: QB Tom Brady (ankle), T Marcus Cannon (hip)

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

–Out: NT Ryan Carrethers (elbow)

–Questionable: LB Donald Butler (quad), T D.J. Fluker (concussion), C Chris Watt (calf)

–Probable: LB Andrew Gachkar (knee), DT Corey Liuget (knee), QB Philip Rivers (chest)

*Matchup to watch – Chargers WR Malcom Floyd vs. Patriots secondary: Floyd is leading the team with a 17.7-yard average on 39 receptions and is mostly a deep threat. At 6-5, he has great speed and excels at making contested catches while working primarily against man coverage as defenses roll to Gates and Allen.

*Player spotlight – Patriots C Brian Stork: The fourth-round pick has impressed since making his first start in Week 4 and LG Dan Connolly called him one of the most studious, hardest-working players on the roster. Teams are testing Stork by shooting inside gaps on passing downs, but he has been quick to adjust as an extension of Brady.

*Fast facts: Rivers has a 30-6 career December record. … The Patriots are 3-3 on the road this season with an average margin of defeat of 15 points.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

A week of preparation in California has the Patriots situated for the primetime game with serious postseason implications. There is not enough time for San Diego to upgrade a listless pass rush and spotty secondary.

*Our pick: Patriots 37-28