The New England Patriots are more banged up than usual 13 weeks into an NFL season, but they’re getting by as only Bill Belichick’s team can: very well, as it turns out. Since a close loss to the Seattle Seahawks three weeks ago, the Patriots have won their last two games and will be heavily favored in their Sunday game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams vs. Patriots: Start time, live TV schedule for NFL Week 13 matchup
The Patriots are banged up, but they should be more than enough for Jared Goff and the Rams on Sunday.
That game will be broadcast on FOX, with a live stream available online via FOX Sports GO, though it will require login credentials from a cable or satellite provider. The game will begin at 1 p.m. ET, in the early slate of games.
The Patriots will be without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who underwent surgery on a herniated disc. He was injured against the Seahawks and missed the team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, but then tried to play against the New York Jets. Gronkowski is expected to be out eight weeks, meaning if he does return, it would probably only happen if the Patriots make the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady and Martellus Bennett are also hurt for the Patriots, but both should be on the field Sunday. Brady is dealing with a knee injury and missed practice time earlier in the week, but it’s been an issue he’s played through for the past two games.
Bennett is dealing with a pre-existing ankle injury and a new shoulder injury.
The Rams don’t do many things well, but defensively they’re not bad, ranking ninth in the league in total defense. That includes the league’s seventh-ranked pass defense but the 20th-ranked rush defense. Without Gronkowski, and if Brady and Bennett are still banged up, running the ball might be necessary for New England to win.
LeGarrette Blount leads the Patriots in rushing with 869 yards on 212 carries. That’s a per-carry average of 4.1 yards, and he has 12 touchdowns on the ground on top of that. He’s a brilliant short-yardage back. James White and Dion Lewis are the backs behind him. Blount averages 79 rushing yards per game, but the Rams allow 112.3 rushing yards per game.
If Brady and the Patriots get a win on Sunday, then the quarterback will become the winningest player at his position in NFL history. He’ll be going up against a player who probably sure would like to break that record one day. But rookie Jared Goff has an exceedingly long way to go to reach 201 career wins — like getting his first one.
Goff completed 37 of 63 passes for 348 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in his two starts thus far. He took over for Case Keenum, who had nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions before the Rams finally elected to bench him.
Earlier this week, Jeff Fisher was in the news after legendary Rams running back Eric Dickerson said that he would never go to another Rams game as long as Fisher was the coach. The Rams are 4-7 and haven’t had a winning season with Fisher at the helm. He might finally be feeling the pressure of the hot seat.
How to Watch Rams vs. Patriots on Sunday
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
TV: FOX
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver
Online Streaming: Sunday Ticket, FOX Sports GO
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