After a 14-win regular season, the New England Patriots will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football, marking their first home playoff game since 2019. While postseason matchups often come down to attrition, New England enters Wild Card Weekend in a strong position from a health standpoint.
For a team preparing to play its nineteenth game, the Patriots are one of the healthier teams left in the playoff field.
Who Will Be Inactive on Sunday Night
The Patriots will be without Khyiris Tonga, who has been ruled out with a foot injury. Tonga is the lone confirmed inactive on an otherwise healthy roster, an encouraging sign at this stage of the season.
While his absence is notable, particularly against the run, New England has already begun adjusting its approach along the interior defensive line.
Interior Defensive Line Outlook Without Khyiris Tonga
Before his injury, Tonga was a key part of New England’s short-yardage and early down defensive packages. Since losing him, the Patriots have leaned more heavily on rotation and versatility up front, a shift that became far easier once Milton Williams returned in Week 18.
Williams played a limited number of snaps in his first game back, but his impact was immediate. He consistently occupied blockers, disrupted run lanes, and helped create favorable one-on-one rush opportunities for teammates. His return has helped stabilize the interior and raised the overall ceiling of the defensive front.
Robert Spillane’s Return Raises the Defensive Floor
The expected return of Captain Robert Spillane could be just as impactful. Spillane is responsible for aligning the front and communicating adjustments, which allows the Patriots’ defense to play faster and more decisively.
While New England remained functional in his absence, the unit lacked the same level of cohesion and unity. Getting Spillane back raises the floor of the defense and should help restore the physical, downhill identity that defined the Patriots earlier in the season.
On offense, Kayshon Boutte remains a player to monitor, but the expectation is that he will be available for Sunday night’s game. Boutte is ranked 18th in PFSN Wide Receiver Impact metrics. His presence helps stretch the field vertically and prevents defenses from compressing throwing windows underneath.
Up front, New England appears positioned to deploy its preferred personnel groupings. Six offensive lineman packages have fueled explosive runs over the last month, and that approach is expected to remain part of the game plan. Thayer Munford Jr.’s availability would make those heavy looks cleaner, but the commitment to physicality is unlikely to change regardless.
