The Result
“May I have your attention! I have just been handed an important news bulletin…….”
The Patriots whip the Chargers, 38-14 at Gillette Stadium in front of a national television audience and improve to 2-0. The Chargers drop to 1-1.
You know the old saying, “You mess with the bull, you get the horns” well that applies here as LaDainian Tomlinson and the rest of the whiney cry baby Chargers got their asses kicked up and down the field tonight. This should show teams to just shut their mouths and play the game on the field.
Have fun on that long ass, late night plane ride back to California.
The Patriots battle cry. Camera’s? We don’t need no stinking camera’s. Folks this team is pretty damn good, in fact it may be the best team they’ve ever had and that’s saying a lot.
Scoring Plays
NE 1st Qtr Brady 7 yard pass to Watson – kick good, 7-0 Patriots
NE 1st Qtr Brady 23 yard pass to Moss – kick good, 14-0 Patriots
NE 2nd QTR Gostkowski 24 yard FG – 17-0 Patriots
NE 2nd Qtr Thomas 65 yard interception return – kick good, 24-0 Patriots
SD 3rd Qtr Rivers 1 yard pass to Neal – kick good, 24-7 Patriots
NE 3rd Qtr Brady 24 yard pass to Moss – kick good, 31-7 Patriots
SD 4th Qtr Rivers 12 yard pass to Gates – kick good, 31-14 Patriots
NE 4th Qtr Morris 3 yard run – kick good, 38-14 Patriots
Offensive Player of the Game
Tom Brady 25 of 31 for 279 yards, 3 touchdown passes and 1 interception.
Defensive Player of the Game
Roosevelt Colvin had an interception and forced a fumble as well as making 5 tackles and getting 2 sacks.
Turning Points of the Game
Rosevelt Colvin’s interception in the first quarter and his forced fumble later in the quarter set the tone and then Adalius Thomas’s 65 yard interception return for a touchdown broke the Chargers back.
Offensive Leaders/Notes
Laurence Maroney ran 15 times for 77 yards, Sammy Morris had 10 carries for 51 yards and 1 TD while Randy Moss had 8 catches for 105 yards and 2 TDs and Wes Welker got 8 catches for 91 yards.
Defensive Leaders/Notes
In addition to Colvin, Junior Seau had 6 tackles, Ty Warren and Eugene Wilson had 5 tackles, Mike Vrabel had 5 tackles and 1 sack.
The defense held LaDainian Tomlinson to 43 yards on 18 carries.
After the special teams mistake in the 4th quarter Mike Vrabel and Roosevelt Colvin get back-to-back sacks and the defense made a stand and stuffed them again on 3rd down.
Special Teams Leaders/Notes
Ellis Hobbs got stripped on a 4th quarter kick off return allowing San Diego to get good field position after scoring. Stephen Gostkowski missed a first quarter field goal but did convert all 5 of his extra points as well as adding a field goal.
Coaching Decisions
There’s nothing really of note, the Patriots executed everytime they had to and it didn’t lead to any big decisions.
Injuries
San Diego NT Jamal Williams hurt his left arm, returned to game with arm brace on. Chargers OT Shane Olivea left the game and didn’t return.
The Referees
Ed Hochuli and his crew were virtually invisible and called a fair even game. Hochuli actually went to both huddles in the fourth quarter and apparently told them to knock off the chippiness.
Game Notes
Patriots opened the game in a no huddle offense and scored on the first drive.
Junior Seau played in his 243rd NFL game. 6th best all time for defensive players.
Tom Brady’s 134.2 passer rating is the best in the NFL through two weeks.
I am very impressed with Adalius Thomas. That 275 pound man out ran the Chargers wide outs on his 65 yard interception return for a TD.
Post Game Press Conferences
Upon publication the press conferences of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady were not available. You can check this link for them.
Press conferences are via Patriots.com
Things To Work On For Next Week
I don’t really know. I guess maybe the offensive line could go back to allowing no sacks but you have to realize they played against one of the best front sevens in the game. San Diego’s Shawne Merriman had 2 sacks.
Next Week’s Opponent
The Patriots host their AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast locally by CBS and along the Patriots Rock Radio Network.
Rest of the AFC East Results
Pittsburgh rips Buffalo, 26-3
Dallas sinks Miami, 37-20
Baltimore downs NY Jets, 20-13
Other AFC Games of Note
Indianapolis holds off Tennessee, 22-20
Denver nips Oakland, 23-20 in OT.
