New England Patriots: Chargers Provide Wild Finish, Patriots Avert Meltdown
Did anyone tell the San Diego Chargers that they were supposed to try and win the game on Sunday against the New England Patriots?
Because they seemed to be doing just about everything in their power to not only give New England opportunities to put the game away, but also not to capitalize when the Patriots gave the Chargers a chance to take control of the game in the fourth quarter.
In the end, it was a narrow victory that could have been a stunning defeat, had the Chargers not been shooting themselves in the foot every chance they got.
Here are some key points to take away from the game.
Patrick Chung Appears Okay
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In the first half, Patrick Chung came off the field limping slightly.
Without Chung, it became apparent that his presence means a lot to this defense. His absence could have a little to do with the Chargers' ability to rally back in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots apparently won't be without him for long.
The Boston Herald has given some early reports that Chung expressed confidence in his health and ability to play next week.
Devin McCourty Nabs First NFL Interception
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The Rutgers first-round pick has faced a great deal of scrutiny since being drafted by the Patriots 27th overall in April, and his spotty play didn't do much to eliminate those talks. His performance on Sunday, though, at least quieted that talk to a whisper.
His athletic interception on Philip Rivers in the first half was breathtaking, to say the least, but it was part of a spotty day. Although Rivers went off for 336 yards, I wouldn't attribute very much of that to McCourty, as Kyle Arrington and Darius Butler were the ones getting beat more often than not. Also, the Patriots practically gave up the middle of the field after they took a big lead, which helped Rivers pad his stats a bit, as well.
Sloppy Play Dominates The Day
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The Chargers did as they have done so frequently this season and shot themselves in the foot with one special teams gaffe after another. They messed up a first-quarter onside kick attempt, and a late-game angled kick from Kris Brown bounced out of bounds and gave the Patriots good field position.
Richard Goodman put the ball on the ground after a first-down reception, and didn't realize he wasn't down. They turned the ball over four times in the first half, all but giving the Patriots their 10-point lead despite only 38 yards of offense.
The Patriots had seven penalties for 51 yards, while the Chargers had six for 69. A game that was dominated by sloppy play was ultimately ended on a sloppy play, as the Chargers had by far the most costly--a false start penalty on the game-tying field goal try that backed up the Chargers five yards, moving the attempt from 45 yards to 50. Kris Brown missed the ensuing try, and the Patriots ran out the clock.
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Oh No, Not Again...
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A big fourth-quarter decision to go for a first down on 4th-and-1 from the Chargers' 50-yard line looked all too familiar, and I'm sure had most New Englanders holding their collective Clam Chowdah.
Of course, the missed conversion had everyone seeing ghosts of last year's game against the Colts.
But Brady's quote after the game says it all: "I'll go for it every time." I like his unwavering confidence, but I'd be calling it something else had they failed to convert (undying cockiness, poor memory, among other things).
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, unless, of course, they face the San Diego Chargers, who are doomed to defeat themselves.
Offensive Line Gets No Protection
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New England's offensive line has been dominant this season, allowing just eight sacks through the first five games. They gave up half of that total on Sunday against the Chargers, and Tom Brady was uncharacteristically harassed for a majority of the game, leading to some ugly numbers in the first half.
The offense may be the hallmark of the team, but the Patriots are a team in every sense, capable of winning (or, in this case, not losing) in every way, shape, form, and fashion, much like last year's New Orleans Saints.
Patriots Win The Turnover Battle
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The Chargers doubled New England's offensive output in yardage, but shot themselves in the foot with one costly turnover after another. The Patriots vaunted offense was only able to put up a paltry 179 yards, including just 38 in the first half.
While the Patriots didn't commit a single turnover, the Chargers had three fumbles, and Philip Rivers added an interception. The Patriots were at +2 in the turnover column entering today's game, while the Chargers were -3, a tribute to their struggles through their first six games. Luckily for New England fans, the Chargers looked more willing to lose this game than the Patriots were willing to win it.
Linebackers Started Strong, Finished "Soft" In Coverage
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Tight ends have had their share of success against the Patriots defense this season. Dustin Keller had a huge game against them in week two, with seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Todd Heap had three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown, and may have done more had he not been taken out of the game for awhile after the Meriweather hit.
The Patriots did a solid job of keeping the ball away from Antonio Gates for the first 53 minutes, but allowing him to rack up four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown late in the game leaves something to be desired, and isn't exactly something to be proud of.
Sure, he's one of the greatest tight ends to play the game, but keeping him out of it is a lot different than giving up key receptions and a touchdown to let them get back in it.
Brandon Meriweather's Clean Hit
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The hit that Meriweather laid on Patrick Crayton in the first quarter was the type of hit football fans go to bed dreaming about. It was a perfectly clean hit, even under the new legislation, as Meriweather drove with his shoulder into the midsection of Crayton and knocked him backwards, despite allowing Crayton to pick up the first down.
This comes just one week after Meriweather was fined $50,000 for a helmet-to-helmet collision with Ravens tight end Todd Heap. Meriweather expressed deep regret, and wished aloud that this would all just go away. He started that process with his clean hit on Sunday.
The Fourth Quarter Comes Back To Haunt The Patriots
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We've all seen this before: a big game, with a big lead on the road, and in the fourth quarter, the Patriots nearly coughed it up. Fortunately for the Patriots, the Chargers have mastered the art of choking, at least this year, and couldn't take advantage.
After the game against the Miami Dolphins, in which the Patriots rallied from a one-point halftime deficit to win 41-14, and after the game against the Ravens in which the Patriots came back from down by 13 at home to win the game, it seemed as though the fourth quarter troubles were a thing of the past.]
The Patriots only managed a field goal in the fourth quarter, while allowing the Chargers to bolt back into the game with 17 points.
Though the Patriots narrowly escaped another humiliating fourth-quarter loss, there's clearly work to be done.
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