Patriots 21, Chargers 12

Patriots 21, Chargers 12

They were a warm weather team trying to play on the road in cold weather. They had too many injuries and the Patirots were unbeatable and destined to move onto the Super Bowl. Name the reason for the San Diego Chargers not having any chance of even making a game of it with the New England Patriots and most of us likely heard it this week.

So had the Chargers, they just didn't pay any attention to any of it and gave the New England Patriots a run for their money in the AFC title game.

The Chargers came out, played aggressively and didn't back off for the most part. They made quarterback Tom Brady look human, even average at times, mainly by bringing pressure right up the middle. Brady couldn't step up or see the field like he has been accustomed to and it showed. The outcome was that Brady started off completing two of his first six passes with an interception.

The Chargers also took Randy Moss out of the passing game entirely in the first half. The wide receiver didn't register his first and only reception of the game until seven minutes remained in the third quarter.

Once again, it was Kevin Faulk and Wes Welker who did all the damage for New England. Faulk, coming out of the backfield, hauled in eight passes for 82 yards to lead the Pats. Welker had seven receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown.

But unfortunately for them, the Bolts had to battle the Pats without the services of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, whose injured knee kept him on the sidelines after only two carries and a reception.

While Michael Turner filled in well (17 rushes, 65 yards), the absence of Tomlinson and a limited Antonio Gates undoubtedly affected the Chargers once they found themselves in the red zone.

San Diego had to settle for three Nate Kaeding field goals after getting deep into Patriots territory in the game. Kaeding kicked a total of four field goals in the game and accounted for all the San Diego points.

Brady wasn't totally cold as the game progressed. He did throw touchdown passes to Jabar Gaffney and Wes Welker, but he also got picked off two more times. Brady finished the game 22-of-33 for 209 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

With the passing game struggling, the Patriots looked to their ground game and Laurence Maroney to move the ball. Maroney rushed for 122 yards with a touchdown in the game. Most of his yards came in the second half.

Phil Rivers, playing on a bad knee, played well at times but was intercepted twice by the Patriots. The first turnover led to a New England touchdown. He finished 19-of-37 for 211 yards. Vincent Jackson led the Chargers with six receptions for 93 yards. Chris Chambers added seven receptions for 90 yards.

The Chargers gave New England more of a fight than anyone probably expected, but in the end, they weren't playing with all their weapons and couldn't finish in the red zone. The Patriots, who held the ball for over 20 minutes in the second half, didn't play a perfect game, but were able to do what they had to do to win.

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Fan Comments moss is not their best player. it has been welker all year and the guy who performs in the playoffs...faulk. norv turned was a fool for not going for it on 4th down, down by 9 on the pats 36. volek should have started and played in this game. that being said....LT is a coward. how many chances do you get to go to the superbowl. for moss being all that....this is his first. hint to LT, you let your team and your city down. brady played his worst game of the year and the pats look vulnerable to me. its a good thing they still have faulk or they would have lost that game. moss is losing his halo it appears. he ran to the lockerroom the second the game was over while the other pats celebrated. the giants have nothing to lose. the pats have everything to lose. if not for their mastermind and cheating coach Id say they might lose in the superbowl. Posted at 21/01 12:27 by kinnick1 View All