FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ 41-28 win over the Chargers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis (turning point, second-guesses, 3 up/down, and takes we'll regret later):
HEADLINES
Patriots dominate Chargers in all phases: By halftime, the Patriots led the Chargers 35-7 after dominating in every way imaginable. Some halftime numbers -- New England had 24 first downs to the Chargers' six. The Patriots' converted 83 percent of third downs to 33 percent. New England had 347 total yards to 128 for Los Angeles. The Patriots out-rushed the Chargers 114 to 17, and Tom Brady had a completion rate of 79.3 percent to 43.8 percent for Phillip Rivers. Chargers also had a muffed punt that led to the Patriots' final score of the first half. It was all but over at that point.
Brady, running game shred Chargers scheme: Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are no strangers to the Pete Carroll's Cover 3 scheme that originated in Seattle and has had various outposts in Atlanta, Jacksonville and, now, Los Angeles, with coordinator Gus Bradley. They might have had some issues with it in the first meeting, way back in Seattle in 2012 -- but if you don't put any wrinkles in, Brady is going to feast. And he did. The quarterback wound up completing 34 of 44 passes for 343 yards and one touchdown (106.5 rating). Brady was aided by a running game — which feature a run-blocking system from the line to the tight ends, fullback and receivers — that absolutely abused a Chargers scheme that primarily put zero or one linebacker on the field for most of the game. When you're rushing at 6.3 yards per clip, as the Patriots did in the first half, the defense can't get a bead on anything. And the Patriots stayed ahead of the sticks all night.
Defense flusters, frustrates Rivers: Los Angeles had one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL this season, but you wouldn't have known it from this game. The Patriots' front seven overwhelmed an average Chargers offensive line in the run game (10 carries, 19 yards) and then teed off on Rivers with the amoeba pass rush once the score started to get away from them. Rivers was hit or pressured on most of his snaps, including two sacks and seven official quarterback hits. He finished by completing 25 of 51 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns (most of the yards and one touchdown came in garbage time) and a rating of 81.4.
TURNING POINT
After a third-down incompletion to Chris Hogan where the Patriots got the benefit of the doubt on an iffy defensive holding call against Desmond King while covering Julian Edelman, Sony Michel went over the right side for 40 yards, his longest carry of the season. Tremendous blocks by Shaq Mason, Joe Thuney and David Andrews cleared a nice lane for Michel.
SECOND GUESS
The Chargers' defensive gameplan. They really thought they were just going to run their scheme and beat Brady? You have to throw something at him he doesn't expect.
Also, the Chargers' decision not to put more beef on the field when it was obvious the Patriots were manhandling the Chargers up front. It was a bad plan made worse by no adjustments — or late adjustments.
"We made some adjustments, but it was a little too late," said L.A. coach Anthony Lynn. "And you know, we went little, like we did last week some. But that running game was just too physical. You know, we had to get our linebackers in, and then sometimes, they got us in some matchups in the passing game that we didn’t like. So, they did a heck of a job picking us apart."
THREE UP
Offensive line: Brady wasn't sacked, or even lightly jostled. As a unit, the line not only owned the line, but as individuals, they got to the second level and punished the Chargers for trying to go small. The Ravens' offensive line must have been embarrassed watching this game. But give all the credit to Trent Brown, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason and Marcus Cannon. They owned this game and made you forget about Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
Julian Edelman: Just a balls-to-the-wall type of game for the Patriots' little warrior. Caught nine passes for 135 yards, and returned five punts for 37. He seemed to be open all day long as he wore out the much-younger and faster Desmond King ... and then broke tackles and muscled his way for more yards.
Pass rush: All of them, from the line to Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy at linebacker, made life for Rivers miserable. He was constantly moved off his spot and also blasted more than a few times.
THREE DOWN
I honestly don't have any. There was some groundswell on Twitter for Jason McCourty, and he did have some issues (Stephon Gilmore had a blown coverage for a TD as well), but the Patriots didn't do much wrong in this game (pending film review ... ;)).
INJURIES
None of note for the Patriots.
TOP PLAYS
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Don't see why the Patriots can't have the same type of performance in Kansas City: You're going to hear a lot this week about the Patriots' struggles on the road and how they were able to play like this after a bye week. But it will be different playing back-to-back weeks in the playoffs. Just like the criticism of the team leading up to this one, it will be valid once again. But if they can play a flawless game like this against a good Chargers team, why can't they do that on the road next week in Kansas City? Are they tough enough? Go prove it again.
This might have been the best playoff performance by a Patriots team since 2004: Going through the Patriots' playoff history, I think you could make a very strong case that this was Patriots' most impressive victory since their 41-27 victory at Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers were 15-1, Patriots 14-2 at the time and Pittsburgh had beaten the Patriots in the regular season. The Patriots got out to a 24-3 lead at halftime and cruised. This one was very similar to this game in that the Chargers were a very real opponent. Los Angeles had a better record, all the analytics said they were the better and they had been road warriors. And the Patriots just snuffed them out.