BSJ Game Report: Chargers 40, Patriots 7 - New England embarrassed as it ties season-high with 6th straight loss

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Chargers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Just a completely embarrassing ass-kicking: Make no mistake, the Chargers are really a middling team dealing with a lot of injuries yet they completely dominated New England throughout. LA set a season high in points, and had nearly 400 total yards early in the fourth quarter. Justin Herbert (26 of 38, 281 yards, 3 TDs) did anything he wanted, and there wasn't much pressure. The defense allowed some bust touchdowns where Kyle Dugger was in the middle of them, while Chargers safety Derwin James had two fourth-down sacks and recovered a fumble. 

To add insult to injury, especially for GM Eliot Wolf, Ladd McConkey - taken with the Patriots' pick - caught 8 passes for 94 yards and 2 TDs. Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker combined for one target, no catches and both were active.

Drake Maye suffers another head injury: Maye stayed in bounds on the first drive to attempt to pick up a first down and got hit hard. He went to the blue tent and into the locker room, but was later cleared to play. 

He did come up with the lone highlight for the game with Demario Douglas.

Mayo's defense really embarrassed: This was without about 4 minutes left in the game ..

Oh, and there's this ...

Cole Strange makes first start at center: It appeared he had one early snap that resulted in a sack of Maye, but largely he looked pretty natural at the position.

TURNING POINT

Maye getting knocked out after the first drive ... it was 10-0 when he returned.

SECOND GUESS

Man, the McConkey draft trade down looks horrible on this day, and he was wide-open for another TD that Herbert just missed.

ZERO UP

Sorry, can't do it.

FIVE DOWN

S Kyle Dugger: Appeared that he was involved in three touchdowns, at least.

OC Alex Van Pelt: Whoever was responsible for that lateral/fumble...

DC DeMarcus Covington: The Chargers did whatever they wanted to on offense.

HC Jerod Mayo: He's in charge.

GM Eliot Wolf: He must have been cringing every time McConkey did damage.

INJURIES

QB Drake Maye (head): Returned to the game.

CB Christian Gonzalez (concussion): Did not return to the game.

DE Keion White (hip): Returned to the game.

DT Daniel Ekuale (arm): Returned to the game

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

I thought Cole Strange looked pretty good at center, pending film review: So they've got that going for them, which is ... something.

One franchise in a big rebuild fired its coach and GM and did a wide-ranging search ...: Can you guess which one didn't?

The Chargers have some talent, but it's not great - don't let anyone tell you different. This team won 5 games last year for a reason. They completely blew out their receiver and TE room, yet Justin Herbert looks like a completely different quarterback with a great future because he has an experienced head coach who hired an experienced coaching staff he knows well, and they got the Ravens' next-in-line personnel chief to be their GM.

The Patriots were completely outclassed by a team that was in a similar predicament as them this offseason.