Chargers’ offense is all wet, but defense shuts out Patriots in first must-win game
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — First he was booming. Then he was beaming.
That was the glorious Sunday of Chargers punter JK Scott.
Eight punts — one with surgical precision — and zero return yards by the New England Patriots.
“That was fun,” said the 6-foot-5 Scott, standing in the middle of a raucous locker room with an irrepressible smile. “The last two years especially, my one goal with playing football was just to have fun.”
In the lowest-scoring NFL game of the season, the Chargers held on for a 6-0 victory on a soaked-to-the-skin afternoon when highlights were as sparse as the Gillette Stadium stands.
Chargers hold on for a 6-0 victory over the Patriots
🏈 Chargers 6, Patriots 0 — FINAL
The Chargers ended their three-game losing streak, leaning on a stingy defensive effort and a few solid plays on special teams to defeat the lowly New England Patriots in rainy conditions at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
On the Patriots’ final possession, the Chargers weathered a 14-yard pass to DeVante Parker and a pass interference penalty before breaking up Bailey Zappe passes on third and fourth downs. A 23-yard catch by Chargers wide receiver Alex Erickson on the ensuing possession preserved the win.
The Chargers struggled mightily on offense, with two 38-yard field goals by Cameron Dicker proving to be the difference. Justin Herbert completed 22 of 37 passes for 212 yards for a Chargers team that was held to 241 total yards of offense. The Chargers dropped five passes.
Defensively, the Chargers shined, with Khalil Mack picking up two of their five sacks.
Zappe, making his first start this season in favor of the struggling Mac Jones, completed 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards. New England was held to 257 total yards.
Eric Kendricks and Derwin James Jr. come to the rescue
🏈 Chargers 6, Patriots 0 — 6:58 left in the fourth quarter
Every time New England looks like it finally might score, the Chargers defense shuts it down.
After a 39-yard run by wide receiver Tyquan Thornton off a reverse moved the Patriots to the Chargers’ 35, Eric Kendricks and Derwin James Jr. sacked quarterback Bailey Zappe on third and fourth down to thwart another New England drive.
The Chargers have five sacks on the day.
Chargers hold 6-0 lead after another drive fizzles out
🏈 Chargers 6, Patriots 0 — 10:13 left in the fourth quarter
Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills sacked Justin Herbert on third down to end another Chargers drive in what has been a miserable afternoon for the Kellen Moore-guided offense.
The Chargers failed to do much of anything on their third possession of the second half, driving to midfield after picking up a pair of first downs on a handful of short passes. Herbert has completed 19 of 33 passes for 172 yards so far.
The Chargers defense has shined, with Khalil Mack sacking Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe on third down to thwart another New England drive.
On the Chargers’ previous possession, wide receiver Quentin Johnston dropped a catchable pass on third down that ended the drive. It was the fourth drop of the day for Chargers receivers.
Back-to-back Chargers sacks end Patriots drive
🏈 Chargers 6, Patriots 0 — 8:33 left in the third quarter
Khalil Mack ended the Patriots’ most-promising drive since the first quarter when he sacked Bailey Zappe on third down to push New England out of field-goal range.
Zappe converted on fourth and three with a three-yard scramble to put the ball on the Chargers’ 34. After the Patriots picked up a couple yards on first down, Justin Hollins and Mack sacked Zappe for losses of four and seven yards, respectively, on the next two plays.
Chargers hold a 6-0 lead over Patriots at halftime
🏈 Chargers 6, Patriots 0 — HALFTIME
Derius Davis returned the Patriots’ fifth punt of the day 34 yards, setting up a 38-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker to double the Chargers’ lead just before halftime.
The Chargers punted on four of their six possessions in the first half, but their edge over the Patriots on special teams might be just enough for them to end their three-game losing streak.
New England has been pinned deep on its side of the field most of the game, with all four of JK Scott’s punts landing inside the Patriots’ 20. Davis’ big return coupled with the Chargers’ modest gains coming off Patriots punts has allowed them to take a slim lead.
Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, getting his first start this season over Mac Jones, has been ineffective against the Chargers defense in the rainy conditions at Gillette Stadium. Zappe has completed five of 12 passes for 39 yards and New England has just 107 yards of total offense.
The Chargers haven’t fared much better, with just 118 yards of total offense. Justin Herbert has completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards. New England has shut down the Chargers’ rushing game — Austin Ekeler has 11 yards on eight carries.
Cameron Dicker’s 38-yard field goal gets Chargers on scoreboard
🏈 Chargers 3, Patriots 0 — 9:09 left in the second quarter
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker capped a seven-play, 27-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal for the first points of the game.
After the Chargers defense held quarterback Bailey Zappe and the Patriots to another three and out, the Chargers started their fourth possession on their 45-yard line.
Justin Herbert then completed an 11-yard pass to running back Austin Ekeler and an eight-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston to get the Chargers into field-goal range.
Three punts on three possessions for the Chargers
🏈 Chargers 0, Patriots 0 — 13:23 left in the second quarter
Three Chargers possessions have ended with three punts as the rain continues to pour at Gillette Stadium.
The Chargers started their third drive strong, with Justin Herbert connecting on a 26-yard pass to tight end Gerald Everett. Herbert later completed a 15-yard pass to Keenan Allen before the six-play, 44-yard drive fizzled at the New England 38-yard line.
The Chargers have 81 yards of total offense and the Patriots have 72. Herbert has completed six of nine passes for 72 yards so far.
Tuli Tuipulotu fumble recovery helps keep it a scoreless game
🏈 Chargers 0, Patriots 0 — 4:59 left in the first
Chargers rookie linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu recovered a fumble by Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson to abruptly end a promising-looking drive for New England.
Stevenson sustained a right ankle injury on the play and had to be helped off the field before going to the locker room. He is questionable to return.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers took over on their 32-yard line, but went nowhere, going three and out in the rainy conditions for the second time today.
Bailey Zappe is making his first start at quarterback for the Patriots as coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien continue their season-long search for consistency at the position. Mac Jones is in a backup role for the first time in his career. The Patriots also dressed third quarterback Malik Cunningham.
NFL roundtable: Does Justin Herbert deserve blame for Chargers’ struggles?
How much blame goes to quarterback Justin Herbert for not being able to get a win in these close losses by the Chargers?
Miller: I’d place whatever percentage of blame that normally falls on the quarterback in these situations on Herbert but no more than that. In Week 11 at Green Bay, his record says he failed in a late-game opportunity when, in fact, he put an outcome-altering pass right on the hands of wide receiver Quentin Johnston and Johnston dropped it. This season, Herbert has been pressured at a ridiculous clip in these scenarios and, afterward, he always takes the blame. Quite simply, the Chargers and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore have failed to adequately protect Herbert when these games have been on the line.
Farmer: There’s plenty of blame to go around. Herbert is obviously a rare talent and, like Jeff said, he doesn’t get the protection he needs. He makes throws a lot of quarterbacks can’t make, and he can pick up big chunks of yardage with his legs. But he hasn’t distinguished himself as a clutch player who routinely closes out games. Since the Chargers drafted him, they have lost 14 games by three points or fewer. That’s the NFL’s most such losses over that span. Part of that has to fall on the quarterback.
Chargers and Patriots inactives for Sunday
Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Chargers and the New England Patriots on Sunday:
Chargers’ future is unclear and so is who’ll play quarterback for the Patriots
The Chargers have underachieved and underwhelmed their way to three games under .500, a sunken position that has all but mathematically buried their playoff hopes.
A sophisticated simulation machine is not required to determine that this team has only a slim chance of playing beyond Week 18.
But, for the record, the sophisticated simulation machine developed by the New York Times puts the Chargers’ postseason chances at 9%.
“It’s definitely been tough,” safety Derwin James Jr. said Wednesday. “Not the way anyone would have predicted — even myself — coming into this season.”
Chargers’ finishing touches a New England mantra: ‘Have to be honest with ourselves’
This Chargers season has gone so unexpectedly and convincingly sideways that some people involved have lost more than just games.
General manager Tom Telesco’s roster-building and record over his 11 seasons has been dissected all but forensically.
Brandon Staley’s status as a defensive architect has been damaged to the point of perhaps even needing rehabilitation.
Austin Ekeler’s NFL-best touchdown production from the previous two seasons has waned just as he prepares for free agency.
Chargers-Patriots matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Chargers (4-7) and New England Patriots (2-9) match up heading into their game Sunday at 10 a.m. PST in Foxborough, Mass. The game will be televised on CBS and Paramount+.
When Chargers have the ball
Against a stout and hard-hitting Baltimore defense last weekend, the Chargers had their least productive day (10 points) since Week 3 last season, a string of 26 games, including the playoffs. They went nearly 3½ quarters with only three points versus the Ravens, which seems almost impossible with Justin Herbert at quarterback.
However, the Chargers’ offense mostly has been reduced to Herbert and receiver Keenan Allen, who has remained effective despite a shoulder injury. Allen also has a quadriceps issue that limited him in practice (listed as questionable to play).