The New England Patriots are back to .500 on the season after a 45-0 shellacking of the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. From the jump, this game was in the hands of the Patriots, starting with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a Cam Newton rushing score. While the offense may have imposed its will first, this was truly a complete rout by New England, who dominated in all three phases of the game to earn the shutout.
Defensively, Bill Belichick's unit applied consistent pressure to rookie Justin Herbert, who threw for just 209 yards and two interceptions. What was most apparent and the true back-breaker in this game, however, was the stark contrast on special teams between these two AFC clubs. The Patriots were able to score two touchdowns off special teams, while the Chargers struggled to get the right personnel on the field.
It was a wire-to-wire thrashing at the hands of the Patriots, who are still clinging onto some playoff hopes. To read a bit further about how this game unfolded, check out our main takeaways below.
Bill Belichick should be quite pleased with his club as the Patriots dominated in all three phases of the game. Of course, the special teams points are obvious pluses en route to the shutout win, but it did extend far beyond that. Punter Jake Bailey almost consistently pinned the Chargers offense deep into their own territory as three of his four punts fell inside the 20. The most textbook sequence came in the closing seconds of the third quarter when Justin Bethel swung the ball back away from the end zone and the Patriots downed it at the Los Angeles 5-yard line. While Gunner Olszewski's punt return heroics and Devin McCourty's touchdown following a blocked field goal will catch all the highlights it was truly a wire-to-wire dominating display from the special teams unit.
As for the defensive side of the ball, they just engulfed Justin Herbert for the bulk of the afternoon. He was pressured on nearly all of his dropbacks and was hit 11 times in the loss, including three sacks. That led to just a 49% completion rate and two interceptions. Stephon Gilmore also played masterfully while going toe to toe with Keenan Allen, who finished with just five catches on 11 targets for 48 yards.
Offensively, Cam Newton played a clean game, despite not really showing much consistency as a pure passer. Nevertheless, he kept the ball out of the Chargers' hands, totaled three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) and helped New England cruise to this win. A complete effort by Belichick's squad.
The Chargers looked like a team that forgot to practice leading up to this matchup with New England. Los Angeles' poor reputation on special teams preceded them as they allowed two touchdowns on the afternoon: a 70-yard punt return and a blocked field goal returned for a score. While that was egregious enough, the Chargers were simply unaware of when they were supposed to be on the field in certain situations as they were caught a couple of times with just 10 players on the field during Patriots returns, which helped contribute to the unit surrendering 145 punt return yards.
That overall theme of shooting themselves in the foot bled into other areas of the Chargers as well as they played rather undisciplined football at times. One instance came with 2:47 to play in the first half when L.A. had stopped New England on a third-and-19. However, an illegal hands to the face penalty gave the Patriots new life and a fresh set of downs, which they cashed in for a touchdown to extend their lead to 21. While this one proved a bit more inconsequential because they later punted it away, the Chargers also extended a New England drive on a fourth-and-5 situation with 1:37 to play in the third thanks to a too-many-men penalty. That kind of sloppy play is what ultimately did Anthony Lynn's club in.
The massive swing in this game came pretty early on in the contest. After a 13-play touchdown drive to begin the game by New England, it appeared the Chargers were going to match them by marching down the field with a 12-play drive of their own. While they didn't reach the end zone, they looked like they were going to come away with points before kicker Michael Badgley missed the 46-yard attempt.
On the next three offensive possession following that missed opportunity to get on the board, the Chargers mustered just 13 yards on 10 plays. Over that stretch, the Patriots piled up two touchdowns, including Gunner Olszewski's 70-yard punt return.
Even when the Chargers seemed to finally string along some plays on offense, their field goal attempt prior to halftime was blocked, picked up by the Patriots safety Devin McCourty and taken to the house for another touchdown. That put Los Angeles in a 28-0 hole at the half that proved to be too much to overcome.
The 70-yard punt return by Gunner Olszewski not only served as a make-good for the touchdown return that was called back last week due to an illegal blindside block, but it really got the blowout cooking in this win over the Chargers. After this return, the Patriots were able to pile up 14 more points before halftime that helped them cruise to the win.
Olszewski finished with 145 punt return yards as he also logged a 61-yard return later in the contest. The second-year man's contributions weren't just on special teams, however, as he hauled in a 38-yard pass from Jarrett Stidham during garbage time that he took to the house for the first receiving touchdown of his career.
From here, the Patriots will stay in Los Angeles and prepare to take on the Rams for a Thursday Night Football showdown. As for the Chargers, they'll look to pick up the pieces and prepare for a home matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
Patriots move to 6-6 on the season thanks to a 45-0 shutout of the Los Angeles Chargers. It was a complete performance by Bill Belichick's club, who dominated in all phases of the game. New England will stick in L.A. and await a matchup with the Rams on Thursday while the Chargers will face the Falcons in Week 14.
Have a day Gunner Olszewski!
Jarrett Stidham is now in at quarterback with the Patriots up 38-0. Cam Newton's day is done after completing 12 of his 19 passes for 69 yards and a passing touchdown. He also totaled 48 yards on the ground and two more scores.
Gunner Olszewski just took another punt return for 61-yards. It didn't result in a touchdown like the 70-yard return earlier in the game, but he's having a breakout performance in this role.
The Patriots are putting a special teams clinic right now. Justin Bethel helps pin Los Angeles at their own five-yard line.
The Chargers are taking some ridiculous penalties. They had the Patriots on fourth-and-5 but a too many men penalty gives New England a first down and extends the drive. Poor coaching.
That amazing blitz pickup by James White on that long completion to Jakobi Meyers. Took Murray head on and allowed Newton the time to get the ball out quick.
J.C. Jackson records his seventh interception of the season on the second pick Herbert has thrown this afternoon. This a bit more big-picture, but Jackson, and RFA this offseason, will likely see a first-round tender when the time comes. He's evolving into a stud.
Best throw of the day by Herbert. Guyton beat Jason McCourty and was able to haul in a pass that was coming in hot.
Patriots continue to swallow up Justin Herbert. Lawrence Guy easily trucks past Ballage to deliver the nine-yard sack.
N'Keal Harry rips down the touchdown reception to extend New England's lead. That's Harry's second touchdown this season and the first from Cam Newton.
