Quarter by quarter summary

First Quarter: The Chargers outscore the Patriots 10-0 to run their steak of consecutive regular-season games without allowing an offensive touchdown to 11 games, dating back to Dec. 31, 2006. It was bombs away from the get-go as Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson connected for 48 yards on the first play of the game. It was the start of a season-high 306-yard night by Rivers, who had his first-career 300-yard game at Qualcomm Stadium and threw three TD passes for the fourth time this season. The Bolts score on a 25-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding and a 49-yard TD catch by Malcom Floyd.

 

Key Plays in the Quarter: Jackson’s 48-yard catch and a six-yarder by Legedu Naanee on a 3^rd-and-3 play help set up the Kaeding field goal. After Quentin Jammer breaks up the first of his season-high five passes on a deep route to Randy Moss inside the 10, New England’s Stephen Gostkowski misses a 48-yard FG wide to the left. Antonio Gates keeps the ensuing drive alive with a seven-yard catch on a third-and-four play, setting up Floyd’s touchdown catch on the very next play. LaDainian Tomlinson goes over 11,000-career yards on a short run late in the quarter to become the 17^th player in NFL history and the fourth-fastest to reach the milestone.

 

 

Second Quarter: The Chargers lead grows to 17-3 at halftime as the Chargers outscore the Patriots, 7-3, in the second quarter. Gostkowski kicks a 47-yarder and Jackson catches a four-yard touchdown pass.

 

Key Plays in the Quarter: An uncharacteristic short punt by Mike Scifres sets up New England’s first points of the night as they start their drive on the Bolts’ 43-yard line. A one-yard sack by Stephen Cooper on first down and another pass breakup deep down the field by Jammer on third down forces New England to settle for the field goal. Scifres rebounds from the shanked punt with a perfect effort later in the quarter that is downed by the Chargers at the six-yard line. A charged-up Bolts’ defense forces a three-and-out, setting up the Bolts’ next touchdown drive. That drive starts at New England’s 31, because Darren Sproles has a 22-yard punt return and a personal foul adds on an additional 15 yards. Floyd’s second big catch of the night, a 17-yarder to the Patriot 12 leads to the Jackson TD two plays later. Marques Harris closes out the half with an eight-yard sack and forced fumble.

 

 

Third Quarter: The Chargers come out of the locker room and dominate the third quarter, outscoring the Patriots 10-0 to stretch their lead to 27-3. A defensive stand at the goal line that includes four stops on fourth-and-goal at the one leads to a 98-yard touchdown drive and one-yard TD catch by Antonio Gates. Later in the quarter, Kaeding hits his second field goal of the night, this one from 35 yards.

 

Key Plays in the Quarter: Patriots QB Matt Cassel overthrows a wide-open Randy Moss in the end zone on the quarter’s opening series. New England still manages to get it to the one, but the Bolts’ D didn’t buckle. On first-and-goal, the Chargers read a gadget play intended for linebacker Mike Vrabel and force an incompletion. Outstanding penetration by Jamal Williams on second down stifles another play and after an incomplete pass in the end zone, Ryon Bingham records a one-yard sack on fourth down. On the second play after taking over at the two, Jackson pulls in a perfectly thrown ball by Rivers for 59 yards and the Chargers advance all the way to New England’s 35. Jackson then draws a pass interference penalty at the one for 32 yards, leading to the Gates TD catch. Jammer intercepts Cassel on the Patriots’ first play of their next drive, leading to the Kaeding field goal. A huge hit by Brandon Siler on the next kickoff return and a Jamal Williams pass breakup on first down sets the stage for a New England three-and-out. The Chargers start a field goal drive late in the quarter, aided by a 22-yard catch by Gates on a third-and-nine and a 27-yard run by Tomlinson to New England’s 27 on the final play of the quarter.

 

 

Fourth Quarter: The Pats outscore the Bolts 7-3, but the Chargers close out the win and improve to 3-3 before a capacity crowd of 68,704 and a national-television audience on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Key Plays in the Quarter: The Patriots punt on their first series of the quarter after a holding penalty negates a 21-yard pickup on 3^rd-and-15 and they are unable to convert on 3^rd-and-25. Jacob Hester enters the game at running back for the Chargers after the punt and fumbles on his first play. New England drives 46-yards in eight plays for their first TD of the night. Late in the game, a 28-yard screen pass to Tomlinson puts Rivers over 300 yards for the night, his first-career 300-yard game at Qualcomm Stadium. Rivers finishes the night 18-of-27 for 306 yards and three touchdowns and a passer rating of 141.9. Late in the game, Jammer breaks up another deep pass intended for Moss.