Chargers headed to playoffs with easy win over Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo elected to punt from his team’s 28-yard line, down 30 points with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, the few Patriots fans Those who remained began to sing “Fuego.” Mayonnaise.”

It was that kind of game on Saturday, when the Los Angeles Chargers dominated the struggling Patriots in front of an empty crowd at Gillette Stadium en route to a 40-7 victory.

It was the Patriots’ second home loss by more than 30 points this century. The victory clinched a playoff berth for the Chargers and gave them double-digit wins for the third time since 2010.

The loss dropped the Patriots to 3-13, their second consecutive 13-loss season, but moved them closer to landing a No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The Patriots will finish their season next week with a home game against the Buffalo Bills.

The Chargers will head to Las Vegas for their season finale against the Raiders, a game that could have implications for playoff seeding. The Chargers would clinch the fifth seed with a win over the Raiders and a loss to the Steelers next week.

Describe the game in two words: Thunderous blow. Saturday’s win was the Chargers’ best performance of the season, scoring a season-high 40 points. needles. A week after the Patriots nearly beat the Bills, the Chargers beat them from the start of this game to clinch a playoff spot.

Promising trend I: JK Dobbins appears healthy. Dobbins had been one of the NFL’s best running backs, but a sprained left collateral ligament sidelined him for the Chargers’ final four games. He looked like his old self in his first game on Saturday, when he scored a touchdown and gained 76 rushing yards, which is more than any Chargers running back managed in his absence.

Promising trend II: The offensive line protected Herbert. This had been an issue all season, and without starting right guard Trey Pipkins II, it looked like it might continue Saturday. But the Chargers had one of their best blocking games of the season. The Patriots pressured Herbert on just six of his 39 dropbacks (15%), their second-lowest pressure rate in a game this season (12% in Week 11 vs. the Bengals). — Kris Rhim

Next match: on Raiders (TBD, Sunday)

Quarterback Drake Maye left the game on the Patriots’ third offensive play after Chargers defensive back Cam Hart’s helmet made contact with Maye’s helmet, creating a scare on a day when the team was never competitive.

Maye remained on the ground after the hit, then visited the medical tent and locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. He finally returned in the second quarter and was one of the few reasons for Patriots fans to watch a game the Chargers controlled throughout.

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez (along with Maye, arguably the team’s two best players) wasn’t so fortunate. He left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and was then ruled out.

The game was a disappointment for the Patriots, who were hoping to gain momentum after taking on the AFC East champion Bills last week in a 24-21 loss. Instead, it raised more questions about first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and the direction of the franchise.

Describe the game in two words: No charge. The Patriots ran 15 offensive plays in the first half, tied for the fewest of any team in a first half in the last five seasons, a reflection of how they were outplayed from the start.

Fundamental game: Trailing 10-0 midway through the second quarter, Maye’s errant throw to receiver DeMario Douglas was recovered by Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. and quickly turned into a touchdown to give the Chargers a lead. 17-0. It was the 22nd fumble of the season for the Patriots and the league-worst 29th fumble.

Surprising Statistic: With his 36-yard touchdown pass to Douglas, Maye now has three touchdown passes this season of at least 35 passing yards, the most touchdown passes by a Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady had three in 2009. .

Biggest hole in the game plan: Mayo said in a pregame radio interview that Antonio Gibson would start at running back over Rhamondre Stevenson after Stevenson fumbled for a league-high seventh time last week, but Stevenson ended up starting the game. Maybe Mayo was wrong; Otherwise, it seemed like the Patriots forgot to follow their own plan. Stevenson finished with two carries for 1 yard. Gibson took some garbage time action to gain 63 yards on 12 carries.

Silver lining: Cole Strange, the Patriots’ 2022 first-round pick who spent his first two seasons at left guard, made his first career start at center and appeared to come into his own. Strange tore his patella tendon last December and didn’t return to the game-day roster until last week in Buffalo as a backup option along the offensive line and in the field goal protection unit. So this was his longest action since the injury and showed that he could be a viable option at center in the future. –Mike Reiss

Next match: vs. Bills (TBD, Sunday)