5 takeaways as Patriots get dominated by Chargers, 40-7
The Patriots fell to 3-13 on the season with the loss.
The Patriots gave a performance fitting of the miserable conditions at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, falling to the Chargers, 40-7.
New England trailed by multiple scores for nearly the entire game. Drake Maye briefly departed on Saturday due to a hard hit, but he returned after missing a drive.
With the loss, the Patriots fell to 3-13 on the season. The Chargers, meanwhile, clinched a playoff berth with their win.
Here are the takeaways from the dismal loss:
The Patriots’ mistake of passing on drafting Ladd McConkey was further amplified.
As you likely know by now, New England traded the pick Los Angeles used to select McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and picked up Ja’Lynn Polk as a result of the second-round pick swap. It’s been evident by now that the decision was a mistake, with McConkey tearing it up for a playoff-bound Chargers team all season long while Polk has struggled to produce.
McConkey continued to make the Patriots’ mistake look worse in his first trip to Foxborough. He had a game-high eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ win. His first touchdown grab was on a six-yard dart thrown by Justin Herbert in the middle of the end zone. On McConkey’s second touchdown, the rookie ran right by Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones for a 40-yard reception. Those receptions helped McConkey set the Chargers’ record for most receiving yards in a rookie season with 1,056.
Polk, meanwhile, didn’t see the field until there were less than seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. He got a target on his drive, with Maye throwing a ball in between his arms. But Polk wasn’t able to secure the grab, adding to the list of frustrating drops he’s made this season.
The Patriots’ defensive front gave another poor effort, allowing the Chargers to dominate the time of possession battle.
Justin Herbert had a relatively clean day. The Chargers quarterback wasn’t sacked once and was only hit four times by a Patriots pass rush that failed to generate much pressure on his 38 pass attempts.
The lack of pressure was certainly felt on the Chargers’ third- and fourth-down attempts in the first half. Los Angeles converted on five of its first nine third-down attempts. Of the four third-down attempts the Chargers didn’t convert on, they converted on fourth down on the ensuing play.
Those conversions allowed the Chargers to limit the number of plays the Patriots ran in the first half. Their 15 first-half plays were the fewest offensive plays run by a team in a game in five years, per ESPN’s Stats & Research.
Los Angeles continued to convert on key plays throughout the second half. It converted on 10 of its 17 third-down attempts on the day and had possession for slightly over 40 minutes.
Drake Maye wasn’t deterred by his early head injury.
It appeared that Maye was going to depart Saturday’s game in the first quarter after taking a hard hit up high, causing concern that he suffered his second concussion of the season. But he cleared the evaluation and returned after missing one drive.
Once he returned, Maye didn’t play like a quarterback who had another concussion scare. His first play back on the field was a nine-yard scramble, drawing a 15-yard penalty as Chargers linebacker Junior Colson him late after he slid.
Maye continued to run throughout the game, recording six carries for 32 yards. But he also remained tough in the pocket and was willing to run around in the backfield on multiple occasions to try and find a receiver for a connection on a passing play.
The fourth-down plays were bad.
The Patriots were aggressive on their fourth-down decision-making, going for it on fourth-down four times in the second half. But they only picked up a first down on one of them due to a penalty by the Chargers, in which Maye’s throw to Kayshon Boutte was off the mark.
In two of the other fourth-down plays, Maye took a sack. On one of them, he scrambled deep into the backfield for a 15-yard loss. As Ross Tucker said on the NFL Network broadcast, taking a sack on fourth down should be banned as it’s smarter to just get the ball off and hope that a miracle play happens.
On the Patriots’ final fourth-down play, Maye hit Austin Hooper for a five-yard completion just short of the sticks on a fourth-and-6 from their own 21-yard line. Typically, you want to get the ball beyond the first-down marker.
There’s only one game left.
Arguably the worst season the Patriots have had in decades will come to an end a week from Sunday. If Saturday’s game is going to be used to determine anyone’s future in New England, then just about no one made a good case for why they should remain with the Patriots. The team was a mess on all fronts throughout the game, leading to further questioning about the whole operation.
If there is any solace to take in Saturday’s loss, the Patriots likely secured a top-five pick for a second straight year. So, they’ll at least have that building block in the offseason.
Here’s everything that happened in Saturday’s game:
3:50 p.m.: Another turnover on downs by Patriots helps Chargers get three more points
Taylor Heinicke entered the game at quarterback for the Chargers in the middle of the fourth quarter, ending Justin Herbert’s day. He didn’t lead the Chargers to a score on his first drive in the game, but the Patriots gave them a short field when their completion on fourth-and-6 was short of the sticks. That allowed the Chargers to take over at the Patriots’ 26-yard line, leading to a field goal that gave them a 40-7 lead.
3:25 p.m.: Chargers keep adding to lead
The Patriots were able to string together a better drive on their third possession of the third quarter, getting down to the Chargers’ 31-yard line. But when they faced a fourth-and-7, Drake Maye faced more pressure on a fourth-down play and took another fourth-down sack. Derwin James took him down for a loss of six.
The Chargers quickly flipped the field around on the Patriots, going on a 10-play, 63-yard rie that ended with J.K. Dobbins rushing for a two-yard score that put them up 37-7 early in the fourth quarter.
3:05 p.m.: Patriots’ turnover on downs allows Chargers to score three more points
Trailing 27-7 midway through the third quarter, the Patriots opted to for it on a fourth-and-1 from their own 38-yard line. Drake Maye couldn’t find anyone open, though. He also didn’t get rid of the ball, getting taken down for a 15-yard sack.
Luckily for the Patriots, the Chargers weren’t able to move the ball much further on the next drive, causing them to settle for a field goal and take a 30-7 lead.
2:55 p.m.: Ladd McConkey scores again for the Chargers
New England’s decision not to draft McConkey was further amplified in the second half. After Los Angeles picked up a pair of first-down conversions on its first drive of the second half, Justin Herbert threw a strike to McConkey for a 40-yard score that put it up 27-7 in the third quarter.
2:45 p.m.: Patriots go three-and-out on opening drive of second half, nearly give up punt return touchdown
The Patriots couldn’t take advantage of getting the ball to open the second half as a holding penalty helped them go three-and-out. On the ensuing punt return, Derius Davis took the ball 93 yards for a touchdown. But a pair of penalties by the Chargers negated the score, putting them at their 6-yard line.
2:24 p.m.: Chargers get three more points before halftime on bizarre kick
Los Angeles picked up another fourth-down conversion near midfield with 23 seconds remaining in the first half. That helped it set up for a 38-yard field goal, which Cameron Dicker made but the ball looked like it might have gone wide of the upright. The officials determined it didn’t, though, giving the Chargers a 20-7 lead at halftime.
2:12 p.m.: Drake Maye fires touchdown pass to put Patriots on the board
Maye might have made his most impressive play of the season late in the second quarter. Facing a first-and-10 from the Chargers’ 36-yard line, the Patriots were able to draw linebacker Bud Dupree offside. Maye recognized the penalty and took advantage of having a free play, throwing a deep ball to DeMario Douglas that the second-year wideout caught for a touchdown. The score cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-7 with 1:24 remaining in the first half.
2:02 p.m.: Chargers find the end zone again
Los Angeles capitalized off the fumble recovery. It picked up a pair of third-down conversions before moving to New England’s 6-yard line. On first-and-goal, Justin Herbert connected with Ladd McConkey for a touchdown that gave the Chargers a 17-0 lead with 2:55 remaining in the first half.
1:55 p.m.: Patriots fumble on first drive with Drake Maye back
Maye took off for a nine-yard run on his first play back, which drew a penalty as Chargers linebacker Junior Colson illegally hit him when the quarterback began his slide.
That 24-yard play was the highlight of Maye’s first drive back on the field. Three plays later, New England tried to run a sophisticated reverse play. However, Maye’s pitch didn’t go to anyone, allowing Derwin James to scoop the ball up and give the Chargers the ball in Patriots territory.
1:47 p.m.: Chargers add to lead, but Drake Maye returns
The Patriots went three-and-out after Maye departed the game late in the first quarter, allowing the Chargers the opportunity to add to their lead. They did that, going on a 12-play, 67-yard drive that eventually stalled out at the Patriots’ 9-yard line to kick a field goal and take a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
As the Chargers were on that drive, Maye re-emerged from the locker room and Jerod Mayo confirmed that he would return.
1:25 p.m.: Chargers score as Drake Maye heads to locker room
Los Angeles was able to move the ball down the field after a quiet opening possession. It went on an 11-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that ended, converting on a fourth-and-3 opportunity from New England’s 42-yard line. On the next play, Justin Herbert connected with Derius Davis for a 23-yard touchdown pass to give the Chargers a 7-0 lead.
1:13 p.m.: Chargers, Patriots punt on opening possessions, but Drake Maye enters blue medical tent
The first possession for each team was mostly uneventful. The Chargers punted the ball after six plays and the Patriots went three-and-out. But on New England’s final play of its opening drive, Maye took a hard hit on a scramble from Los Angeles safety Cam Hart. Maye remained on the turf for a moment before jogging off the field, but he went to the blue medical tent right after.
1 p.m.: Patriots kick-off to start the game
After taking the opening kick-off last week, the Patriots opted to defer until the second half when they won the coin toss.
12:45 p.m.: Rhamodre Stevenson not starting
After losing another fumble in the Patriots’ loss to the Bills last week, Stevenson won’t start at running back for the Patriots in Saturday’s game, according to NFL Media. Antonio Gibson will get the nod instead.
12:10 p.m.: Which wide receivers will get playing time today?
Shortly before the inactives were announced, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, and Alex Erickson. Eventually, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker joined the group a bit later than usual. Polk and Baker played just three and eight snaps, respectively, in last week’s loss to the Bills. That could be a sign that they’re in for another low volume day.
11:30 a.m.: Inactives for Saturday’s game
The Patriots ruled safety Jabrill Peppers, quarterback Joe Milton, running back Terrell Jennings, guard Sidy Sow, guard Tyrese Robinson, and center Ben Brown as their inactive for Saturday’s game.
The Chargers, meanwhile, will welcome back their leading rusher, J.K. Dobbins. He isn’t a scratch for Saturday’s game. Quarterback Easton Stick, running back Gus Edwards, linebacker Denzel Perryman, guard Jordan McFadden, offensive tackle Trey Pipkins, tight end Hayden Hurst, and defensive end Justin Eboigbe were ruled out.
Pregame reading
To help get you ready for Saturday’s game, here’s the latest news surrounding the Patriots and previews for the matchup:
- Patriots activate Caedan Wallace from IR, shut down Marcus Jones for the year
- How the Patriots’ odds to hold a top pick in 2025 NFL Draft can strengthen in Week 17
- Keion White ponders future with Patriots, feels ‘something’s gotta change’ amid disappointing season
- ESPN lists Patriots 4th in new ranking of potential head coach vacancies
- Drake Maye can prove himself against another star QB when Patriots face Chargers
- Cole Strange nearing a return for Patriots … at center?
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