The Patriots went on the road and picked up by far their most impressive win of the season, a 27-24 victory over Justin Herbert’s upstart Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
With a large contingent of Patriot Nation in attendance, New England used a solid running game and an overall impressive defensive effort to dispatch a Chargers team coming off its bye week. In holding on for the win despite a late L.A. touchdown drive and onside kick attempt handled by Hunter Henry, the Patriots improved to 4-4 on the season and injected life into the team and its potential playoff chances as it hits midseason.
Before turning the page to next week’s trip to Carolina to take on the Panthers, here’s a look at the highs and lows from the impressive road win over the Chargers:
Thumbs up
Damien Harris – Coming off consecutive 100-yard performances and going against the NFL’s worst run defense, Harris and his offensive line kept things rolling at solid level on the ground in L.A. New England moved the ball consistently and efficiently much of the afternoon, Harris leading the way with 18 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. Overall New England churned out 138 yards on 33 attempts (4.2 avg.) against the Chargers. Things would have been even better were it not for a couple holding calls (see below!) bringing back some big gains.
Gunner Olszewski – The All-Pro punt returner a year ago, Olszewski started a bit slow this season. But he’s picked up the pace in his returns in recent weeks and that continued in L.A. Olszewski had a 22-yard punt return in the first half and then a 27-yarder in the second half, this against a team he notched a touchdown against last December. Olszewski clearly enjoys facing the Chargers’ special teams units, finishing with a 20-yard average on four punt returns this time around.
Nick Folk – The veteran continues to be as steady and productive as any New England player. Folk hit on field goals from 24, 28, 48 and 30 yards in L.A. Folk has now hit 40 straight field goals inside of 50 yards – his only miss this year was his 56-yard effort in the rain against the Bucs that hit the left upright. In a tight game on the road, New England needed Folk to be his usual accurate self.
Matt Judon – New England’s most impactful defender continued to make life tough on the Chargers at times on Sunday. Judon was unblocked off the left edge in the first quarter and, as he should, turned it into a sack of Justin Herbert to help force a punt thanks to his own pressure on the next third-down play. Judon finished with five tackles and 1.5 sacks. Sometimes Judon’s impact shows up on the stat sheet. Sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s always there.
Adrian Phillips – The former Chargers safety had a heck of a playmaking day against his old team. Philips notched an interception on a pass that deflected off Austin Ekeler’s hands in the second quarter to set up a field goal. In the fourth quarter Phillips then had the biggest play of the game when Justin Herbert’s pass intended for Jared Cook caught the tight end off guard. Phillips made a diving interception and then, untouched, got up for a 26-yard touchdown to give the visitors 24-17 lead on the way to the crucial victory.
Thumbs down
Patriots LBs – Ja’Whaun Bentley was chasing early in coverage of Jared Cook. Kyle Van Noy got caught chasing Austin Ekeler in coverage.
And Dont’a Hightower missed a chance at Justin Jackson before the back ran for 75 yards to set up a touchdown. When Bentley, in particular, is in coverage it seems to really favor the opposing offense these days. The Patriots defense at the second level has seen its linebackers look slow at times in recent weeks, dating back to getting exposed by Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys.
Run defense – Early on the Chargers dominated in short yardage, including a fourth-and-1 conversion and that set up an Austin Ekeler TD in which he and his line pushed the pile from 5 yards out for the touchdown. Then came a Justin Jackson 75-yard run. Ekeler burst for 28 yards in the third quarter. It wasn’t a great day for the run defense, all told allowing the Chargers to run it 20 times for 163 yards.
Holding calls – Justin Herron and Isaiah Wynn both got called for costly holding penalties. Herron’s brought back a 28-yard Harris touchdown run and Kendrick Bourne fumbled the ball away a couple plays later. Wynn got flagged on a Harris run around left end that picked up 23 yards. New England only had four penalties for 30 yards on the day, but the two from the offensive line could have been costly.