HIGHLIGHTS BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
PATRIOTS 3, CHARGERS 0
Key plays: What was Marty Schottenheimer thinking, not allowing Nate Kaeding to try a 48-yard field goal with 5:21 left? The kick would have been into a mild breeze, but it seemed well within Kaeding's range, especially when the alternative was to go for a first down while needing 11 yards. Mike Vrabel sacked Philip Rivers on the play, and New England recovered at the 35. Nine plays later, Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 50-yard field goal.
Key stat: The Chargers advanced to at least midfield on each of their first-quarter possessions and outgained the Patriots 75-42.
Not in the box score: To be kind, Eric Parker has had better quarters. He dropped two passes – one should have been ruled a catch and a fumble – and slipped while running a reverse, costing the Chargers 7 yards. To be fair, Parker did catch one pass for 21 yards and a first down.
SECOND QUARTER
CHARGERS 14, PATRIOTS 10
Key plays: The Chargers appeared to have blown another scoring chance when officials ruled Antonio Gates caught a pass from Rivers and fumbled it away at the Patriots 2. But the Chargers challenged and referee Tony Corrente ruled (correctly) that Gates did not have possession. Four plays later, LaDainian Tomlinson scored and the Chargers had a 7-3 lead. Later, the Chargers used a 58-yard screen pass to Tomlinson to set up a 6-yard TD run by Michael Turner. But the Pats went 72 yards in the final two minutes to cut their deficit to 14-10, getting first downs on second-and-17 (pass to Jabar Gaffney) and third-and-5 (pass to Reche Caldwell).
Key stat: Tomlinson outgained the Patriots 143 yards to 139 in the first half.
Not in the box score: Parker appeared to make a spectacular diving catch inside the Patriots 45, but after initially ruling that way, the officials called it incomplete.
THIRD QUARTER
CHARGERS 14, PATRIOTS 13
Key plays: Too many to count. Another dropped pass (Vincent Jackson) forced a Chargers punt ... an interception by Drayton Florence gave the Chargers the ball at the Patriots 32, but a holding penalty against Mike Goff and a sack by James Sanders forced a punt ... a muffed punt by Parker gave the Patriots the ball at the Chargers 31 ... a personal foul penalty against Florence kept alive a drive that resulted in a Gostkowski field goal ... and an interception thrown by Rivers to Rosevelt Colvin.
Key stat: Just 68 yards gained in the quarter, 40 by New England.
Not in the box score: Tom Brady had the lowest interception percentage (1.25) in playoff history entering the game, with just five picks in 401 attempts. He threw two in the first three quarters (the first ended a streak of 169 without a pick) and had another one dropped.
FOURTH QUARTER
PATRIOTS 24, CHARGERS 21
K.C. ALFRED / Union-Tribune
After making a fourth-quarter interception, Chargers safety Marlon McCree watches the ball drop to the turf. McCree had the ball stripped from his grasp by the Patriots' Troy Brown (80), and it was then recovered by Pats wide receiver Reche Caldwell at the San Diego 32. Five plays later, Caldwell scored the touchdown that - with the ensuing two-point conversion - tied the game at 21-21.
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Key play: Again, too many to count, although the biggest one was Marlon McCree intercepting a fourth-down pass from Brady with just over six minutes left and allowing Troy Brown to strip it from him. Reche Caldwell recovered the fumble at the Chargers 32 and five plays later Caldwell scored the TD that helped the Patriots tie the game at 21 with 4:36 left. Also huge was a 49-yard pass from Brady to Caldwell (who beat Quentin Jammer) on third-and-10 that set up New England's winning field goal.
Key stat: The Chargers were by far the best fourth-quarter team in the league this season, outscoring opponents 176-82, but the Patriots beat them 11-7.
Not in the box score: The Chargers could have used some Martyball in the fourth quarter and given the ball more to Tomlinson, who averaged 5.3 yards a carry.
– JAY POSNER
NICK CANEPA'S REPORT CARD
QUARTERBACKS
B
Rivers was fine. Even in the end, when there was no time. Too bad he couldn't catch for himself.
RUNNING BACKS
A
Tomlinson was, as usual, terrific. And, unlike some of his teammates, smart.
RECEIVERS
F
More drops than Smith Bros. Parker hands compared favorably with Venus de Milo. Only Gates showed up.
OFFENSIVE LINE
B
Plenty good enough. Olivea has a bonehead personal foul penalty on an extra point.
DEFENSIVE LINE
B-
Got the Patriots to quit on the run, but very little pass rush.
LINEBACKERS
B
Edwards had a pick, Phillips and Merriman a sack each, but not enough pressure was put on Brady.
SECONDARY
C
On a fourth-and-long, why not bat down the ball, rather than intercept it? Caldwell's deep beating of Jammer one-on-one was the dagger.
SPECIAL TEAMS
C-
Parker's huge flubbed punt brings it down a grade.
COACHING
F
Lose a playoff game primarily because of your players' football stupidity and lack of control, you flunk.
NEXT OPPORTUNITY: (Pro Bowl)
F
The Chargers probably will send 10 players. Aloha.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 Consecutive postseason losses by Chargers, dating to Super Bowl XXIX
6 Consecutive postseason coaching losses by Marty Schottenheimer
5-13 Schottenheimer's postseason record
12-1 Postseason record (with Patriots) for coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady
22 Consecutive games Chargers had won when LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for at least 100 yards
123 Rushing yards for Tomlinson
148-51 Advantage in rushing yards for Chargers
187 Yards from scrimmage by Tomlinson, the most by a Charger since Keith Lincoln had 329 in the 1963 AFL Championship Game vs. Patriots
