NE vs SD, terrific game, how did NE win? (1 Viewer)

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I really think that San Deigo was clearly the better team, but they did everything they could possibly do to lose that game. Erik Parker almost single-handedly (with the exception of Florence's ridiculous penalty), lost this game for his team. At some points, he looked like he was purposely losing this game for SD... almost like he had someone on NE's side holding his family hostage at home.. threatening to off them if he didn't throw the game. Dropped passes are one thing (of which he had many in crucial moments), but the punt fumble was just laughable. If you bobble a punt and someone is within 5 feet of you and running full speed at you, do you get up and run with it? The camera showed that he saw the guy running at him, so what the is he doing??? I can't see how they would possibly bring him back after that performance. The guy should be taken out back and shot by his teamates. Florence should be forced to take A-H@les Anonymous classes, and if he doesn't improve... he should get Parker's fate.

I really feel bad for guys like Schottenheimer and L.T.

The call should have been against NE since it was a NE player who shoved him in the throat.

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I am an Eagles fan and Chargers fan (followed themn since I was 6 yrs old in the Fouts days-not a frontrunner) obviously my weekend killed me. I have never been more frustrated with a loss then after watching the Chargers yesterday. Never has a team made so many bad physical AND mental mistakes in one game. The personal fouls were outright stupid. The int that turned into a fumble was unbelievable. Eric Parker had the worst game I've ever seen a wr/pr have-dropping passes and the bonehead fumble not falling on the ball.

Not that it was anyones fault really, but have not seen mentioned Vicent Jackson having half a toe just out of the endzone on that what would have been long TD pass. Going for it on 4th and 11 in the firat qtr-kick the FG!!! LT should have touched the ball more. Won't even mention the challenge.

Belichelk was not a genious this game, he just had his players more disciplined

Brady is a great QB, but he played bad yesterday. Is he still money if McCree does not fumble that int? The Chargers kept giving him chances and he finally took advantage at the end

I am still so ####### pissed

All I can hope is that Chargers have a great young nucleus so they should be back

 

[mozzy84]

Marlon McCree's fumble. Knock it down

yup.it was being discussed on the local Boston radio today:

"Would the NE DB's have knocked it down?"

It's a question we'll never know the answer to, but the PERCEPTION is that NE is a smart team that is coached-up to gain every advantage. The Mcree INT *MAY* be a perfect example of how the bigger, faster team can so often lose to NE's craftiness.

That's the kind of obnoxious stuff that makes me queasy.

There aren't too many DB's that'll turn down a chance for an INT. And I'm not sure they should. The mistake, IMO, is once he caught it, he should have dropped to the ground. But I will always believe that that was more a stud play by Brown than a bonehead play by McCree.

It never should have gotten that far. Between Florence, Parker, the brillant gameplan to only give LT the ball 9 times in the 2nd half, stupid challenges, there are plenty of reasons for the Chargers to thinkt hey threw this one away.

I can remember in junior high football being coached to do the exact opposite of what he did, its pretty basic stuff, it was a total bonehead play by McCree, I can't believe you give him even a little slack here. Know the down and the game situation.

 

[massraider]

I really think that San Deigo was clearly the better team, but they did everything they could possibly do to lose that game. Erik Parker almost single-handedly (with the exception of Florence's ridiculous penalty), lost this game for his team. At some points, he looked like he was purposely losing this game for SD... almost like he had someone on NE's side holding his family hostage at home.. threatening to off them if he didn't throw the game. Dropped passes are one thing (of which he had many in crucial moments), but the punt fumble was just laughable. If you bobble a punt and someone is within 5 feet of you and running full speed at you, do you get up and run with it? The camera showed that he saw the guy running at him, so what the is he doing??? I can't see how they would possibly bring him back after that performance. The guy should be taken out back and shot by his teamates. Florence should be forced to take A-H@les Anonymous classes, and if he doesn't improve... he should get Parker's fate.

I really feel bad for guys like Schottenheimer and L.T.

The call should have been against NE since it was a NE player who shoved him in the throat.

Do you really believe that?

 

[parrot]

The call should have been against NE since it was a NE player who shoved him in the throat.

Yeah, after he got headbutted.

 

[massraider]

Marlon McCree's fumble. Knock it down

yup.it was being discussed on the local Boston radio today:

"Would the NE DB's have knocked it down?"

It's a question we'll never know the answer to, but the PERCEPTION is that NE is a smart team that is coached-up to gain every advantage. The Mcree INT *MAY* be a perfect example of how the bigger, faster team can so often lose to NE's craftiness.

That's the kind of obnoxious stuff that makes me queasy.

There aren't too many DB's that'll turn down a chance for an INT. And I'm not sure they should. The mistake, IMO, is once he caught it, he should have dropped to the ground. But I will always believe that that was more a stud play by Brown than a bonehead play by McCree.

It never should have gotten that far. Between Florence, Parker, the brillant gameplan to only give LT the ball 9 times in the 2nd half, stupid challenges, there are plenty of reasons for the Chargers to thinkt hey threw this one away.

I can remember in junior high football being coached to do the exact opposite of what he did, its pretty basic stuff, it was a total bonehead play by McCree, I can't believe you give him even a little slack here. Know the down and the game situation.

I give him a little slack because it's understandable, IMO, to try and catch the ball. Not saying it was the right move.Whatever, this is a boring line of discussion.

 

[cstu]

I still can't believe the non call on the LT facemask. He clearly, with two hands, facemasked Colvin on his interception. The only reason he didn't actually grab the bars is because Colvin wears a shield, and he couldn't. I actually was surprised that this wasn't a bigger deal. That's 15 yards the Pats should've gotten.

A player has to actually grab the facemask, LT didn't and it wasn't penalty.

 

[parrot]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

 

[Bri]

New England won because of a "can do" attitude that if hey kept trying hard they'd find a way to win.

2 biggest probs with the Chargers yesterday IMO.

1. Putting in a 3rd down lineup for the sake of doing it, even though the 1st+2nd down O was doing very well. They don't have a Proehl or Chrebet, they don't have a Meggett or Faulk or Brian Mitchell. Just go with what works. They might with Sproles on IR but nonetheless. Putting Turner in and not using him is useless.

2. Merriman. Is he not the heart and soul of that D or the one that gets em' all fired up? Graham took him out, each T took him out, it was often one blocker. I was shocked. He's supposed to be able to beat one blocker. There were some TE+T double teams but more often there was just one blocker on him. He didn't bring his A game. After that first series, we barely heard from him.

**********

3rd or 4th time I've said it but I still believe the winner of this game wins it all. The Chargers have some exceptional talent. Keeping that and adding some role players is all they need to win it IMO. I have not heard all that much of McCree like I did yesterday. Cromartie I thought had a very very good game. Their secondary was way better than advertised. The right coach could improve that just a smidge and if Merriman brings his A game, they're terrific then.

They need a WR that's gonna get the clutch catch. McCardell might be it if they move him to the slot, I don't think so but maybe. Sign some veteran like Proehl or Chrebet were. Jurevicius, Engram?

Either find a way to keep Sproles healthy and put him in on 3rd down or quit calling different plays on 3rd as if the ones on 1st and 2nd weren't working. They do not have that 3rd down weapon.

Most times, nickel and dime Ds can smother the TE enough that the QB won't bother going there. That's not to say the great TEs didn't have key 3rd down catches but it's not the "money" play like Meggett or Proehl gave their teams. Tomlinson could become Larry Centers or Edge on 3rd down and catch a screen with McNeil or a G out there to block every time. It doesn't matter what just get that "money" play/player in place. The D knows it's coming and you are successful advancing the ball anyway. That's a back breaker in the playoffs.

To summarize, get the personnel to run a 3rd down offense/lineup or quit acting like such exists.

Often over the last two decades a team loses it's first year in the playoffs, then comes back to win it all. I think this will be true for the Chargers too.

I hear the Marty should get fired chants but losing him, losing Cameron....that's a radical change. We never know how a team will react when that happens. Pete Carroll took over Parcells Pats Supe team and how'd that work out? 3 years, 3 games over .500 W-L record. Rhodes went 8-8 with a Packers team just two years after a Supe appearance. Chargers fans+the organization gotta be real careful about any radical changes. It might be a better idea to bring on an assistant head coach/consultant than making a radical change

 

[parrot]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

Graham pushed him back, rightly so. Seriously, you're embarassing yourself.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

Graham pushed him back, rightly so. Seriously, you're embarassing yourself.

 

[massraider]

Holy moly.

Graham and Florence were tied up, in the course of the play. Did Graham have his hands on Florence's neck? I dunno, maybe. I do know that all we saw was Graham chuck Florence as the play came to an end.

Florence then ran back, in plain view of the refs, knowing they were about to get the ball back, and headbutted Graham. Graham then shoved Florence off him. Punch? I didn't think so, but whatever.

THe refs got that one right, and to try and pass that off on the refs is a joke.

 

[parrot]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

Graham pushed him back, rightly so. Seriously, you're embarassing yourself.

I don't post here much, so I don't know what it means. Regardless, it's an improvement fromt he whining though. Your guy lost his cool and made a boneheaded play at a crucial point in the game. Just deal with it.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

Graham pushed him back, rightly so. Seriously, you're embarassing yourself.

I don't post here much, so I don't know what it means. Regardless, it's an improvement fromt he whining though. Your guy lost his cool and made a boneheaded play at a crucial point in the game. Just deal with it.

Im just saying that the retaliation punch usually gets called. And if you tivoed the game, check for the punch on parker by hobbs, which simms pointed out, and the olivea play, which cost the chargers 15 yards on a kcikoff, there was a clear facemask by a Pat's player in the pile, it's shane's bad jumping on.

 

[BoltBacker]

I think you have to give most of the blame to Schottenheimer or the OC, whoever calls the plays. One thing I couldn't understand was when the Pats tied it up, the Chargers got the ball back with 4 1/2 minutes to play. All they have to do is give it to LT, control the ball and get in FG range. They gave it to him on first down and he got 5 yds. They then threw 2 incomplete passes stopping the clock, only using 1 minute for those 3 downs, and giving the ball back to the Pats and Brady with 3 1/2 minutes to go. Big mistake IMO but a thankful Pats fan here.

well im partial but on that drive, on third down assanti absolutely mugged parker and didn't get called, per usual.

... and Jammer got away with mugging Caldwell on third down in the first half.I never saw the great DB play by SD that a lot of people were talking about. Florence made a few good plays(not enough to make up for his mental error though). McCree played solid.... until his big mental error. Jammer had his moments.... but then gave up a big pass to Caldwell down the sidelines that SHOULD have gone for a TD. Jue(who I typically like more than most) looked like he had no clue in "defending" the back of the endzone. I think SD's DB's get a lot more credit than they deserve. They play well when SD gets a pass rush and are exposed when they don't. Cromartie is the only guy in the secondary that is a threat to make a play. Jammer will make big plays..... trouble is half are for you and half are against.Another point about "both teams made lots of mistakes" but I think the difference is SD's mistakes were tougher to stomach because they weren't forced. Parker muffing the punt and dislplaying terrible fundamentals and trying to pick up the ball and run with it? McCree failing to knock the ball down or just diving after the INT? Gates fumbling at the goaline.... just think if SD had a 21-3 lead in the first instead of a 14-3 what a difference that would have made? The Florence penalty? These aren't mistakes made because NE was putting a great deal of pressure on SD at the time..... they were just bone-head plays that will lose you a game against an average opponent let alone the Patriots. Really, SD was lucky to have an opportunity to tie at the end. The missed FG by pro-bowl kicker was just par for the course that day.NE acted like they had been there before, SD just played too sloppy. As much as I like Marty maybe he did get outcoached. In his last season with KC he lost control of his team on national television vs DEN..... and now an undisciplined Florence makes a similar miscue. Not sure how much you can blame coaching but Parkers blunder was pretty unexcusable at this level..... that also might be blamed on coaching. I have no idea why Marty seems to gush about Jammer and leave him on an island at the most inopportune times at the end of a ballgame. As much as I rolled my eyes at all the "BB with out-coach Marty" hype before the game..... I'm afraid they may have been right.

 

[cstu]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

Graham pushed him back, rightly so. Seriously, you're embarassing yourself.

Florence never touched him - Graham pushed him. Somehow that turns into a personal foul against Florence.

 

[Bri]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

And the Parker fumble call? And the Pats going with no huddle but the refs keep stopping the clock for dopey things like resetting the play clock and one other thing they stopped it for can't recall same drive though?I'm glad the refs didn't call anything when Rivers sorta pushed Wilfork with the side of his arm, then Wilfork did the same and Rivers performed an Oscar worthy acting job. You don't win like that it's shameful he even tried. As I said in the game thread, I didn't think calls were going the Pats way early on but knew They'd get some calls. That's how the NFL works.Feel free to hunt thru the most famous ref threads here, the Raiders got calls early when the Pats got their tuck rule call. The Hawks last year got calls early then some didn't go their way.Ya take it when you can and move on, it's that simple.It's the players+coach that lost the game, not the refs. If they put together a winning drive before Brady's last TD they'd have put the nail in the Pats coffin. They didn't. If they swat away that 4th down pass the Pats don't get a chance to score. Same play, if he holds onto the ball or just goes down, they don't give the Pats a chance to score. While obvious it's always overlooked, if they played better D on the Pats scoring drives then of course they don't score. The refs didn't lose the game for them, the Chargers team did.Anything else is being a sore loser IMO, sorry if it offends some but that's how I feel.

 

[BoltBacker]

2. Merriman. Is he not the heart and soul of that D or the one that gets em' all fired up? Graham took him out, each T took him out, it was often one blocker. I was shocked. He's supposed to be able to beat one blocker. There were some TE+T double teams but more often there was just one blocker on him. He didn't bring his A game. After that first series, we barely heard from him. **********

Merriman mis-timed a blitz in the first half and had to catch himself and get back onsides. If you saw the replay he was rubbing his left leg right after the play and it never looked like he had the same burst after that. This was exacerbated by the fact Phillips got dinged up and NE could focus more on Merriman. Merriman looked very good in the first half before those two things happened imo. And when he and Phillips are in the game the DB's suddenly look a lot better.

 

[Bri]

Florence never touched him - Graham pushed him. Somehow that turns into a personal foul against Florence.

that's too funny

 

[Bri]

2. Merriman. Is he not the heart and soul of that D or the one that gets em' all fired up? Graham took him out, each T took him out, it was often one blocker. I was shocked. He's supposed to be able to beat one blocker. There were some TE+T double teams but more often there was just one blocker on him. He didn't bring his A game. After that first series, we barely heard from him. **********

Merriman mis-timed a blitz in the first half and had to catch himself and get back onsides. If you saw the replay he was rubbing his left leg right after the play and it never looked like he had the same burst after that. This was exacerbated by the fact Phillips got dinged up and NE could focus more on Merriman. Merriman looked very good in the first half before those two things happened imo. And when he and Phillips are in the game the DB's suddenly look a lot better.

I do remember that. Good point. Maybe he was hurt and couldn't perform as well as normal. As I said above, it was very surprising one blocker could handle him.

 

[BoltBacker]

I'm glad the refs didn't call anything when Rivers sorta pushed Wilfork with the side of his arm, then Wilfork did the same and Rivers performed an Oscar worthy acting job. You don't win like that it's shameful he even tried.

Actually you do win that way since a NE DL did the exact same thing to draw a phantom hold penalty.... not that either play would have made much of a difference. Both were flops.... and both were pretty silly. I thought the refs were pretty good as usual. There were a few calls that were bad on both sides but that's just sports.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Florence never touched him - Graham pushed him. Somehow that turns into a personal foul against Florence.

that's too funny

I can't even call him a homer - he clearly didn't see the play if that's what he thinks.

 

[Air Coryell]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

And the Parker fumble call? And the Pats going with no huddle but the refs keep stopping the clock for dopey things like resetting the play clock and one other thing they stopped it for can't recall same drive though?I'm glad the refs didn't call anything when Rivers sorta pushed Wilfork with the side of his arm, then Wilfork did the same and Rivers performed an Oscar worthy acting job. You don't win like that it's shameful he even tried. As I said in the game thread, I didn't think calls were going the Pats way early on but knew They'd get some calls. That's how the NFL works.Feel free to hunt thru the most famous ref threads here, the Raiders got calls early when the Pats got their tuck rule call. The Hawks last year got calls early then some didn't go their way.Ya take it when you can and move on, it's that simple.It's the players+coach that lost the game, not the refs. If they put together a winning drive before Brady's last TD they'd have put the nail in the Pats coffin. They didn't. If they swat away that 4th down pass the Pats don't get a chance to score. Same play, if he holds onto the ball or just goes down, they don't give the Pats a chance to score. While obvious it's always overlooked, if they played better D on the Pats scoring drives then of course they don't score. The refs didn't lose the game for them, the Chargers team did.Anything else is being a sore loser IMO, sorry if it offends some but that's how I feel.

Not going to defend River's attempt to draw the foul. But if you recall earlier in the game one of Pats defenders flops and gets a holding call on the Chargers. Even Simms pointed out that the play was a flop. The only difference here is that the refs didn't throw the flag.

 

[TD Ryan]

I can't even call him a homer - he clearly didn't see the play if that's what he thinks.

the head-but was on par with that French guy's in the World Cup (Zidane Zigoof?).if you don't want 15yard penalties, don't headbut people after the play.it's pretty simple really.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Same with the Shane Olivea call, he jumped on the pile when some pat had a charger by the face mask. I was wiating for both of these penatlies to be offsetting, but the Pats are clearly the NFL darling an never get penalties of this nature called on them

Oh please.

If you tivo'ed the game check out the replay. And Graham did punch Florence in the face, where the flag on that? Not only that they cleary showed Hobbs punch Parker in the back with a ref looking straight at it, and Simms said where is the penalty on that.This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

And the Parker fumble call? And the Pats going with no huddle but the refs keep stopping the clock for dopey things like resetting the play clock and one other thing they stopped it for can't recall same drive though?I'm glad the refs didn't call anything when Rivers sorta pushed Wilfork with the side of his arm, then Wilfork did the same and Rivers performed an Oscar worthy acting job. You don't win like that it's shameful he even tried. As I said in the game thread, I didn't think calls were going the Pats way early on but knew They'd get some calls. That's how the NFL works.Feel free to hunt thru the most famous ref threads here, the Raiders got calls early when the Pats got their tuck rule call. The Hawks last year got calls early then some didn't go their way.Ya take it when you can and move on, it's that simple.It's the players+coach that lost the game, not the refs. If they put together a winning drive before Brady's last TD they'd have put the nail in the Pats coffin. They didn't. If they swat away that 4th down pass the Pats don't get a chance to score. Same play, if he holds onto the ball or just goes down, they don't give the Pats a chance to score. While obvious it's always overlooked, if they played better D on the Pats scoring drives then of course they don't score. The refs didn't lose the game for them, the Chargers team did.Anything else is being a sore loser IMO, sorry if it offends some but that's how I feel.

no offense taken. I was just wondering why offsetting personal fouls were not called on the florence and olivea call.

 

[Bri]

Not going to defend River's attempt to draw the foul. But if you recall earlier in the game one of Pats defenders flops and gets a holding call on the Chargers. Even Simms pointed out that the play was a flop. The only difference here is that the refs didn't throw the flag.

I understand. I don't recall that one but would feel similarly negatively about the Pats defender as Rivers then. There was also a play where Bruschi was hugged from behind. We'd all like the refs to be perfect and see everything and get everything right but they're human beings and not robots. That wasn't the point of my post, I was just trying to bring up some that went the Chargers way. I feel every team gets theirs and you just take it and move on. You can't predict when it will happen but they each get calls. I'm not a fan of blaming losses on the refs.

 

[NEUPJ]

I love how a team can blow the game over and over with stupid plays, penalties and playcalling and the fans are blaming the refs.

If refs can lose you the game, then that is the teams fault for not putting the game away earlier.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I love how a team can blow the game over and over with stupid plays, penalties and playcalling and the fans are blaming the refs. If refs can lose you the game, then that is the teams fault for not putting the game away earlier.

Im not blaming the refs, the chargers clearly played with their head up their butts all game and made too many mistakes they couldnt over come them.

 

[BGP]

despite the fact that NE "spread it out" to neutralize SD's pass rush (1 sack), the Pats had 2 TE's in for most of the game.And they'd even start with Faulk (RB) in the backfield and move him in the slot or wide.Yes, the O-line (Light) played well, but those TE's (and Faulk) were critical in the blocking schemes and they should be given credit for their versatility (as skill guys and blocking guys alike).We hear so much about NE's disguise defense and the DL/LB tweeners that play multiple roles... NE seems to be doing this with their stable of TE's and RBs now too.Always flexible, always ready to adjust on the fly.

My favorite description of a Belichick team is that they are a "swiss army knife". He's got a lot of versatility and can morph his team to fit a variety of gameplans.

 

[TD Ryan]

Im not blaming the refs, the chargers clearly played with their head up their butts all game and made too many mistakes they couldnt over come them.

this is why I refuse to make globally absolute statements like, "Chargers' fans are <fill in explitive here>".Seat Sniffer has been one of the few stand up Charger fans here so far.Thank You.SD will be back next year; they're too go not to be.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Im not blaming the refs, the chargers clearly played with their head up their butts all game and made too many mistakes they couldnt over come them.

this is why I refuse to make globally absolute statements like, "Chargers' fans are <fill in explitive here>".Seat Sniffer has been one of the few stand up Charger fans here so far.Thank You.SD will be back next year; they're too go not to be.

unfortunately, you never know in this league, they went 9-7 last year with a veteran qb. Rivers should improve. The future does look bright, but your team follows your coaches lead, Marty clearly had a case of the tight-asses and his team followed his suit. Im afraid he has taken them as far as he could.

 

[cstu]

Im not blaming the refs, the chargers clearly played with their head up their butts all game and made too many mistakes they couldnt over come them.

this is why I refuse to make globally absolute statements like, "Chargers' fans are <fill in explitive here>".Seat Sniffer has been one of the few stand up Charger fans here so far.Thank You.SD will be back next year; they're too go not to be.

Which Charger fans are blaming the refs? The loss was because of mistakes and great plays by Brady. Most of us probably agree that the refs made some bad calls, but it wasn't the reason for the loss.

 

[Air Coryell]

I love how a team can blow the game over and over with stupid plays, penalties and playcalling and the fans are blaming the refs. If refs can lose you the game, then that is the teams fault for not putting the game away earlier.

I have a list of things that cost the Chargers the game. The refs are not on that list. I'd find it hard to believe that any Charger fan feels the refs played more of a factor than the dumb plays by Parker, Hart, Florence, McCree, poor timeout usage, poor use of LT once the score is tied. Marty's questionable decisions.

 

[DanFouts]

SD played like a young inexperienced team.....bad penalties and stupid mistakes. The veteran (but I believe outplayed) NE team takes advantage. End of game.....hope we can build on it for next year (also get rid of Parker and teach the Dbs to cover)

 

[davper]

Question 1: LuckQuestion 2: Your coach

Q1) NE took better advantage of mistakes.Q2) Matt Light, for blocking Merriam as well as he did

 

[Bri]

Im not blaming the refs, the chargers clearly played with their head up their butts all game and made too many mistakes they couldnt over come them.

this is why I refuse to make globally absolute statements like, "Chargers' fans are <fill in explitive here>".Seat Sniffer has been one of the few stand up Charger fans here so far.Thank You.SD will be back next year; they're too go not to be.

This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

I like BSS but I think he "spoke" out of character here due to a little post game anger

 

[Workhorse]

Asante Samuel's play on the pass intended for Eric Parker on 3rd down with 3:46 to play in a tie game. Forced the three-and-out and gave Brady the chance to get the winning drive.

Just a terrific man-to-man play.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Im not blaming the refs, the chargers clearly played with their head up their butts all game and made too many mistakes they couldnt over come them.

this is why I refuse to make globally absolute statements like, "Chargers' fans are <fill in explitive here>".Seat Sniffer has been one of the few stand up Charger fans here so far.Thank You.SD will be back next year; they're too go not to be.

This week coming up, when the Pats secondary is clearly mugging marv and wayne all over the field and no flags get thrown and NE goes to another superbowl, it's just a joke.

I like BSS but I think he "spoke" out of character here due to a little post game anger

It happens

 

[sinatravolta]

I've got to say one of the most blatantly dumb things was San Diego going for it on 4th and 11 on the Patriots 30 yard-line in the first quarter with the game tied 0-0. This is just unheard of and there's no justifiable reason for it. You kick the 48-yard FG. Kaeding is a pretty good kicker - there's no reason to believe that's outside of his range. And even if you do think it's outside of his range - choice 2 is PUNT!! The Patriots had started with awful field position and had 2 3-and-out's so far in the game. If you punt and the Pats start on the 12 yard line again - you're probably getting the ball back on the Patriots 45 with first-and-ten, and then you go and get at least a FG.

Going for it was option 3 - and idiotic! They actually get sacked and wind up as far back as they would have been with a missed FG, and the Patriots have an increased sense of momentum.

What added to the obviousness of the situation is the Patriots went down and wound up with a 4th and 2 from the Chargers 32. So they had a much more makeable 4th down yardage AND were 2 yards farther out, yet they opted to kick the FG. I actually think I might well have gone for it there, but the FG was made and it worked out ok and either decision is perfectly reasonable. But the point is - that was just a crazy decision to go for it on 4th and 11 by the Chargers. I actually think this was a 6-point play in the game. The Chargers missed out on 3 points, and the Patriots got the ball in better field position than they would on a kick-return and with some sense of momentum - and went down and got 3 points.

You can pick a ton of plays that had huge implications for this game, some of which were much closer to the end, but this one sticks out to me as the most blatantly stupid by the coach, with no excuse whatsoever.

 

[The Contrarian]

One thing I noticed in the 2nd quarter. The Chargers are winning. They pick off Brady and during the run back act like they are going to lateral the ball. WTF?? Go down or run out of bounds. It's not the last play of the game. That's just how they played - reckless abandon. Doesn't always win games though.

 

[Bri]

It happens

 

[pats3in4]

2. Merriman. Is he not the heart and soul of that D or the one that gets em' all fired up? Graham took him out, each T took him out, it was often one blocker. I was shocked. He's supposed to be able to beat one blocker. There were some TE+T double teams but more often there was just one blocker on him. He didn't bring his A game. After that first series, we barely heard from him. **********

Merriman mis-timed a blitz in the first half and had to catch himself and get back onsides. If you saw the replay he was rubbing his left leg right after the play and it never looked like he had the same burst after that. This was exacerbated by the fact Phillips got dinged up and NE could focus more on Merriman. Merriman looked very good in the first half before those two things happened imo. And when he and Phillips are in the game the DB's suddenly look a lot better.

I do remember that. Good point. Maybe he was hurt and couldn't perform as well as normal. As I said above, it was very surprising one blocker could handle him.

On that play where Merriman slid offside and got back, I joked that he hurt his leg on that play. I really wasn't paying attention from that point on, but *did* he hurt his leg on that play and have it affect his game from then on?

 

[Tau837]

The Pats defense saved the team's behind, pure and simple. SD had the advantage on field position all day long and came out with nothing to show for it time after time. I kept waiting for the dam to break, but it never did. SD moved the ball with ease...to a point. Sure, the mistakes cost them dearly, but how does a team of SD's apparent caliber not put up a ton more points with that kind of field position all day?

Drop a pass on the goal line... fail to get second foot in on a TD... kill a few other drives with dropped passes... miss a long FG and choose to go for it on 4th & 11 instead of trying another... etc.ETA: And, while NE certainly played well enough to make these things difficult to do in some cases, they are all plays/decisions made/not made by San Diego, not New England.

 

[Tau837]

I have a list of things that cost the Chargers the game. The refs are not on that list. I'd find it hard to believe that any Charger fan feels the refs played more of a factor than the dumb plays by Parker, Hart, Florence, McCree, poor timeout usage, poor use of LT once the score is tied. Marty's questionable decisions.

I agree with this. I am a Chargers fan who is not blaming the refs, just blaming the Chargers. I think San Diego did it more to themselves than as a result of what New England did. Now, if San Diego didn't make so many boneheaded plays, perhaps New England still would have found a way to win... but we don't know that, and watching the game it sure didn't seem like they would have.IMO if Parker doesn't muff the punt or McCree doesn't fumble the interception... either one... the Chargers win. I realize that is just my opinion, but IMO it was that close... and it may have been as close as not making the stupid challenge... or not getting one of the personal foul calls... etc.Something else that hurt that I haven't seen mentioned much. San Diego had a gift pop-up interception on the first series of the game and dropped it... you can't get an easier ball to intercept, and they would have had the ball in the red zone, or very close to it. That was mere foreshadowing of what was to come.

 

[North]

Marlon McCree's fumble. Knock it down

yup.it was being discussed on the local Boston radio today:"Would the NE DB's have knocked it down?"It's a question we'll never know the answer to, but the PERCEPTION is that NE is a smart team that is coached-up to gain every advantage. The Mcree INT *MAY* be a perfect example of how the bigger, faster team can so often lose to NE's craftiness.

He needs to know the situation and not get caught up in being a "play maker" who makes ESPN. Fact is if he just knocks it down his team gets the ball with terrific field position and they would be moving on to the AFC Championship.1.Instead he makes a great int but then tries to do too much. Just knock it down baby.2.Also, the dude who muffed the punt and then tried to pick it up and run with it. JUST FALL ON IT|!! That is what they teach you as a punt returner. If you muff it and it is close, just fall on it.3.The dummy who got the 15 yd personal foul. I understand your excited but wait until you get to the sideline to celebrate. You just may have cost your team the ballgame.What it all comes down to is what I have been preaching for years. I would take Brady over anyone when the chips are down. You just knew he was going to come through when it mattered.

 

[jonessed]

SD shot themselves in the foot. Up by 11, 8 minutes to go, and the running game going full steam. Personal foul, fumble, personal foul, fumble. Stupid mistakes that you can't make. Credit to NE for hanging in there and taking advantage when they had the opportunity. Everybody talks about Belichek's genius gameplans, but that's not what happened here. NEs experience beat SDs youth when it came to handling emotions. It really had nothing to do with gameplans.

The only positives I can take away from this as a Chargers fan is that Rivers played pretty well. He had the one bad pick, but other than that he did what was asked of him and gave them a shot at the end. His throws were on target and he controlled his emotions (which can flare up). I feel bad for LT. You could see his frustration on the sidelines with the stupid personal fouls.