Curran: Offense continues to roll

Share

By Tom E. Curran
CSNNE.com Patriots InsiderFollow @tomecurran
FOXBORO - There was a point in the first half when my former Providence Journal colleage, Steven Krasner, leaned over and said, "It looks like the Patriots just have more guys on the field."And it did. New England rolled up 274 yards of offense and Brady threw for 240 as the Patriots leaped to a 20-7 halftime lead over fellow AFC power San Diego. Brady went 20-of-23, including two big throws to the maligned Chad Ochocinco (15 and 40 yard completions). He also hit six other receivers in the half as the Pats scored on each of their four possessions (touchdowns to Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski; 22 and 47-yard field goals by Stephen Gostkowski). The Chargers got their share as well, putting up 243 yards of offense (196 passing yards from Philip Rivers). But the Patriots came up with an outstanding goal-line stand capped by a fourth-and-goal stop by Jerod Mayo on Chargers' battering ram Mike Tolbert at the goal line. New England promptly went 99 yards the other way on a 10-play drive to make it 17-10. San Diego was moving the ball until, with 19 seconds left and San Diego at the Patriots' 29, Rivers tried to loft a pass into the flat and Vince WIlfork came up with his first-career pick. Starting at the Chargers 47 with nine seconds left, Brady hit Deion Branch with two darts that gained 18 yards in six seconds and Gostkowski pounded through his second field goal as time expired.

Tom E. Curran can be reached at tcurran@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Tom on Twitter at http:twitter.comtomecurran

Contact Us