SAN DIEGO - There is a big cultural gap between Northern California and Southern California. There was a canyon-size difference in the way the Patriots played in Northern California and in Southern California.
After restoring the faith with a 30-21 win over the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, the Patriots fell flatter than tortilla last night in SoCal. The Patriots were trounced, 30-10, by the San Diego Chargers at
The theme of the night for the Patriots was playing from behind.
Matt Cassel and the offense struggled to generate points, failing four times from the 1 in the third quarter, and the Patriots cornerbacks were constantly behind the Chargers receivers, as Philip Rivers (18 of 27 for 306 yards and three touchdowns) completed three passes of more than 40 yards, including a 48-yard deep ball to Vincent Jackson on the first play from scrimmage.
The Patriots (3-2) came in determined to stop LaDainian Tomlinson, but it was receivers Jackson (five catches for 134 yards and a score) and Malcom Floyd (three catches for 75 yards and a touchdown) that proved their undoing. You would have thought it was the Patriots, not the Chargers, who entered last night's game with the 32d-ranked pass defense in the NFL.
"We expected those type of big plays. We had a big task on our hands and we definitely failed," said cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who was flagged for a 32-yard pass interference penalty in the third quarter that set-up a 1-yard touchdown toss to Antonio Gates that made it 24-3.
"We had some good moments, but we just had too many low moments. We just couldn't stop it."
But the lowest moment didn't come on defense, it came via the offense, which was outgained 404 yards to 299.
After trailing, 17-3, at the half, the Patriots took the opening kickoff and seemed poised to do NBC a favor and keep people from flipping the channel on a game that lost some of its luster with both Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman out for the season with knee injuries, driving from their 22 to the San Diego 1.
Cassel picked up a third and 2 with a gutsy 3-yard scramble. On the next play, he hit Sammy Morris, who bowled over Antonio Cromartie, for a 28-yard gain to put the ball on the 1.
But with four shots from the 1, the Patriots failed to score, as on the final play, Cassel was stopped at the 2 as he tried to scramble into the end zone.
