'It's a Very Simple Game!' Dismal New England Patriots Shutout By Chargers, 6-0: Live Updates
The New England Patriots were in need of a jolt against the Bolts. But offensively? Sunday NFL Week 13 marked a record-setting offensive failure.
"It's a very simple game,'' said offensive lineman David Andrews after a dreary 6-0 New England Patriots loss to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. "Gotta find a way to score points.''
But ... the Pats do not have a way, as in the last three games the defense has given up 10, 10, and 6 ... and all three games are losses as coach Bill Belichick's woeful bunch drops to 2-10. We walk you through the dismal day in Foxboro ...
USA Today
Reeling New England is back in action on Sunday afternoon as it welcomes the Los Angeles Chargers to Gillette Stadium in the early portions of Week 13's Sunday action (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The Patriots (2-9) enter Sunday's game as losers of each of their last four, including a 10-7 interconference decision to the New York Giants last weekend. As Los Angeles arrives, New England will look to avoid its first five-game losing streak since 1995.
Sunday's visitors, the Chargers (4-7), are fading from the AFC playoff picture, entering Week 13 two games and six teams behind the third and final wild card. Los Angeles has lost each of its last three, including a heartbreaking 20-10 Monday night tilt at home against the Baltimore Ravens last week. The Chargers will also look to avoid dubious history on Sunday, having not lost four in a row since 2020.
Sunday's tilt in Foxborough will be the 45th tilt between the Pats and Bolts, with the former leading the set 27-15-2. The Patriots have won each of the last seven get-togethers, the last being a 27-24 triumph on Halloween in 2021. That list also includes a showdown in the 2018-19 AFC Divisional playoffs, a 41-28 victory en route to the Super Bowl LIII win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Live updates will commence after kickoff...
Pregame
NE INACTIVES: CB Alex Austin, WR Kayshon Boutte, WR Demario Douglas, RB JaMycal Hasty, OT Vederian Lowe, DE Deatrich Wise Jr.
LAC INACTIVES: G Zack Bailey, WR Simi Fehoko, DT Scott Matlock, RB Isaiah Spiller, CB Ja'sir Taylor, TE Nick Vannett
GAME TIME WEATHER: 45 degrees, rainy, 87 percent chance of precipitation, ENE wind at 9 miles per hour
1st Quarter
New England begins with the ball. Cameron Dicker's kickoff is a touchback.
The Patriots go three-and-out on their opening possession, picking up five yards.
Bryce Baringer's punt goes 56 yards to the Los Angeles 14. Derius Davis returns it 13 yards and LA takes over at 13:24.
Los Angeles also goes three-and-out, likewise picking up five yards.
JK Scott's punt goes 50 yards and Myles Bryant loses five yards on the return. Patriots take over at their 13 with 11:55 remaining
After a nine-yard gain for Rhamondre Stevenson, Bailey Zappe earns two yards on third-and-one to create a new set of downs.
A one-yard gain for Stevenson gives way to the first penalty of the day, a New England penalty for too many men on the field.
Zappe gets most of the yards back on an 11-yard throw to JuJu Smith-Schuster and Stevenson picks up eight more on third-and-three
After picking eight yards total on Zappe/Stevenson rushes, Los Angeles calls a timeout on third-and-two at the Patriots' 47.
A four-yard gain for Stevenson picks up the first and put New England in LA territory
As the Patriots make their way to the LA 32, Stevenson loses a fumble forced and recovered by Tuli Tuipulotu. Chargers take over at their own 32 with 4:13 remaining in the 1st.
Stevenson was assisted off the field due to an ankle injury. He is QUESTIONABLE to return.
LA goes three-and-out and the Scott punt situates the Patriots at their own 6.
New England responds with yet another three-and-out. Baringer boots it 70 yards where it's downed at the LA 18. 1:16 left in the first.
Two Justin Herbert passes to Gerald Everett total 32 yards, getting them into the cusp of New England territory at the 49.
The first quarter ends with a false start penalty against Los Angeles' Zion Johnson.
END OF THE 1ST: Patriots 0, Chargers 0
2nd Quarter
The Chargers get back in New England territory, picking up 15 yards on a Keenan Allen reception.
Los Angeles picks up only one yard further and they decide to punt from the New England 38.
Scott's punt goes 29 yards, situating the Patriots at their own 9 with 13:33 left in the half
Another three-and-out awaits the Patriots, this one ending on a six-yard loss for Ezekiel Elliott. Baringer's latest punt goes 44 yards and Davis takes it eight yards to the New England 47.
The Chargers start their next drive on an 11-yard throw from Herbert to Austin Eckeler.
Another first down awaits through an eight-yard throw to Quentin Johnston and four-yard run for Eckeler
FIELD GOAL CHARGERS: With the drive stalling at the New England 20, Dicker kicks a 38-yard field goal to open scoring 9:09 to go in the 2nd, Chargers 3, Patriots 0
DIcker's kickoff goes in the end zone for a touchback
On second down, Zappe finds Elliott for a 23-yard gain, getting the Patriots into the early stages of LA territory
Facing a third-and-seven, the Patriots take a five-yard delay of game penalty
Zappe is forced to throw the ball away, leading to yet another Baringer punt
The 33-yard boot is downed by Brenden Schooler at the LA 17. 6:56 to go in the 2nd.
Herbert finds Everett for a first down on third-and-two moving the Chargers to their own 31
On a seven-yard run by Joshua Kelley, Ja'whaun Bentley is injured on the play
Two more runs for Kelley and Eckeler get the necessary first down yardage. Chargers at their own 42 as the two-minute warning nears
On third-and-six, Josh Uche and Keion White take down Ekeler for a seven yard loss. New England calls its first timeout at 2:09
Scott's punt is fair caught by Bryant with 2:02 left
After the two-minute warning (preceded by an incomplete pass), LA calls its second timeout after stopping Elliott for a two-yard loss
The Patriots are pushed back three yards further on a false start before Zappe ends the drive with an incomplete pass
Baringer's punt goes 57 yards but Davis makes up 34 on the return. LA takes over at the New England 27 with 1:25 left
FIELD GOAL CHARGERS: Los Angeles picks up only seven yards from there on out, leading to another Dicker boot 0:44 to go in the 2nd, Chargers 6, Patriots 0
Jalen Reagor muffs the ensuing kickoff, but recovers. The Patriots opt to run out the clock with a short Elliott run.
HALFTIME: Chargers 6, Patriots 0
3rd Quarter
Chad Ryland's kickoff goes back for a touchback
LA goes three-and-out on its opening possession
Scott's punt goes 62 yards to the New England 13. Bryant takes it back five years to their own 18.
On second-and-five, Zappe finds DeVante Parker for 21 yards to the 44.
After an eight-yard gain, Elliott picks up a first down despite a fumble, and the Patriots get into LA territory
The Patriots face a fourth-and-three at the Los Angeles 38 but they get the first down on a four-yard scramble for Zappe
New England is unable to press further, and their offensive ineptitude is defined by a third-down sack of Zappe for Khalil Mack.
Baringer's punt goes 36 yards to the Los Angeles 7 where it's fair caught by Davis
On third-and-eight from their own 9, the Chargers get 27 yards from Johnston for a fresh set of downs
Six more yards for Johnson on second-and-three earns another first down
In another third down, this one at midfield, the Chargers get another first down, as Herbert finds Ekeler for 16
The next set of downs starts with a two-yard loss for Ekeler, taken down by Jahlani Tavai. Los Angeles will punt
The Chargers take a five-yard delay of game penalty before their punt.
Scott's punt goes out of bounds at the New England 2.
On the first play in the shadow of the goal post, Zappe finds Parker for a 27-yard gain on the opening down
Facing third-and-five from their own 34, the Patriots call their first timeout with 2:21 left in the third
New England converts the third, finding Hunter Henry for nine
Mack sacks Zappe for a loss of 11 after Elliott's five-yard gain
On the final play of the third, Zappe gets the sack yardage back on a throw to Reagor, setting up fourth-and-five at the New England 48
END OF THE 3RD: CHARGERS 6, PATRIOTS 0
4th Quarter
The Patriots opt to punt but Baringer's punt, which goes only 26 yards
Herbert finds Allen for nine yards before Ekeler sets up more downs with a two-yard carry
Five yard gains for Kelley and Everett set up more new downs for the Falcons
On third-and-three, Jalen Mills takes down Herbert for a four-yard loss, setting up another LA punt.
Scott's punt from midfield is a touchback. Patriots at the 20 with 10:13 left in the half
On second-and-five from their own 25, Tyquan Thornton goes 39 yards on a reverse, which puts them in LA territory at the 35
Zappe finds Henry for six yards, but then takes two sacks to close out the drive, and the Patriots turn it over on downs with 6:58 left in the 4th. LA takes over at its own 39
Los Angeles takes a five-yard false start penalty on its first play
Herbert gets a good number of yards back thanks to an 11-yard throw to Allen
Ekeler earns four yards for a new set of downs
Los Angeles gets seven more yards but no more. From the New England 46, Scott kicks it 33 yards and it's downed at the Patriots 13 with 4:36 left
Zappe opens the drive on a 14-yard throw to Parker, getting New England to its 27
Zappe's third down pass to Parker falls incomplete but a penalty is called against Essang Bassey for pass interfence. Drive continues at the New England 40. Los Angeles challenged to see if the ball was tipped, but lost, costing them a timeout
After a two-yard run for Elliott, Zappe's next two passes to Parker fall incomplete, setting up fourth-and-eight
Zappe's pass to Henry on fourth down is another incompletion past the two-minute warning. LA takes over at the Patriots' 42 with 1:58 left
Ekeler loses two yards. New England calls its second timeout
Ekeler gets a yard back. Patriots call their last timeout, 1:47 remaining
Herbert seals the deal for the Chargers, hooking up with Alex Erikson for 23 yards. With no timeouts for New England, that will effectively end the game.
Herbert kneels to end the affair
FINAL SCORE: CHARGERS 6, PATRIOTS 0
