Patriots Win: Instant Reaction To Wild Card Thumping Of The Chargers

Final: Patriots 16, Chargers 3

That was the best weekend of playoff football that's possibly ever happened. I'll go through the whole slate Tuesday after the Steelers/Texans game, but the Patriots are on to the Divisional Round - by way of brute force.

Defense Defense Defense

What the Patriots did to poor Justin Herbert and the Chargers offensive line is borderline criminal. I actually said towards the end of the fourth quarter that I kinda felt bad for Herbert. I was frankly impressed he was able to walk off the field on two feet.

The Pats attacked all night. I'm writing this minutes after the final whistle, and will get more stats for Tuesday's blog, but it felt like they brought pressure on 80% of the Chargers offensive plays, at least. And the Bolts had no answer.

Herby was running for his life, his receivers couldn't get open against consistent man to man coverage, and LA's charging dock was yanked out of the wall (5/10 pun).

207 total yards allowed. Six sacks. 1-10 on third down and 1-3 on fourth. The boys were BALLIN.

You can't play a better defensive game than that. Short field after a first quarter interception? No worries, turnover on downs inside the five. The singular drive that went for more than 45 yards? Also resulted in a bend don't break stop, also inside the five yard line.

Five second half possessions resulted in three punts, a fumble, and a turnover on downs that featured the big man (in stature and wallet size) stamping his presence with an "I'm back" moment.

I don't expect them to, but if we play defense like the '85 Bears we'll sleepwalk our way to the Super Bowl. But we won't be playing the Chargers O line again.

Rhamondre Day

Atop the offensive player rankings for the game was Rhamondre. He was awesome all night. While TreyVeyon Henderson continuously ran full speed into brick walls (but had a huge block on the game's only TD), Mondre was shaking and baking, making people miss and always falling forward. He was the leading receiver too. In games where the offensive line is overmanned and pressure is in our face, Mondre is far and away the better back on this team, and showed it tonight.

Rookie O Line Night To Forget

I don't need PFF grades to tell me the left side of the Pats O line with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson got beat to shreds all night. I had Chris Colinsworth do it, pointing it out seemingly every other play.

Drake was pressured a lot, and most of it seemed to come from that side. It was Campbell's first game in nearly two months, so he gets a bit of slack, but the two of them need to spend some serious quality time together this week. Idk if they're even old enough to drink yet, but maybe some coffee dates? Cause regardless of whether it's Houston or Pittsburgh next week it ain't getting easier.

Drake Turnovers

Friendly reminder that the ball is sacred. Tipped passes happen, but the hero-ball fumbles can't. Sacks are better than turnovers. I know I'm being annoying but I had to say it.

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I think the offense overall was better than the box score showed, but this game was/is all about the defense. The Chargers barely sniffed Patriot territory yet alone the red zone in the second half. They were causing chaos all night, and made Herbert, who I think played one of his best seasons as a pro, and the Chargers offense look like chumps.

I can get used to watching that defense. And going against either Houston or Pittsburgh next week, it’s not out of the realm of possibility we see a similar performance again.

It's so good to be back in the playoffs. I really missed it.