Patriots-Chargers Quasi Live Blog: First Quarter

In the pre-game, we learn the following...

1) Philip Rivers is feisty! Funny, I was thinking another word. And so were the fans of the other 31 NFL teams... and more importantly, he doesn't look good in warm-ups. We're looking at Volek, methinks.

2) It's clear and cold in Massachusetts today, with significant wind. Short of somehow not being cold, this has to favor the Chargers a bit. Maybe they lose by just three touchdowns, instead of five...

3) The guys in the pre-game show are having such a good time, it's infectious! Like, say, e-coli.

Sproles has a seam but not much more, and the Chargers start at the 25... with QB Phillip. LDT gets 3 on a reasonable looking first down run. Crowd seems somewhat into it, and LDT goes up the gut for 2 more. The first big play of the day has Phillip in the shotgun, and he's got a clean pocket and bad execution on a cross-field screen to Sproles. 3 and out and flush; after the Scifres punt, its Welker to the 50, but a late hit on the punter makes it 4th and inches. A ballsy move would be to go for it here, but with your QB balky, a sneak won't be easy... and Norv is going conservative. The re-punt gains them about 24 yards, but it's hard to see how you beat the champs by playing this tight.

Can the Chargers answer? Pats come out 4 wide and Brady misses an open man by a lot; perhaps the wind took that one up a lot. Maroney gets two and a hard hit, and Antonio Gates is running off the field. Hoo boy. 3rd and 8, and all year, this is where the Pats have killed teams... and not quite today, as Brady is bothered by pressure and throws it away. On the replay, Stallworth was open; a mistake by Brady to not get it to him. The punt goes out of bounds with a moment of trepidation, and we're into the first ad break of the day. Score one for Norv to stay conservative, and it looks like neither offense is comfortable in the elements yet.

LDT with a jacket on, watching Turner. Hmm. Rivers throws a timing duck to Chambers for our first first down of the game. Turner slithers for 5, and the Chargers are at midfield. Gates is back on the sideline, and Rivers has time to find Chambers for another first. This is going well for the visitors so far, but they've got to keep it going. On play action, Rivers shot puts it to Jackson, but Samuel knocks it away; bad throw and timing, but again, the QB had time. Gates back in, and a screen to LDT only gets 2. Big third down here... and the Pats bring Harrison, who celebrates after the incompletion by tapping LDT on the helmet. What a nice fellow. After the Scifres punt, the Pats will start at their own 10.

Maroney goes sideway and loses yardage; if the Pats can't run today and the wind keeps up, that's just about perfect for the visitors. On 2nd, Brady has 5 wide and finds Welker for his first completion and the Pats first first down. This is the Achilles' heel that the Chargers really had to be concerned about today. In pressure, Brady misses long, but the home team is going to get Jammer for five yards on a marginal call that Welker cried successfuly for. Maroney gets nothing again, and you start to hear some uneasiness and booing from the crowd. Curious. A quick out to Watson gets 8, and it's another opportunity for the Chargers to get off the ball, but one suspects they'll need a sack to do it. On a LB blitz, Brady misses again, and the Pats will punt. Sproles brings it back to the 40, we're halfway through the first, and the under is looking good.

Georgia Frontiere is shown in memoriam. Um, ok then. I'm sure her husband is happy to see her. And yes, there's nastiness behind that.

Turner for a very nice run through tackles for first, followed up by another 4, and the Chargers are in Patriot territory. Natives are restless, too. Rivers throws a terrible ball, missing Jackson on an out. Another third down where the Chargers could start thinking about points if they convert... and Rivers takes a Seau sack where even the holding penalty couldn't keep the QB clean. After the initial rush, Rivers looked like he was just looking to fall. Scifres' punt goes to the end zone, and the Patriots will start at their 20.

Have the Patriots been stopped on three straight offensive series this year? I'm sure it's happened, but maybe not since the Ravens game. If it happens here, you can pretty much stick a fork in that over bet.

Jammer with a downright easy interception, the first of Brady's career in the first quarter. The booing is downright vociferous as the Chargers start on the Patriots 40. Turner goes for 5 and gets 15 more on a face mask agasint Wilfork; that puts it in the red zone. Turner gets little on the outside, and if you're rooting for the Chargers, you really have to think they need to get 7 out of this, especially with Kaeding being shaky. Chambers bails out Rivers on a contested out, and it's first and goal to the 9. Bad ball, bad decision, Chambers really stepped up. Turner for a yard. Chargers really miss a healthy Gates here... and Norv decides what he really needs here is Lo Neal in the flat, who Rivers misses. What. The. Hell. Third down, and Rivers from the shotgun, and Chambers makes an incredible effort, but can't get the feet down. Kaeding on from 26, into the wind... and he just sneaks it in. That kick might not have been good from 30. Something to keep in mind for later. Chargers 3, Patriots 0.

A short kick into the wind is returned with ugliness, and the Pats start with their best field position of the day. 2:50 left in the quarter. Brady starts with 5 wide again, and gets Welker for 9, easy as it can be. Brady is just 3 for 7 for 29 with the pick right now, and Brady airmails Moss by 10+ yards on an out. Odd. 3rd and 1, and the Pats make a nice call on a run to Heath Evans to get the first. Moss makes the first big play of the day for the Pats on a reverse where the Chargers overpursue, and the 14 yard gain puts the ball to the Charger 39. A WR screen to the always deadly Kevin Faulk gets the Patriots another 14, and the home crowd is starting to settle down. They do the same thing on the next play for 4. On 2nd and 6, it's 5 wide again and short to Stallworth for 5. The quarter ends, and it's hard to say that both teams aren't kind of flat so far.