Fourth-quarter surge secures Charger win
The Chargers took advantage of their two-week layoff by dominating the fourth quarter, coming back from a 14-10 deficit to score two touchdowns to seal the win. The Patriots did an excellent job keeping NFL MVP LaDanian Tomlinson in check for the first three quarters, holding him to just 48 yards on 16 carries, but Tomlinson broke out in the final period for 69 yards and two scores as the Chargers held onto the ball for over eleven minutes in the final fifteen.
San Diego took an early lead on a field goal, but Tom Brady connected with Reche Caldwell late in the first quarter to put the Patriots on top. The Chargers countered with a second-quarter touchdown as Philip Rivers found Antonio Gates all alone in the end zone from 21 yards away, and San Diego led 10-7 at the break, but New England got a Corey Dillon touchdown run in the third to take a 14-10 lead. In the fourth, Tomlinson finally revved it up, scoring touchdowns of 16 and four yards as the Chargers had two long scoring drives that sandwiched a Patriots field goal. New England turned it over on downs with 1:16 remaining, and that was the ballgame.
