Time of possession: Patriots 31:34, Chargers 28:26.
Offensive plays: Patriots 64, Chargers 55
Chargers drives: FG, TD, missed FG, punt, punt, TD, TD, FG, FG, and then when the score was 27-3 in the 4th quarter, a fumble and a punt.
Make no mistake, Cassel was bad tonight. But this was a team loss, and the defense was just as responsible as Cassel - and the o-line and McDaniels. The first two drives were unacceptable; I'll blame the offense for the Chargers TD just before the half when San Diego got the ball in great field position. The defense needed to come up with a play and opened up the 2nd half by allowing a 98-yard touchdown drive.
This was a team loss, you're not going to win when you give up 30 points. This is a very good example of 'the QB gets too much credit for a win and too much blame for a loss.' Cassel had a bad game, but so did the rest of the team. Even with a healthy Brady the Chargers would have won tonight.