Best Of Social Media: Week 8 Chargers vs Patriots

Heading into Week 8’s matchup with the San Diego Chargers, quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots were seeking a fourth straight win before heading into their bye week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba1ZknOBw4g/?taken-by=tombrady

Things got off to a rough start in the midway through the first quarter, as Chargers running back Melvin Gordon ran for the longest touchdown score ever allowed by a Bill Belichick defense.

HE WILL GO ALL THE WAY!@melvingordon25.

87 yards to the HOUSE. #Chargers https://t.co/mOTI7SKWm9

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2017

That 87 yard run by Melvin Gordon was the longest rushing TD the Pats have allowed under Belichick. #WBZ

— Levan Reid (@LevanReid) October 29, 2017

Needing a response, the Patriots orchestrated a season high 14 play drive that culminated in a Rob Gronkowski Gronk spike to even the score at 7 early in the second.

GRONK! #GoPats https://t.co/sXpKOx3d4m

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2017

The connection with Gronk was Tom Brady's 472nd career TD pass. Fourth most in #NFL history. #Patriots

— Sean Glennon (@SeanGlennon) October 29, 2017

That 14-play drive was tied for the longest of the season for the Patriots.

— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) October 29, 2017

https://twitter.com/giseleofficial/status/924691073984802816

Then the Travis Benjamin and the Chargers provided one of the worst special teams errors of recent memory, gifting the Patriots an additional two points on a safety.

SAFETY. #LACvsNE https://t.co/Tsf60mPp3K

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2017

This is an impressive synchronized safety call by the back judge and side judge #rhythmnation pic.twitter.com/6Iezshism4

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) October 29, 2017

This is the worst punt return in football history pic.twitter.com/aixbCFXdMC

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) October 29, 2017

Travis Benjamin just ran into a safety. Not a player on defense that’s a safety. Literally ran himself into giving up 2 points on a punt.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 29, 2017

In what would be an unfortunate theme for the the remainder of the football game, the Patriots struggled mightily in the red zone, and could only muster two field goals before halftime. They would head to the locker room up 15-7 but the Patriots running backs did provide a few highlights throughout the remainder of the game.

Patriots have had 43 snaps on offense in first half, which is high total. 1 of 3 in red zone keeps point total down. Patriots 15, Chargers 7

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 29, 2017

Patriots now have 17 touchdowns on 31 red zone drives in 2017 (54.8%).

From 2014-16, they scored on 65.0% of red zone drives.

Struggles.

— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) October 29, 2017

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/925082482952716291

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/925059828631744512

https://twitter.com/patriots/status/925014591528042496

With the Patriots unable to put the game away in the second half, Benjamin redeemed his safety miscue with this touchdown reception to close the gap to within five at 18-13 in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots last five drives have reached the Chargers' 6, 18, 25, 25, 25. They've attempted field goals on each and hit 3 of them.

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) October 29, 2017

Rivers ?? @travisbenjamin3 for the TD ??#LACvsNE pic.twitter.com/aPYkTpLtll

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 29, 2017

Tom Brady goes over 300 yards for the 81st time in his career and 5th time this season, matching his 2016 total. #LACvsNE

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 29, 2017

With 1:08 to play in the fourth, Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 26 yarder to put the Patriots up eight at 21-13 but Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers was unable to drive down the field to force overtime.

The Patriots would hold on a win by a final score of 21-13 to head into the bye at 6-2 and sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba2EL6zhdEB/?taken-by=tombrady

The #Patriots Week 8 win, by the numbers: pic.twitter.com/JeWHYFOaY3

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 30, 2017

Tom Brady has had Philip Rivers' number in their head-to-head rivalry. Sunday's win improved Brady to 7-0 vs the #Chargers QB & a spot here pic.twitter.com/aUlJYkHkF7

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) October 30, 2017

https://twitter.com/joegiza/status/924773505195012096