The Patriots began their west coast swing on Sunday against the 3-8 Los Angeles Chargers looking to return to .500 on the season for the first time since week four.
The matchup marked the first meeting between the two franchises for the first time since the 2018 AFC Divisional round in Foxboro.
Take a look at all the best sights and sounds from social media throughout the game below.
Weekly routine. #NEvsLAC | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/UHNNeovjrk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 6, 2020
Go time.#NEvsLAC | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/nd2h0XKUpj
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 6, 2020
In the first quarter, the Patriots scored on their first possession of the contest and an early lead thanks to a Cam Newton dive into the end zone at the goal line. 7-0 Patriots after a quarter of play.
https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/1335702018598506496?s=20
.@CameronNewton goal line masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/M5iHD604jN
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 6, 2020
“EURO!” pic.twitter.com/4tCO4GvenF
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 6, 2020
Buckets.@budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/aQETNeC0qo
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 6, 2020
In the second quarter, Gunner Olszewski got his revenge after having a previous punt return called back on a penalty last week.
Olszewski ran this punt back 70 yards for his first career NFL touchdown and a 14-0 Patriots lead early in the second quarter.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335707215353827329?s=20
When you see the end zone waiting for you. pic.twitter.com/YnQtU5hXAp
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 6, 2020
Hell yeah gunner!!
— Patrick Chung (@PatrickChung23) December 6, 2020
Gun show! @Gunnerolszewsk1
— Matt LaCosse (@Mattylac11) December 6, 2020
https://twitter.com/BB_HulkSmash/status/1335708915980505089?s=20
Meanwhile on defense, the Patriots shut down Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert thanks to plays like this one by Josh Uche.
https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/1335712067081408520?s=20
The following drive saw the Patriots push their lead to three touchdowns.
A Cam Newton two-yard rushing score gave the Patriots a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335717815698026497?s=20
With the clock winding down on the first half, the Chargers attempted their to get their first points of the game on a 58-yard field goal attempt.
Instead the Patriots special teams unit again punished the Chargers.
A Devin McCourty 44 yard return of blocked field goal gave the Patriots a stunning 28-0 lead at halftime.
Credit Cody Davis and Justin Bethel creating the blocked kick.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335719923264475139?s=20
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335763523536883713?s=20
https://twitter.com/IanSteeleABC6/status/1335765489025429511?s=20
Devin McCourty hit 21.11 MPH on that touchdown return, per @NextGenStats. He's the third-fastest ball-carrier of the week so far.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) December 6, 2020
CAM NEWTON FIRST HALF PASSING:
Total: 7/10 (70%) 42ydsBy Down:
1st: 2/4 (50%) 10yds
2nd: 3/3 (100%) 19yds
3rd: 2/3 (67%) 13ydsRushing:
12 carries – 46yds – 5 First DownsBy Down:
1st: 3/17yds
2nd: 6/25yds 1TD
3rd: 2/2yds 1TD
4th: 1/2yds— PatsFans.com (@PatsFans) December 6, 2020
In the third quarter the Patriots defense kept pouring it on as Chase Winovich logged his first career interception.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335726729546113026?s=20
The turnover set the Patriots offense up to score once again as Cam Newton would later find N’Keal Harry for six and an unprecedented 35-0 lead in Southern California.
https://twitter.com/CaseyBake16/status/1335726356177555457?s=20
https://twitter.com/JoeGiza/status/1335778919572791297?s=20
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335729365812965382?s=20
J.C. Jackson has 15 interceptions in his first three NFL seasons and there are still four games left this year.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) December 7, 2020
In the fourth quarter, Gunner Olszewski continued his career day as the Chargers special teams unit continued to struggle on all phases.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335733978033246208?s=20
https://twitter.com/Ryan_Spags/status/1335733584389410816?s=20
From @ESPNStatsInfo: Gunner Olszewski has 2 punt returns of 60+ yards today. The entire NFL had 3 60+ yard punt returns this season COMBINED entering today.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 6, 2020
With the game well out of reach, Jarrett Stidham took over for Newton but the points kept coming for the Patriots.
A Nick Folk 32 yard field goal and a Gunner Olszewski 38 touchdown pass from Stidham put the icing on the victory cake for the Patriots dominating blowout victory.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1335739089392427010?s=20
Gunner Olszewski is the first Patriots player to have a Rec TD and punt return TD in the same game since Julian Edelman in 2014.
The only other player to do that this season is Keelan Cole in Week 10 at the Packers. pic.twitter.com/XYR1RPi1X2
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 7, 2020
Cam Newton pumped up and happy for Stidham after the nice TD pass to Gunner. It’s impossible not to like the 2020 Patriots pic.twitter.com/LqSRPtwcPj
— Boston ?? Mike (@BostonSports_BM) December 7, 2020
Cam Newton teaching Jake Bailey how to dab pic.twitter.com/UYeVf9KnZY
— Tucker Boynton (@Tucker_TnL) December 7, 2020
The Patriots would return to .500 (6-6) in 2020 as they prepare to move on quickly as a Super Bowl rematch with the Los Angeles Rams looms on Thursday night, also at Sofi Stadium.
For Tracy. pic.twitter.com/GqgQHKW6gg
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 7, 2020
Patriots closed as 1.5 point underdogs. They become just the third underdog in NFL history to win by at least 45 points pic.twitter.com/bGFt6rWQ24
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) December 7, 2020
From @ESPNStatsInfo: 45-0 is the 2nd-largest shutout win in Patriots history, trailing only their 59-0 win over the Titans in 2009.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 7, 2020
New England Patriots are the first team to shut out an opponent, on the road, and win by ? 45 since 1989
And only the 8th team in NFL history
Pretty impressive
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) December 7, 2020
Team effort. pic.twitter.com/EE5N2cEZ84
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 7, 2020
"Today was a great example of who we felt like we were all year."
Patriots players talk today's win. pic.twitter.com/m2ZdNpb60Z
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 7, 2020
3??rd time with 2?? special teams TDs under BB. pic.twitter.com/Yys7AbIlDv
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 8, 2020
This is the 4th time in Bill Belichick's head coaching career he won a game by 45+ points.
That ties Tom Landry for the most such wins by a head coach in the Super Bowl Era (since 1966) pic.twitter.com/8nYufrxpwF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 7, 2020
Since Geno Smith and the Jets beat the Pats in Week 7, 2013, New England is 11-0 vs. first-year quarterbacks.
In the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots are 27-5 vs. rookie QBs overall and 16-1 in their last 17.
— Tucker Boynton (@Tucker_TnL) December 7, 2020
Justin Herbert this season
First 10 Games vs Belichick
301.5 Pass Yds/Gm 209
23/7 TD/INT 0/2
100.9 QB Rating 43.7 pic.twitter.com/O5Ui4e0jlO— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 7, 2020
Great team win. #gopats #1-0
— Anfernee Jennings (@anferneejenning) December 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/BSUBeaversFB/status/1335994099237793793?s=20
Best buds?? https://t.co/t7BJdVXUuy
— Damien Harris (@DHx34) December 7, 2020
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