Patriots Analysis
Ten Takeaways From the Patriots 40-7 Loss to the Chargers
The New England Patriots entered their Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a 3-12 record. The Chargers, sporting a 9-6 record to start the day, were playing for a spot in the NFL Playoffs. Los Angeles was the only team with something at stake, aside from draft position, and it showed.
The Chargers scored 17 points in the first half before the Patriots got on the board. An efficient passing attack led by Justin Herbert, aided by no pass-rush from New England, contributed to a one-sided first half. Herbert completed 20 of 27 passes (74.1%) for 190 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in the first half alone.
Things failed to improve for the Patriots defense in the second half. Los Angeles put another 20 points on the board. After winning the first half 20-7, the Chargers won the second half 20-0. The 40-7 final score marked New England’s most lopsided defeat of the season.
The Chargers improved to 10-6 with the win, while the Patriots fell to 3-13.
Also Read – Kelley: Ten Fair Criticisms of the 2024 New England Patriots
Here are ten initial takeaways from the Patriots loss in Week 17:
Drake Maye Injured Early
Los Angeles began the game with the ball. After picking up a first down, the Chargers were forced to punt when a pass sailed through the hands of rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey. McConkey more than made up for that miscue as the game progressed.
The Patriots’ offense went three-and-out on their opening possession. However, giving the ball back to the Chargers wasn’t the worst part of their brief drive. Drake Maye took a hit along the sideline on third down. It was a loss of two yards (credited as a sack) and sent Maye to the blue medical tent and then back to the locker room. No flag was thrown on the play.
Chargers Offense Finds a Rhythm
Patriots punter Bryce Baringer pinned the Chargers at their nine-yard line to begin their second drive. Los Angeles drove downfield methodically and with little resistance. They went 91 yards, picking up five first downs before winding up in New England’s end zone. The 11-play drive lasted for 6:12 and gave Los Angeles a lead they would never relinquish.
Justin Herbert completed 7-of-8 passes on the drive for 78 yards. This included a 23-yard touchdown pass to Derius Davis to finish off the scoring drive. At no point in the possession did it appear the Patriots could stop the Chargers’ attack. This theme continued throughout the afternoon.
Jacoby Brissett Takes Over at Quarterback
With Drake Maye back in the New England Patriots locker room after taking a shot to the head, Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback for the Patriots’ second offensive possession. Antonio Gibson ran twice for two yards. Brissett then threw an incomplete pass on third-and-eight to bring out the punting unit.
It was a brief reminder of what New England’s offense looks like without Drake Maye. The playcalling becomes conservative, simple passes become difficult to complete, and the focus becomes more on preventing turnovers than scoring points. That philosophy was not going to beat the Chargers on this day the way their offense had just driven 91 yards for a score.
Christian Gonzalez Injured
New England could afford to lose no player less than Drake Maye. Perhaps the second most indispensable member of the roster was cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Unfortunately, the second time the Patriots’ defense took the field that’s exactly what happened.
With 13:47 left in the second quarter, Herbert connected with McConkey for a 19-yard gain. Gonzalez made the tackle but was injured on the play. He left the field. Soon after, Gonzalez was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
Drake Maye Returns With a Turnover
Despite taking a hit to the head and going back to the locker room, Drake Maye returned to the field for New England’s third offensive possession. When he departed the game, with the Patriots having nothing at stake, his return felt like an improbability. However, it was encouraging that he was given the green light from the medical staff to return.
Los Angeles led 10-0 when Maye returned. New England began the drive at their 30-yard line with 10:15 remaining in the second quarter. Maye took a late hit to the head (15-yard penalty) on a nine-yard run his first play back in the game. The Patriots took advantage of a second Chargers penalty on the drive, defensive pass interference, to pick up another first down and move toward midfield.
After a seven-yard completion to Kayshon Boutte, the New England Patriots attempted some ill-advised trickery on second-and-three. It appeared Drake Maye attempted to pitch the ball to DeMario Douglas but tossed it to nobody. It landed too far in front of Douglas and too far behind Rhamondre Stevenson for either Patriot to have a chance. Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. pounced on the loose ball for the game’s lone turner.
McConkey Takes Control
Los Angeles capitalized on New England’s turnover. They continued to mix up their playcalling, utilizing both run and pass plays. However, it appeared the Patriots had no chance to stop the Chargers if Justin Herbert threw the ball on every down. On this drive, their third consecutive scoring drive, Herbert completed all four of his pass attempts for 30 yards. The drive ended with a six-yard touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey.
McConkey’s success was not lost on New England Patriots fans. The Chargers drafted McConkey with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They acquired that selection from New England, sending the Patriots No. 37 and No. 110 in exchange for No. 34 and No. 137. Ladd McConkey and CB Tarheeb Still went to the Chargers with the picks. The Patriots used theirs to take wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
Ladd McConkey began the second half scoring with his second touchdown of the game. He finished the afternoon with eight receptions, 92 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Polk and Baker combined for no receptions on two targets. New England’s duo has 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns all season (all courtesy of Polk). McConkey put up similar numbers in one afternoon.
No Pass Rush for Patriots
Credit is due to Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, and the rest of the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the New England Patriots made things about as easy as possible for their opponents. Their defense provided no pressure on Herbert all afternoon. Only twice did the defense affect Herbert’s throws. New England finished the day with zero sacks despite Herbert attempting 38 passes.
During the offseason, Eliot Wolf drafted no pass-rushing help and traded for none. He signed Oshane Ximines (currently on injured reserve) and brought back Joshua Uche (since traded). Wolf traded away Matthew Judon as well. Adding a pass rush is crucial to this team’s 2025 plans. No NFL team can successfully play defense without putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. That was painfully obvious in Week 17.
New England’s Lone Score
The Patriots managed to avoid a shutout against the Chargers, though there wasn’t much else to hang their hats on. After McConkey’s first touchdown made it 17-0, New England found the end zone.
Maye completed a pair of passes to Kendrick Bourne, picking up 22 yards. He then scrambled up the middle for a 12-yard gain to the Chargers’ 36-yard line. Los Angeles jumped offside on the next play, which Drake Maye took advantage of. He used the free play to throw toward the end zone, where DeMario Douglas hauled in the offering. Douglas rolled untouched into the end zone and the Chargers’ lead was cut to 17-7 with 1:24 left in the first half.
That was as good as it would get for New England. Before the half was through, the Chargers would add three points on a 38-yard field goal. Replay clearly showed the attempt missed, but the officials ruled it good, and it was not reviewable. The Chargers led 20-7, which quickly grew to 27-7 when McConkey scored at the start of the second half.
No Second Half Stops
New England forced Los Angeles to punt on their opening possession. Chargers punter J.K. Scott was not seen again until the fourth quarter after Los Angeles had replaced most starters, including Justin Herbert.
Many aspects of the New England Patriots’ performance are easy to point criticize. However, no team can win without getting some stops or causing some turnovers. New England’s defense contributed no turnovers and only two stops all game.
After that initial punt from Scott, these were the results of the rest of Los Angeles’ possessions: touchdown, field goal, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, punt, field goal. Combined with the Patriots not getting the ball into the red zone once all game, that is not a winning formula for anyone.
An Embarrassing Performance
New England never looked or felt like they had a chance to win this game. It did not take long for them to appear to have no chance of even being competitive. Los Angeles dominated them in every facet of the game.
The Chargers offense won the battle of passing yards (281-85), rushing yards (147-96), total yards (428-181), first downs (29-11), third-down conversions (59%-20%), and time of possession (40:34-19:26). L.A.’s defense had more sacks (4-0) and caused more turnovers (1-0). New England received more penalties (7-6), which cost them more yards (60-54).
If a spectator knowing nothing about either team had to guess which team was headed to the playoffs and which secured a top-seven pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with this game’s result, nobody would have guessed incorrectly.
New England Patriots Three Stars
1 – Bryce Baringer (4 punts, 55.0 average, 2 inside-20)
2 – DeMario Douglas (4 receptions, 46 yards, touchdown)
3 – Kayshon Boutte (4 receptions, 28 yards, 2 DPI calls drawn)
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