Encouraging things

[richpjr]

Their Coverage unit was nails. I dont think its fair to say we 'folded.' We gave up a late long TD but I didnt see it as a fold. It happens. But we had gamelong field position pressure on our D. Their D took advantage of having us deep in our end the whole game. Pretty different circumstances.

I dont really see how anyone stakes out this position after probably our second best defensive performance of the year. We're only starting to get our D back and they looked great for most of the game. I just dont see throwing them under the bus after that performance.

I guess I'll try again. Look at the 4th quarter possessions of both teams (ignoring the kneel downs at the end). We had a 14-13 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. On their possessions, we let them drive down for the go ahead fg, on the next drive they scored a TD, and after our wussy punt they got 3 first downs and burned 4:13 seconds off the clock while forcing us to use all of our time outs before we finally forced a punt.

On our 3 drives in the 4th quarter, we had a 3 and out, a four play drive before punting, and a 4 and out.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but one defense stepped up in crunch time and one team didn't. And the time of possessions was not that skewed in their favor at the start of the 4th so the being tired excuse doesn't really factor in.

[blueman]

Rich, you also expertly point out how our O failed in its job... not like the D got much help there, a score or two to match what NE was doing would've changed things a bit IMO.

[richpjr]

Rich, you also expertly point out how our O failed in its job... not like the D got much help there, a score or two to match what NE was doing would've changed things a bit IMO.

The O was terrible yesterday and if they had an even average game, we win going away. But they didn't. I merely bring this up because on a day when the offense was struggling, the D did not not come through late when we really needed it.

[KNSD]

Also, no one mentioned Te'o. He keeps getting better and better. At this point, he should be in there for Butler and Butler should be riding the bench.

Te'o IS getting better. Nice to see.

[MakoShark]

I guess I'll try again. Look at the 4th quarter possessions of both teams (ignoring the kneel downs at the end). We had a 14-13 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. On their possessions, we let them drive down for the go ahead fg, on the next drive they scored a TD, and after our wussy punt they got 3 first downs and burned 4:13 seconds off the clock while forcing us to use all of our time outs before we finally forced a punt.

On our 3 drives in the 4th quarter, we had a 3 and out, a four play drive before punting, and a 4 and out.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but one defense stepped up in crunch time and one team didn't. And the time of possessions was not that skewed in their favor at the start of the 4th so the being tired excuse doesn't really factor in.

Their D didn't step up in the 4th quarter. They continued doing what they had been doing all game long. They stifled our O. We couldn't get anything going. We had 1 good offensive drive all game long. Only 13 1st downs I believe. There was no stepping up , their gameplan was effective right from the start.

[blueman]

Yes! That's the thing, where was the adjustment to that? Not like the 4th was anything new, Reich/McCoy had all game to see what was happening... but that's why I really think it's a personnel issue, we need more/better players to compete effectively and consistently at that level. Hopefully next year we have better luck with less injuries, also have another good draft/offseason to reload.

[BoltFan84]

I think what hurt team most, is not being able to run the ball when they went up 14-3. Mathews constantly gets nicked up and takes himself out of game at crucial time. Also staff doesn't seem to have much faith in Brown as runner as well with Oliver.

Patriots had great defensive game plan, disguising and blitzing like crazy. A running attack would've gone far to help Rivers and keep from giving them the ball back so many times.

[Sec-E4]

Why don't the Chargers try what the Brocos did? The Broncos were struggling with the running game and they decided to bring in an extra linemen, And now they're running game has vastly improved

[homeless simpson]

What Rich fails to realize, both defenses played well (considering the circumstances for each), but in the 4th qrtr, only ONE OFFENSE STEPPED UP to pull away and get a victory.

[TTK]

Why don't the Chargers try what the Brocos did? The Broncos were struggling with the running game and they decided to bring in an extra linemen, And now they're running game has vastly improved

Because we don't even have five good linemen?

[TTK]

What Rich fails to realize, both defenses played well (considering the circumstances for each), but in the 4th qrtr, only ONE OFFENSE STEPPED UP to pull away and get a victory.

There's no way I blame the defense at all. They played their asses off.

[TTK]

I think what hurt team most, is not being able to run the ball when they went up 14-3. Mathews constantly gets nicked up and takes himself out of game at crucial time. Also staff doesn't seem to have much faith in Brown as runner as well with Oliver.

Patriots had great defensive game plan, disguising and blitzing like crazy. A running attack would've gone far to help Rivers and keep from giving them the ball back so many times.

This.

Oliver has come back to earth and Brown is just not as explosive as Mathews. Unfortunately, Mathews is always getting injured and the running game nosedives when he's out.

I think they could get away with Brown and Oliver if the o-line was better though.