The Patriots created mismatches -- San Diego linebackers lined up at cornerback and the like -- and moved to within a yard of the end zone. And that's when, on four consecutive plays, the visitors were stuffed. In fact, they lost a yard.
That's when the Chargers threw their knockout punch. Four plays. Ninety-eight yards. Touchdown.
"You go from, they have a chance to cut it to seven, to you're up 21, just like that in a five-play span," Rivers said. "I get in the huddle. . . . and say, `Hey guys, let's go 98.' And then when it happens, you feel like you got them going."
Those 98 yards essentially 86'd the Patriots, who beat San Francisco a week earlier, then prepared to play the Chargers by holding practices at San Jose State. The loss ended their 12-game road winning streak.
Even more impressive, the Chargers won without star receiver Chris Chambers, who has five touchdowns but sat out with a sore ankle. Fellow receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd picked up the slack, combining for eight catches and two touchdowns.
That tone was set early. On the first play of the game, Rivers went deep to Jackson for a 48-yard gain, sending a resounding message that these weren't the same slow-starting Chargers who meandered through the first five games.
Whereas the Chargers were quick to get going, the Qualcomm Stadium crowd was slow to leave. Long after the outcome was no longer in doubt, thousands of Chargers fans lingered to savor the landmark victory. For the first time under Coach Bill Belichick the Patriots have lost two games in a season by 20 or more points.
At the end came a standing ovation for a San Diego team uncorked, unburdened and -- for a night at least -- unrivaled.
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sam.farmer@latimes.com
