New England Patriots 24 San Diego Chargers 21 (January 14, 2007)
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0 commentsTheme of the night: Marty Ball
After exchaning a few punts to start the game, the pats are the first to draw blood on a nice drive from deep in their own territory to score on a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. And the first quarter ends 3-0 in favor of New England.
In the second quarter, after what was thought to be a fumble by Antonio Gates, the Chargers drove deep with a lot of carries and catches by LT, and a QB sneak by Phillip Rivers on fourth down that got them into the end zone to go up by 4. The Chargers intercept the ball and it looks like it could be over for the pats. But we see an early glimpse of Marty Ball, and the Bolts have to punt the ball back to the Pats. The Pats punt it back, and a long run by LT sets up a Micheal Turner Touchdown and it suddenly is 14-3 San Deigo. The pats respond right back with a drive involving a lot of Kevin Faulk runs, and Jabar Gaffeny catches and score before halftime on a TD pass to Gaffeny. At the half, it was 14-10 San Deigo.
The third quarter was when Marty Ball came out to stay. An unsuccessful drive by the Pats results in a Punt that is dropped, then recovered by David Thomas. That drive ended in a field goal after exchanging penalties in the Red Zone that made it 14-13 Chargers. After a run by both Tomlinson and Neal, Rivers throws it up to Rosevelt Colvin for the interception that ends the 3rd quarter 14-13 Chargers.
The fourth quarter started with a drive by the Bolts including a 15 yard pass to Antonio Gates, and a 30+ yarder to Vincent Jackson that set up an LT Touchdown run to put the Chargers up 21-13. The Pats, realizing they need to score on the following posession to have a shot to win it go for it on 4th down, and a Charger Interception is knocked loose by Mr. Patriot and recovered for a Patriots first down. A TD pass to The Former Charger followed by a shotgun direct snap to Kevin Faulk to tie the Game up at 21. A three and out by the Bolts gave the Patriots a shot to win the game. Mr. Clutch comes out and leads the Pats downfield and a wide open Reche Caldwell brings them into field goal range. Stephen Gostkowski kicks the 31 yarder to put the pats up 24-21 with 1:10 remaining in the game and the Bolts without a Time Out. Nate Kaeding had a shot to make a 54 yard game tying field goal, and misses it. The Pats are flagged for celebrating, but it diddn't matter because all that had to happen was one snap to end the game, and the Pats won 24-21.
LT walked right through the Pats after the game and in a post game interview said they "[H]ad no class..." and "[T]hey probably get it from their coach..." The Pats go to Indianapolis to formally earn their trip to Miami to play in Super Bowl XLI.
Date
January 14, 2007
