Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots: 2001 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-14, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Los Angeles Chargers, pulling away with a 29–26 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 23 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Brady (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with +11.97 total EPA.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +11.97 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+25.0% win probability) landed in overtime when New England Patriots changed the game: (11:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 T. Brady · New England Patriots · Passing · +11.97 total EPA · 59 snaps · +0.20 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Flutie · Los Angeles Chargers · Passing · +7.37 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Conway · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +7.01 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.00 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Brown · New England Patriots · Receiving · +3.41 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.23 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Patten · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.84 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
6. 6 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.68 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.89 EPA/play
7. 7 T. Glenn · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.50 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
8. 8 S. Heiden · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +1.80 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.80 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New England Patriots — T. Glenn (T. Brady pass) (Q2 34:01)
• Los Angeles Chargers — L. Tomlinson (Q3 24:47)
• New England Patriots — A. Smith (Q3 19:24)
• Los Angeles Chargers — S. Heiden (D. Flutie pass) (Q4 10:03)
• Los Angeles Chargers — L. Johnson (Q4 8:57)
• New England Patriots — J. Wiggins (T. Brady pass) (Q4 0:40)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q1 55:00)
• Los Angeles Chargers — W. Richey (Q1 45:03)
• Los Angeles Chargers — W. Richey (Q2 30:44)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (Q4 3:35)
• New England Patriots — A. Vinatieri (OT 11:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LAC 8 (Q1 55:00) — (10:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.; Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the NE 3 (Q1 45:03) — (:03) 5-W.Richey 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 6–3. New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 21 (Q2 34:01) — (4:01) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-T.Glenn for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the NE 9 (Q2 30:44) — (:44) 5-W.Richey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 24:47) — (9:47) 21-L.Tomlinson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 24:43) — 5-W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 1 (Q3 19:24) — (4:24) 51 Cox eligible. 32-A.Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q3 19:20) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Los Angeles Chargers won the period 13–10. Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q4 10:03) — (10:03) 7-D.Flutie pass to 83-S.Heiden for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the LAC 75 (Q4 8:57); Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 8:48) — 5-W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LAC 5 (Q4 3:35) — (3:35) 4-A.Vinatieri 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 3 (Q4 0:40) — (:40) 12-T.Brady pass to 85-J.Wiggins for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q4 0:36) — 4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson..

Overtime: New England Patriots won the period 3–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LAC 26 (OT 11:00) — (11:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• New England Patriots (OT 11:00) — (11:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson. [WPA +25.0% · EPA +1.48]
• New England Patriots (OT 13:54) — (13:54) 12-T.Brady pass incomplete to 86-D.Patten. PENALTY on LAC-25-A.Molden, Defensive Pass Interference, 37 yards, enforced at NE 23 - No Play. [WPA +24.1% · EPA +2.34]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 25:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 7-D.Flutie pass to 80-C.Conway to NE 20 for 56 yards (27-T.Buckley). [WPA +21.4% · EPA +5.34]
• New England Patriots (Q4 8:57) — (8:57) (Punt formation) 10-L.Johnson up the middle to NE 6 for -19 yards (40-D.Harris). FUMBLES (40-D.Harris), RECOVERED by LAC-40-D.Harris at NE 6. 40-D.Harris for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.5% · EPA -5.87]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q4 0:23) — (:23) 7-D.Flutie pass to 80-C.Conway to NE 39 for 24 yards (27-T.Buckley). [WPA +17.3% · EPA +0.18]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New England Patriots (Q4 8:57) — (8:57) (Punt formation) 10-L.Johnson up the middle to NE 6 for -19 yards (40-D.Harris). FUMBLES (40-D.Harris), RECOVERED by LAC-40-D.Harris at NE 6. 40-D.Harris for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -18.5% · EPA -5.87]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 25:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 7-D.Flutie pass to 80-C.Conway to NE 20 for 56 yards (27-T.Buckley). [WPA +21.4% · EPA +5.34]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 29:09) — (14:09) 7-D.Flutie pass to 21-L.Tomlinson to NE 33 for 2 yards (95-R.Phifer). FUMBLES (95-R.Phifer), RECOVERED by NE-51-B.Cox at NE 33. 51-B.Cox to NE 42 for 9 yards. [WPA -16.7% · EPA -4.74]
• New England Patriots (Q2 34:01) — (4:01) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-T.Glenn for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.3% · EPA +3.65]

Quarterback report card

T.Brady led all passers in efficiency for New England Patriots, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 59 dropbacks · 55.9% completion · +0.20 EPA/play · +11.97 total EPA
• D.Flutie (Los Angeles Chargers) · 38 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · +0.19 EPA/play · +7.37 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Los Angeles Chargers +0.08, New England Patriots +0.06) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Los Angeles Chargers: 12 drives, +6.50 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, +6.76 total EPA, 7 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New England Patriots leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q1 55:00 · LAC 8 · Score 0-3
   (10:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.
2. Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q1 45:03 · NE 3 · Score 3-3
   (:03) 5-W.Richey 21 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett.
3. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 34:01 · LAC 21 · Score 3-9
   (4:01) 12-T.Brady pass to 88-T.Glenn for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q2 30:44 · NE 9 · Score 6-9
   (:44) 5-W.Richey 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett.
5. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q3 24:47 · NE 1 · Score 12-9
   (9:47) 21-L.Tomlinson left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q3 24:43 · NE 2 · Score 13-9
   5-W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett.
7. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q3 19:24 · LAC 1 · Score 13-15
   (4:24) 51 Cox eligible. 32-A.Smith up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q3 19:20 · LAC 2 · Score 13-16
   4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.
9. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q4 10:03 · NE 3 · Score 19-16
   (10:03) 7-D.Flutie pass to 83-S.Heiden for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q4 8:57 · LAC 75 · Score 25-16
    (8:57) (Punt formation) 10-L.Johnson up the middle to NE 6 for -19 yards (40-D.Harris). FUMBLES (40-D.Harris), RECOVERED by LAC-40-D.Harris at NE 6. 40-D.Harris
11. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q4 8:48 · NE 2 · Score 26-16
    5-W.Richey extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-2-D.Bennett.
12. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q4 3:35 · LAC 5 · Score 26-19
    (3:35) 4-A.Vinatieri 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.
13. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 0:40 · LAC 3 · Score 26-25
    (:40) 12-T.Brady pass to 85-J.Wiggins for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 0:36 · LAC 2 · Score 26-26
    4-A.Vinatieri extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.
15. New England Patriots FG (+3) — OT 11:00 · LAC 26 · Score 26-29
    (11:00) 4-A.Vinatieri 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-10-L.Johnson.