Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots: 2011 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2011 NFL season on 2011-09-18, the New England Patriots took care of business against the Los Angeles Chargers, pulling away with a 35–21 final that built a comfortable lead.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 29 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) paced the passing game, with +19.19 total EPA, and +10.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Brady (New England Patriots) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +23.93 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-15.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Los Angeles Chargers changed the game: (8:17) 69-T.Green reported in as eligible. 35-M.Tolbert right tackle to NE 1 for no gain (51-J.Mayo).

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 · +23.93 total EPA · 44 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
2. 2 P. Rivers · Los Angeles Chargers · Passing · +19.19 total EPA · 48 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
3. 3 V. Jackson · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +13.93 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Branch · New England Patriots · Receiving · +7.63 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.76 EPA/play
5. 5 R. Gronkowski · New England Patriots · Receiving · +6.50 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.08 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Floyd · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +5.73 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.86 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Tolbert · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +4.83 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
8. 8 A. Hernandez · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.00 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.50 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 — A. Hernandez (T. Brady pass) (Q1 51:22)
• Los Angeles Chargers — R. Mathews (Q1 47:59)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q2 32:52)
• Los Angeles Chargers — V. Jackson (P. Rivers pass) (Q4 13:39)
• New England Patriots — R. Gronkowski (T. Brady pass) (Q4 8:44)
• Los Angeles Chargers — V. Jackson (P. Rivers pass) (Q4 5:47)
• New England Patriots — B. Green-Ellis (Q4 2:00)

Field goals

• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 43:23)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 30:01)

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 7–7. New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 14 (Q1 51:22) — (6:22) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 81-A.Hernandez for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q1 51:16) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 10 (Q1 47:59) — (2:59) (Shotgun) 24-R.Mathews left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 47:55) — 9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres..

The second quarter: New England Patriots won the period 13–0. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LAC 4 (Q2 43:23) — (13:23) 3-S.Gostkowski 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 10 (Q2 32:52); New England Patriots added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q2 32:49) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.; New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LAC 29 (Q2 30:01) — (:01) 3-S.Gostkowski 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 15–14. Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 3 (Q4 13:39) — (13:39) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short left to 83-V.Jackson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 13:33) — 9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 17 (Q4 8:44) — (8:44) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots registered a safety from the LAC 2 (Q4 8:40) — shotgun TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 39-D.Woodhead rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 26 (Q4 5:47) — (5:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep left to 83-V.Jackson for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q4 5:40); New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 16 (Q4 2:00) — (2:00) 42-B.Green-Ellis left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q4 1:54) — 3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko..

Turning points

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

• Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 38:17) — (8:17) 69-T.Green reported in as eligible. 35-M.Tolbert right tackle to NE 1 for no gain (51-J.Mayo). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -3.27]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q4 10:27) — (10:27) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle to NE 37 for -3 yards (51-J.Mayo). FUMBLES (51-J.Mayo), RECOVERED by NE-50-R.Ninkovich at NE 39. [WPA -11.3% · EPA -5.04]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 41:50) — (11:50) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short middle to 83-V.Jackson to NE 26 for 28 yards (24-K.Arrington). [WPA +11.1% · EPA +2.74]
• New England Patriots (Q1 45:24) — (:24) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 84-D.Branch to LAC 28 for 17 yards (31-B.Sanders). LAC-95-S.Phillips was injured during the play. [WPA +10.4% · EPA +2.32]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 30:19) — (:19) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short right intended for 35-M.Tolbert INTERCEPTED by 75-V.Wilfork at NE 35. 75-V.Wilfork to LAC 29 for 36 yards (35-M.Tolbert). PENALTY on NE-32-D.McCourty, Illegal Bl [WPA -9.6% · EPA -2.29]

Impact plays

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

• Los Angeles Chargers (Q4 10:27) — (10:27) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle to NE 37 for -3 yards (51-J.Mayo). FUMBLES (51-J.Mayo), RECOVERED by NE-50-R.Ninkovich at NE 39. [WPA -11.3% · EPA -5.04]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 19:42) — (4:42) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short right intended for 85-A.Gates INTERCEPTED by 31-S.Brown at NE 7. 31-S.Brown to NE 9 for 2 yards (35-M.Tolbert). [WPA -8.5% · EPA -4.68]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q4 1:09) — (1:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers sacked at LAC 32 for -6 yards (95-M.Anderson). FUMBLES (95-M.Anderson) [95-M.Anderson], RECOVERED by NE-74-K.Love at LAC 32. 74-K.Love to LAC 32 for no gain (68 [WPA -0.2% · EPA -4.17]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q2 38:17) — (8:17) 69-T.Green reported in as eligible. 35-M.Tolbert right tackle to NE 1 for no gain (51-J.Mayo). [WPA -15.8% · EPA -3.27]

Quarterback report card

P.Rivers led all passers in efficiency for Los Angeles Chargers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) · 48 dropbacks · 60.4% completion · +10.8% CPOE · +0.40 EPA/play · +19.19 total EPA
• T.Brady (New England Patriots) · 44 dropbacks · 70.5% completion · +13.9% CPOE · +0.54 EPA/play · +23.93 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

New England Patriots held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.30 vs +0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Los Angeles Chargers: 9 drives, +11.67 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 10 drives, +24.91 total EPA, 6 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.
• T. Brady (New England Patriots) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Rivers (LAC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• T. Brady (NE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q1 51:22 · LAC 14 · Score 0-6
   (6:22) 12-T.Brady pass short right to 81-A.Hernandez for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q1 51:16 · LAC 2 · Score 0-7
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
3. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q1 47:59 · NE 10 · Score 6-7
   (2:59) (Shotgun) 24-R.Mathews left end for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q1 47:55 · NE 2 · Score 7-7
   9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
5. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 43:23 · LAC 4 · Score 7-10
   (13:23) 3-S.Gostkowski 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
6. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q2 32:52 · LAC 10 · Score 7-16
   (2:52) 12-T.Brady pass short middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on LAC-32-E.Weddle, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between do
7. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q2 32:49 · LAC 2 · Score 7-17
   3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
8. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 30:01 · LAC 29 · Score 7-20
   (:01) 3-S.Gostkowski 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.
9. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q4 13:39 · NE 3 · Score 13-20
   (13:39) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short left to 83-V.Jackson for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q4 13:33 · NE 2 · Score 14-20
    9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 8:44 · LAC 17 · Score 14-26
    (8:44) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 12-T.Brady pass deep middle to 87-R.Gronkowski for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots Safety (+2) — Q4 8:40 · LAC 2 · Score 14-28
    shotgun TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 39-D.Woodhead rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.
13. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q4 5:47 · NE 26 · Score 20-28
    (5:47) 17-P.Rivers pass deep left to 83-V.Jackson for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q4 5:40 · NE 2 · Score 21-28
    9-N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-47-M.Windt, Holder-5-M.Scifres. The Replay Assistant challenged the too many players on field ruling, and the play was Uph
15. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 2:00 · LAC 16 · Score 21-34
    (2:00) 42-B.Green-Ellis left tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 1:54 · LAC 2 · Score 21-35
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Aiken, Holder-14-Z.Mesko.