New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Chargers: 2008 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-10-12, the Los Angeles Chargers took care of business against the New England Patriots, pulling away with a 30–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 10 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

M. Cassel (New England Patriots) paced the passing game, with -10.36 total EPA, and -5.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +20.97 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-11.3% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when New England Patriots changed the game: (5:56) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.

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 P. Rivers · Los Angeles Chargers · Passing · +20.97 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.70 EPA/play
2. 2 V. Jackson · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +11.22 total EPA · 5 snaps · +2.24 EPA/play
3. 3 M. Floyd · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +4.87 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.62 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Gates · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +4.78 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.20 EPA/play
5. 5 S. Morris · New England Patriots · Receiving · +4.16 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.04 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Tomlinson · Los Angeles Chargers · Receiving · +2.84 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
7. 7 W. Welker · New England Patriots · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
8. 8 K. Faulk · New England Patriots · Rushing · +2.18 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.27 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

• Los Angeles Chargers — M. Floyd (P. Rivers pass) (Q1 49:06)
• Los Angeles Chargers — V. Jackson (P. Rivers pass) (Q2 31:10)
• Los Angeles Chargers — A. Gates (P. Rivers pass) (Q3 22:11)
• New England Patriots — S. Morris (Q4 5:20)

Field goals

• Los Angeles Chargers — N. Kaeding (Q1 55:44)
• New England Patriots — S. Gostkowski (Q2 37:18)
• Los Angeles Chargers — N. Kaeding (Q3 19:22)
• Los Angeles Chargers — N. Kaeding (Q4 10:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: Los Angeles Chargers won the period 10–0. Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the NE 7 (Q1 55:44) — (10:44) 10-N.Kaeding 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 49 (Q1 49:06) — (4:06) 17-P.Rivers pass deep middle to 80-M.Floyd for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q1 48:58) — 10-N.Kaeding extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres..

The second quarter: Los Angeles Chargers won the period 7–3. New England Patriots connected on a field goal from the LAC 29 (Q2 37:18) — (7:18) 3-S.Gostkowski 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.; Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 4 (Q2 31:10) — (1:10) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short middle to 83-V.Jackson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q2 31:07) — 10-N.Kaeding extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres..

The third quarter: Los Angeles Chargers won the period 10–0. Los Angeles Chargers found the end zone from the NE 1 (Q3 22:11) — (7:11) 17-P.Rivers pass short right to 85-A.Gates for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Chargers added 1 points from the NE 2 (Q3 22:07) — 10-N.Kaeding extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.; Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the NE 17 (Q3 19:22) — (4:22) 10-N.Kaeding 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres..

The fourth quarter: New England Patriots won the period 7–3. Los Angeles Chargers connected on a field goal from the NE 5 (Q4 10:52) — (10:52) 10-N.Kaeding 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.; New England Patriots found the end zone from the LAC 1 (Q4 5:20) — (5:20) 34-S.Morris up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; New England Patriots added 1 points from the LAC 2 (Q4 5:18).

Turning points

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

• New England Patriots (Q1 50:56) — (5:56) 3-S.Gostkowski 48 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson. [WPA -11.3% · EPA -3.59]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 60:00) — (15:00) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson to NE 32 for 48 yards (21-D.O'Neal). [WPA +9.1% · EPA +3.12]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 49:06) — (4:06) 17-P.Rivers pass deep middle to 80-M.Floyd for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.9% · EPA +4.14]
• New England Patriots (Q1 53:03) — (8:03) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel scrambles left end to LAC 36 for 4 yards (54-S.Cooper). [WPA +5.6% · EPA +1.17]
• New England Patriots (Q3 25:48) — (10:48) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short left to 34-S.Morris to LAC 1 for 28 yards (57-M.Wilhelm). [WPA +5.4% · EPA +2.47]

Impact plays

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

• Los Angeles Chargers (Q4 9:07) — (9:07) 22-J.Hester up the middle to LAC 49 for no gain. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by NE-94-T.Warren at NE 46. 94-T.Warren to LAC 46 for 8 yards (61-N.Hardwick). [WPA +0.0% · EPA -5.00]
• New England Patriots (Q3 22:02) — (7:02) (Shotgun) 16-M.Cassel pass short middle intended for 83-W.Welker INTERCEPTED by 23-Q.Jammer at NE 28. 23-Q.Jammer to NE 26 for 2 yards (83-W.Welker). [WPA -2.5% · EPA -4.57]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q3 23:37) — (8:37) 17-P.Rivers pass deep right to 83-V.Jackson to NE 35 for 59 yards (36-J.Sanders). [WPA +3.1% · EPA +4.18]
• Los Angeles Chargers (Q1 49:06) — (4:06) 17-P.Rivers pass deep middle to 80-M.Floyd for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.9% · EPA +4.14]

Quarterback report card

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

• M.Cassel (New England Patriots) · 48 dropbacks · 45.8% completion · -5.8% CPOE · -0.22 EPA/play · -10.36 total EPA
• P.Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) · 30 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +13.4% CPOE · +0.70 EPA/play · +20.97 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Los Angeles Chargers held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.09 vs -0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Los Angeles Chargers: 11 drives, +6.33 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• New England Patriots: 12 drives, -13.08 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

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

• Los Angeles Chargers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Rivers (Los Angeles Chargers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• M. Cassel (NE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• P. Rivers (LAC) 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. Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q1 55:44 · NE 7 · Score 0-3
   (10:44) 10-N.Kaeding 25 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
2. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q1 49:06 · NE 49 · Score 0-9
   (4:06) 17-P.Rivers pass deep middle to 80-M.Floyd for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q1 48:58 · NE 2 · Score 0-10
   10-N.Kaeding extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
4. New England Patriots FG (+3) — Q2 37:18 · LAC 29 · Score 3-10
   (7:18) 3-S.Gostkowski 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson.
5. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q2 31:10 · NE 4 · Score 3-16
   (1:10) (Shotgun) 17-P.Rivers pass short middle to 83-V.Jackson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q2 31:07 · NE 2 · Score 3-17
   10-N.Kaeding extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
7. Los Angeles Chargers TD (+6) — Q3 22:11 · NE 1 · Score 3-23
   (7:11) 17-P.Rivers pass short right to 85-A.Gates for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Los Angeles Chargers XP (+1) — Q3 22:07 · NE 2 · Score 3-24
   10-N.Kaeding extra point is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
9. Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q3 19:22 · NE 17 · Score 3-27
   (4:22) 10-N.Kaeding 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
10. Los Angeles Chargers FG (+3) — Q4 10:52 · NE 5 · Score 3-30
    (10:52) 10-N.Kaeding 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-D.Binn, Holder-5-M.Scifres.
11. New England Patriots TD (+6) — Q4 5:20 · LAC 1 · Score 9-30
    (5:20) 34-S.Morris up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. New England Patriots XP (+1) — Q4 5:18 · LAC 2 · Score 10-30
    3-S.Gostkowski extra point is GOOD, Center-66-L.Paxton, Holder-6-C.Hanson. PENALTY on LAC, Defensive 12 On-field, 5 yards, enforced between downs.