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Los Angeles Chargers: Can team overcome New England Patriots?

By Tyler Schoon

FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29: Travis Benjamin #12 of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29: Travis Benjamin #12 of the Los Angeles Chargers catches a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Avoiding stupid mistakes/Special teams improvement

It’s easy to say, a thousand times harder to do. It’s not trying to be perfect; in fact, no team (Patriots included) is. However, the Chargers need to play a near-flawless game to win here. This, for example, cannot happen:

https://twitter.com/spottingboard/status/924794898318020609

It’s more than a two point lead for the Patriots. 10 offensive plays later, Gostkowski kicks the ball for a 25-yard field goal to give his team a 12-7 lead over the Bolts. Take away those essentially “free” five points from the end result, and the Chargers are looking at a game that came down to a tight 16-13 loss.

Trepidation is expected largely due to a disastrous 2017, but fans should feel much more confident that the special teams unit will improve if the Chargers and Patriots meet again this season. After all, it can’t get much worse. Special teams gaffes include absolute gems like:

  • Benjamin running backwards to give up a safety
  • Offsides by Tenny Palepoi to set up another free kick
  • Allowing Dion Lewis to run for 71 yards on the following play
  • Missing the opening 51-yard field goal

The astounding part is that those four mishaps all occurred in the same game. Watching the special teams was something akin to a Benny Hill sketch with twice the heartbreak. Caleb Sturgis looks to have the position locked down, and I have a small amount of confidence that he will do just fine. And with three Chargers finishing in the top 10 of special teams tackles, the coverage units should be solid enough to not let another long return happen. As for Benjamin…pray.

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