News Flash: Touchdowns Beat Field Goals
AFC title game:
New England three touchdowns (21), San Diego four field goals (12).
The Chargers played very well. Limiting New England to 21 points is quite an accomplishment, even if the weather perhaps made it a little difficult for the Patriots to do as much as they wanted to, on offense.
And the Chargers moved the ball fairly well, too. Until New England's final drive, the Chargers had outgained the Patriots.
What killed the Chargers, and something they no doubt will think about on the flight home, is their inability to score touchdowns out of these situations: First-and-goal at the 9 in the first quarter; first-and-goal at the 9 in the second quarter. Third-and-1 at the 4 in the third quarter.
In each case, the Chargers gave the ball to running back Michael Turner (LaDainian Tomlinson's replacement) and on those three plays he went for 1 yard, 1 yard and minus-2.
The first two situations then turned into low-percentage passing downs, and the third meant a field goal on the next play.
The Chargers came into the game known as a power-running team. But they failed to demonstrate it in those three situations, and that's why their upset chance went away.
New England got touchdowns when it got close, aside from the end zone interception Tom Brady threw in the third quarter. Which is what good teams do, of course, and the Patriots are very, very good. Like, 18-0 good.
What should the Chargers have done? Well, they could have executed better on those running plays. Or they could have thrown the ball on at least one of those three occasions, conceding that NFL teams (themselves included) have severe trouble running the ball when the other side is almost certain you're going to run it.
Patriots are in. The best matchup, the most fun, would be the Packers. But they trail early on the frozen tundra.