I can't remember ever seeing them blitz that much on D. Kept putting LAC in 3rd-and-long and then sent the house. Rivers got them a couple times, but they got him way more, until they took the foot off the gas in the second half. Run D was a huge factor; Chargers had 19 rush yards on 10 carries. No early-down flow and aggressive third down D shut the door.
Offensively, I actually thought the OL struggled a little on the first drive, with the run not going early and Brady having to get the ball out quick. But McDaniels dialed up a couple beautiful third down plays to keep things moving, the OL came around and started mauling guys (and the offense likely tired out LAC's pass rush) and they just kept the Chargers off-balance with the whole bag of tricks: play action, inside runs, outside runs, quick passes, screens, the occasional downfield pass.
Their all-around best game all year, right? Masterfully coached, masterfully executed.
