The New England Patriots made a real statement in Week 8. It wasn’t the statement they made last week as they ran up the score on the New York Jets. That amounted to an unemphatic: We don’t stink. But in the Patriots’ 27-23 win over the Chargers in L.A., New England proved it can compete for the playoffs. The Chargers, behind quarterback Justin Herbert, look like legitimate contenders in a wide-open AFC. But, now, so do the Patriots.
The Chargers fought until the end, with a late touchdown (that Bill Belichick won’t love). But the Patriots got the W. They’re 4-4.
Belichick proved New England is legit. It will have contests against the Carolina Panthers (4-4) and the Cleveland Browns (4-4) over the next two weeks. If the Patriots want to carve a road to the playoffs, they will continue with wins against mediocre teams like their upcoming opponents. But more on that next week. Let’s dive into takeaways from this game.