On a good note folks, at least we figured out how to stop the Chargers from publicly trash-talking and bad-mouthing the Patriots after we play them.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Jim Donaldson notes the Patriots' weaknesses were obvious to Norv Turner - take advantage of a young quarterback and a weak secondary.  That's the new blueprint.
• Chris Gasper states the Patriots fell flatter than a tortilla in last nights play-from-behind road game streak-breaker.
• Karen Guregian feels this was more about Rivers' ability to throw it downfield and the Patriots having no answer.
• Kevin O'Connor says that Rivers, and the Chargers, ran right through them.  Witty, but painfully accurate.
• Rich Garven bluntly reports that the Patriots offense was offensive, especially that goal-line stand.
• Shalise Manza Young pinpoints the opening drive in the second half - when the Patriots couldn't score in four tries - as the game-breaker.
• Mike Reiss gives us his Ups (yes, there were two) and Downs of Sunday's game, what the Chargers were saying, comments from Matt Cassel, reactions from Rodney Harrison, and Bill Belichick's post-game Q & A.
• Ron Borges continues his theme that "with Tom Brady, it seems, went the Pats’ aura of near-invincibility."  The Chargers went for the throat at the outset, our weak secondary.
• Borges also gives us his Best and Worst of yesterday's debacle.

HOT SHOTS

• Chris Gasper reports that Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke with Tom Brady after his surgery.  Kraft said yesterday that the surgery went well and that Brady is in good spirits and will return to Boston soon for rehabilitation.
• Mike Reiss checks in with former Patriot LB Junior Seau, who had his 2007 AFC Championship ring presented to him personally by Robert Kraft.
• Peter King has an interesting Bill Belichick vs. Paul Brown piece in his Monday Morning Quarterback, "The Way We Were" section.

LONG SHOTS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) calls it what it was.  "What a waste:  Pats blow 1st and goal from the 1."
• Bill Center (San Diego Union-Tribune) agrees that the Goal-line denial by defense was crucial to victory over Patriots.
• Graham analyzes the game thusly - offense failed to show up, cornerbacks looked awful, O-line looked shaky, the injuries hurt, and the team fell apart.  Any questions? Players say that the week away had nothing to do with the loss.
• Peter King (SI) Quote of the week III:  "He really has a great attitude. I'm not sure I could be as up as he is. In the end, please God, we hope to have him here for another 10 years.''
  -- New England owner Robert Kraft on Sunday, in a news briefing with reporters about the knee surgery Tom Brady underwent last Monday. Brady is expected to return, healthy, for the start of training camp next July.