The Chargers trail New England 6-3 in Foxboro at halftime on Wild Card weekend.
Here’s what to take away from the first half.
Missed opportunities
On two trips to the red zone, Los Angeles has only been able to generate 3 points on a 21-yard Cameron Dicker field goal in the second quarter. The Chargers were gifted a possession at the 10-yard line when Teair Tart tipped a pass that bounced around before landing in Daiyan Henley’s arms, but LA went for it on fourth and goal and Justin Herbert’s pass went over Keenan Allen’s head. A winding, 11-play, 69-yard drive in the second quarter stalled out at the 3-yard line and led to Dicker’s field goal. Considering the Chargers’ defense has held up its end of the bargain, LA’s offense will need to finish drives to win.
Run game issues
With Omarion Hampton severely limited by an ankle injury, the Chargers have turned to Kimani Vidal to lead the backfield on Sunday. Vidal has been held to 7 carries for 19 yards in the first half, as LA has struggled to get him space on the perimeter through the first two quarters. Vidal did churn out a 10-yard carry in the second quarter, but has otherwise been held to a quiet night. Hampton took one carry and lost a yard in the second quarter.
Containing Drake Maye
Maye has scrambled 5 times for 55 yards in the first half, including a 37-yard run that set up New England’s second field goal to end the half. The Chargers have been able to sack Maye twice, but Los Angeles has mostly struggled to keep him in the pocket and force him to throw to covered receivers. Daiyan Henley has met Maye on the sideline a few times, but only after Maye has been able to generate a few yards and keep the Patriots moving.
Pass defense starts fast
In their last two games, the Chargers’ defense gave up 24 points combined in the first quarter, so holding arguably the league’s best offense to only 6 points and turning them over once is certainly a good start. Outside of a 48-yard coverage bust underneath to running back Rhamondre Stevenson and a Tarheeb Still slip on Efton Chism III’s 20-yard catch, the Chargers have kept the Patriots’ passing offense nearly completely quiet. Stefon Diggs has only 1 catch for 7 yards, the same output for deep threat Kyle Williams. Kayshon Boutte managed only 4 yards on his only catch and neither Patriots tight end was able to reel in their only target of the half.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers vs. Patriots: First-half takeaways from wild-card game