Brady Gives Pats 14-0 Lead Over Chargers

By HOWARD ULMAN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Tom Brady threw touchdown passes to Randy Moss and Benjamin Watson, and New England led the San Diego Chargers 14-0 after the first quarter Sunday night, three days after the Patriots were fined for spying on an opponent.

Brady connected with Watson for a 7-yard score on the Patriots’ first possession, then hooked up with Moss on a 23-yard touchdown on their third series. They wasted another scoring chance on their second possession when Stephen Gostkowski missed a 41-yard field goal after Rosevelt Colvin’s interception.

On Thursday night, the NFL fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the club $250,000 for violating an NFL rule prohibiting teams from videotaping the New York Jets’ sideline a week earlier.

They also will lose a first-round draft pick next year if they make the playoffs, or a second- and third-rounder if they don’t.

But fans gave Belichick a loud ovation when he was introduced before the game and, out of character for the stone-faced coach, he waved to the fans. After being fined, Belichick said he wouldn’t use a videocamera on the sidelines.

The camera was confiscated in the first quarter and the Patriots clearly didn’t need whatever edge it might have given them in their 38-14 win over the Jets.

It wasn’t necessary early Sunday night either.

Brady completed six of seven passes for 69 yards on the opening drive. Then he and Moss teamed for their second touchdown connection of the season when the wide receiver easily split two defenders up the right side.

Another turnover ruined the Chargers’ third series when Colvin sacked Philip Rivers, forcing a fumble, and Vince Wilfork recovered at the Patriots 44.

In the first quarter, Brady was 13-for-16 for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Wes Welker was his primary target with four completions for 66 yards. Rivers was 2-of-4 for 25 yards and an interception.

The game was a rematch of last season’s playoff won by New England 24-21 in San Diego. The Chargers had the NFL’s best record at 14-2, but their Super Bowl aspirations ended early.

Both teams entered Sunday night’s game with 1-0 records. The Chargers beat Chicago, which lost last year’s Super Bowl. Tomlinson rushed for only 24 yards, but ran for one touchdown and threw for another.

In the first quarter Sunday, he carried six times for 18 yards.