The New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Chargers in a regular season game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 29, 2017.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) leads his team onto the field for an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) runs away from Los Angeles Chargers safety Jahleel Addae (37) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski catches a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski spikes the ball after catching a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, right, celebrates his touchdown catch with lineman Joe Thuney during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Danny Amendola during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes behind blocking during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots' Jonathan Jones top and Brandon King (36) tackle Los Angeles Chargers punt returner Travis Benjamin (12) in the end zone for a safety during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Korey Toomer (56) and defensive end Chris McCain (40) team up to tackle New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) dives over the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots' Brandon King (36) tackles Los Angeles Chargers punt returner Travis Benjamin (12) in the end zone for a safety during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) fights for yardage against Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Korey Toomer (56) and defensive end Tenny Palepoi (95) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The play was called back because of a penalty. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) and defensive end Tenny Palepoi (95) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots' Matthew Slater, right, tackles Los Angeles Chargers' Michael Davis (43) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) returns the opening kickoff of the second half past Los Angeles Chargers kicker Nick Novak (9) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) runs from Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Los Angeles Chargers safety Jahleel Addae (37) tackles New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Los Angeles Chargers safety Jahleel Addae (37) tackles New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) passes under pressure from New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers (98) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers face off at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) andLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) andLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The End Zone Militia fire their long guns during the first half of an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots cheerleaders wearing Halloween costumes speak to a member of the End Zone Militia before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots cheerleaders perform wearing Halloween costumes before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots cheerleaders perform wearing Halloween costumes before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots cheerleaders perform wearing Halloween costumes before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick waves as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Tom Brady passed for 333 yards and a touchdown, Stephen Gostkowski added four field goals and the New England Patriots held on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 21-13 on Sunday.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Patriots (6-2). The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Chargers.
Los Angeles (3-5) got on the board first when Melvin Gordon found a seam on the outside and rumbled down the sideline for an 87-yard touchdown run . But the rest of the game was marked by Los Angeles' mistakes and inability to move the ball offensively.
New England got its lone touchdown via a 2-yard toss from Brady to Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter. The Patriots went 1 for 4 in the red zone, but were able to cobble together the Gostkowki field goals and a safety.
The Chargers cut the Patriots' lead to 18-13 with 8:30 to play following a 24-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers to Travis Benjamin and failed 2-point conversion pass. They got the ball back a final time after New England added Gostkowski's fourth field goal. But Rivers' pass with 1 second remaining was intercepted at the goal line by Jonathan Jones.
Rivers finished 17 of 30 for 212 yards.
Los Angeles' mistakes were highlighted in a wild way in the second quarter when Benjamin muffed a punt inside the Chargers 15, recovered it and retreated all the way to own goal line while trying to reverse field. He was wrapped up there by New England's Brandon King and tackled in the end zone for a safety.
Rivers had a similarly head-scratching play early in the third quarter when he rolled to the outside to escape the pass rush, but had the ball slip out of his hands for a fumble. He recovered, but the play resulted in a 20-yard loss and a sack credited to Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
Other than Gordon's touchdown run, the Chargers were mostly ineffective offensively in the opening 30 minutes. They ran only 19 total plays. By comparison, New England passed the ball 26 times in the first two quarters.
INJURIES
Chargers: LB Hayes Pullard left the field after a collision late in the fourth quarter.
Patriots: RT Marcus Cannon left in the first half with an ankle injury. ... WR Chris Hogan left with a shoulder injury from the same collision with Pullard.
LONG RUN
Gordon's 87-yard touchdown matched the longest run in Chargers history. Paul Lowe also had an 87- yard run against the Dallas Texans in 1961.
FAMILIAR TARGET
Rob Gronkowski's first-quarter touchdown catch from Brady marked the 72nd time the two of them have connected for a score. It is the most TDs among any NFL duo since Gronkowski entered the league in 2010.
UP NEXT
Chargers: Bye week, at Jaguars on Nov. 12.
Patriots: Bye week, at Broncos on Nov. 12.
