Patriots finally beaten at home

A BEAT UP Patriots defence and a supercharged San Diego offence was enough to hand Super Bowl champions New England their first home defeat in nearly three years during an exciting weekend of National Football League action.

Injuries finally caught up with the Patriots and without star safety and team leader Rodney Harrison in particular, New England could find no answer at Gillette Stadium for San Diego's explosive offence in a 41-17 pummelling in Foxboro on Sunday.

After his Chargers' victory, San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer suggested the win may have had as much to do with who wasn't playing for New England as the superior performances of his quarterback Drew Brees, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates.