Brady, Newcomers Lead Pats Over Chargers

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots proved they don't need to spy to win. A few brilliant offseason acquisitions are more than enough.

The Patriots routed the San Diego Chargers 38-14 Sunday night as Tom Brady threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns and got three TDs from players picked up last spring: Randy Moss with two receptions and Adalius Thomas, with a 65-yard interception return.

The victory came three days after the NFL fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000, the team another $250,000 and took away what is almost sure to be a first-round draft choice.

It wasn't Belichick's spying that paid off Sunday night against a San Diego team that finished 14-2 last season but lost to New England 24-21 in its first playoff game. It was the players he brought in during the offseason - Thomas, Moss and Wes Welker, who combined with Brady and linebacker Rosevelt Colvin to completely dominate a team that figures to be among their main competitors in the AFC.

Moss, who had nine catches for 183 yards and a touchdown in the win over the New York Jets last week hade eight more for 105 yards and 23 and 24-yard TD catches. Welker had 8 catches for 91 yards, including a 34-yarder on the first drive of the game that set up Brady's 7-yard TD pass to Benjamin Watson that got the Patriots (2-0) off to a quick start.