Rookies in a rush to improve

FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots played without tackle Matt Light (broken leg), but overall the offensive line was decent yesterday with rookie Nick Kaczur earning the starting nod on the left side next to fellow rookie Logan Mankins.

San Diego sacked Tom Brady just once, but did pressure the Patriots' quarterback into a 19-for-32 passing day.

''I think those guys are working hard and trying hard and they are improving," Brady said. ''It is tough for those guys sometime, but they are good players and they are going to be good players."

A continued concern for the Patriots is their running attack. New England managed just 73 yards on 18 attempts. The 4.1 yards per rush is a marked improvement on the 2.5 yards per carry the Patriots averaged the first three weeks.

But Corey Dillon (14 carries for 63 yards) had runs of 29 and 14 yards, meaning he accounted for more than half of New England's rushing yards on two carries. The team's other 16 carries netted 30 yards.

''I thought in the first half we were running the ball well," Mankins said. ''In the second half we had to get away from it, once we got behind."

The Patriots ran the ball only six times in the second half, with only 19 plays overall.

''It all goes hand-in-hand. Offensively, we've got to throw the ball better and run the ball better, be more efficient in both," Brady said. ''We're just not executing at the level that I think we need to be at."

Complete Pass

Running back Patrick Pass led the Patriots with eight receptions for 55 yards, including a gorgeous one-handed grab at the Chargers' 6-yard line late in the first half.

''I was just trying to concentrate; trying to put the team in position to score a touchdown," Pass said. ''Unfortunately we didn't come out with the victory."

The Patriots didn't even come away with the touchdown on that drive, having to settle for a field goal after Brady threw three straight incompletions.

Pass, who moved up the depth chart because of the absence of Kevin Faulk (broken foot), walked with a slight limp in the locker room, but said he would be fine.

''It was just a hard day at the office," Pass said.

Coach seeing red

After missing out on an opportunity to challenge an on-the-field ruling in the Patriots' loss to Carolina, coach Bill Belichick whipped his red bean bag out and threw it on the field to contest a 38-yard reception by Antonio Gates midway through the third quarter.

Belichick already had thrown the bean bag when a replay on the large screens at the stadium showed Gates clearly made the grab, and was down before safety Guss Scott ripped the ball away from him at the 1.

The officials' call stood, and San Diego scored on the next play. LaDainian Tomlinson did the damage, running through linebacker Monty Beisel on the way to the end zone.

''It was like first-and-like two inches, and the only way I was going to bring him down without letting him score was to hit him real low and get him in the backfield, or hit him high and try and get the back of his jersey and pull him backward," Beisel said. ''As close as he was, he was going to fall in. I had to get his momentum going backward, but with a guy like that, he's so strong, unfortunately I couldn't do it."

Tomlinson scored twice to extend his NFL record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown to 16.

First things worse

One of the biggest problems for the Patriots in the second half (61 yards and three first downs) was third-down conversions.

New England made first downs on 3 of 7 third-down tries in the first half (San Diego was just 1 for 4), but was 1 for 4 in the second half (San Diego was 6 for 8).

The result was a 36:38 to 23:22 edge in time of possession for the Chargers.

''Anytime you're an offensive player, you definitely want to have the ball, just to give our defense a rest," receiver Troy Brown said. ''They were out there an awful lot, mainly because we couldn't put together a drive, to at least give 'em a break.

''At least get a couple of first downs in there and give them a few plays off. We couldn't even do that. It's very frustrating, very frustrating."

McCardell gives praise

San Diego receiver Keenan McCardell, who played his first NFL game under Belichick in Cleveland, had kind words about his former coach.

''He's the guy who gave me a great opportunity to be who I am now," McCardell said. ''Without Bill Belichick in my life, I wouldn't be who I am now. I got a good foundation from him and he hasn't changed. He's been the same guy from Day 1 when I met him to now.

''He's in the top echelon of the coaches. I have to give him a lot of credit, because he's done something we thought we could do in Cleveland. The commitment [from ownership] probably wasn't there as much in Cleveland as much as it is here. When he wins, I see it. I know. I've been there before with him."

McCardell, who was released by Belichick four times early in his career, had only one catch yesterday, but it was for an 11-yard touchdown. He said with Belichick in charge, Patriots' fans shouldn't worry about the team's 2-2 start.

''He'll get these guys together," McCardell said. ''He's going to circle the wagons. Everybody is going to talk about all the injuries, but he's going to tell them 'Hey man, it's your turn, your opportunity to play. Take advantage and seize the moment.' "

Streak snappers

The loss snapped New England's 21-game home winning streak. Miami holds the NFL record for consecutive wins at home with 27 from 1971-74 . . . Patriots return man Bethel Johnson had a 54-yard kickoff return to set up a touchdown drive. The march lasted just two plays, with Tim Dwight making a spectacular diving catch for a 30-yard score . . . San Diego's 41 points is the most scored by an opponent at Gillette, and the most against the Patriots since Atlanta scored 41 on Nov. 8, 1998. The Patriots play at the Falcons next Sunday . . . Patriots backup quarterback Doug Flutie waited outside the Chargers locker room after the game and greeted old teammates as they walked out. Flutie didn't play, though Brady was pulled from the game with just over a minute remaining. Rookie Matt Cassel, the designated No. 3 quarterback, played the final two possessions . . . Injured Patriots Randall Gay, James Sanders, Tyrone Poole, Faulk, and Light were inactive. Running back Amos Zereoue and safety Michael Stone, both signed last week, saw limited action.

Jerome Solomon's e-mail address is jsolomon@globe.com