Newest Patriots clobber Chargers

Randy Moss scored two touchdowns and Adalius Thomas one in a 38-14 rout.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — 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 had 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.

Kraft’s response

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he didn’t know his team was using a sideline camera that brought a hefty fine and loss of a draft pick, and expressed displeasure with Belichick for violating an NFL rule.

The videocamera was confiscated during the first quarter of the season-opening 38-14 win at the New York Jets.

“Before last Sunday’s game, I had no knowledge of this practice,” Kraft said Sunday night in an NBC television interview at halftime. “I must tell you, it was really disappointing, especially after such a great game.

“What made it particularly disheartening, in our group of companies we hold people to very high standards, and this isn’t what we’re about. I’ve discussed that with coach Belichick.”

Kraft promised that “it won’t happen again.”

He declined to comment on a report on ESPN.com that Belichick had agreed to a contract extension through 2013.

“The coach and I have had a policy that we don’t discuss his contract, but he’s made great contributions to this franchise over the last seven years, and myself, and all of our fans, truly appreciate his efforts,” Kraft said.