FOXBORO — For the second straight week, the Patriots defense made a key, game-changing goal line stand. And for the second week in a row, the offense responded with a 99-yard touchdown scoring drive after Jerod Mayo and Patrick Chung stopped Mike Tolbert at the Patriots 1 in the second quarter.

“We said ever since training camp that the goal line has to be ours,” Mayo said. “That mental toughness really shows up down there.”

Last week, the Patriots stopped the Dolphins at the 1 in the fourth quarter and Tom Brady hit Wes Welker for a 99-yard touchdown pass on the next play. This week was Mayo reading a key in the Chargers’ defense.

“[Randy McMichael] motioned over and he’s their run-blocking tight end and they had a heavy guy on that side as well, so I knew if they we’re going play-action, they would play-action to Gates’ side and throw the ball to him but on that side there really was no pass threat so I played the run real hard,” Mayo said.

The Patriots allowed 378 yards passing to Philip Rivers, including 10 catches by Vincent Jackson for 172 yards.

“We still have to work on the yardage and third-down defense and things like that but we showed great mental toughness by coming up with turnovers, huge turnovers and playing complimentary football,” Mayo said. “Just stopping the run and doing things on the goal line really shows toughness and I think the defense really showed that tonight.”