Patriots crush Chargers in Wild Card defensive slugfest, secure first playoff win since 2018

The New England Patriots defended location turf successful the Wild Card Round, dominating the Los Angeles Chargers successful a 16-3 triumph to determination connected successful the NFL Playoffs.

New England, winning its archetypal playoff crippled since their 2018 Super Bowl-winning campaign, volition await the victor of the No. 4 Houston Texans and No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card crippled connected Monday nighttime to spot who they look successful the Divisional Round adjacent week.

This crippled saw its archetypal touchdown successful the 4th quarter, but that was due to the fact that of however suffocating some defenses were successful this contest. But it was wide the Patriots had each reply for Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense.

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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots celebrates aft a touchdown successful the 3rd 4th against the Miami Dolphins astatine Gillette Stadium connected January 04, 2026 successful Foxborough, Massachusetts.  (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Mike Vrabel’s squad shouldn’t person fixed up lone 3 points, particularly aft Drake Maye was picked disconnected connected the Patriots’ 2nd thrust astatine his ain 10-yard line. However, the Patriots’ defence was relentless each night, and the Chargers couldn’t adjust.

They stopped the Chargers connected 4 plays to crook them implicit connected downs, and yet got connected the committee archetypal acknowledgment to a 93-yard thrust that resulted successful a tract goal.

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Los Angeles was knocking astatine the doorway again with a third-and-2 from New England’s three-yard line, but Kimani Vidal was stuffed. Cameron Dicker added a tract extremity to necktie the game, and lone different Patriots tract extremity was added to the people earlier halftime, a 6-3 pb for New England.

While the Chargers couldn’t get thing going connected offense, their defence kept them successful this game, astatine slightest for the archetypal 3 quarters. Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh portion successful Chargers territory to support it a three-point crippled successful the 3rd quarter.

But aft different failed drive, a 3rd Patriots tract extremity divided the uprights to marque it 9-3.

Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots talks to teammates successful a huddle anterior to an AFC chaotic paper playoff shot crippled against the Los Angeles Chargers astatine Gillette Stadium connected Jan. 11, 2026 successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

The dagger for the Patriots came aft yet different Chargers punt, erstwhile Maye placed his walk perfectly for choky extremity Hunter Henry, the ex-Chargers star, for a 28-yard touchdown. The archetypal six-pointer for either squad seemingly ended each hopes for Los Angeles.

On the ensuing drive, Herbert was crushed by K’Lavon Chaisson, resulting successful a fumble recovered by Christian Elliss, arsenic the Gillette Stadium assemblage went ballistic.

The Chargers tried to get immoderate playoff heroics going, arsenic they dinked and dunked their mode down the tract into Patriots territory. But connected fourth-and-9 from New England's 34-yard line, Milton Williams ended each anticipation erstwhile helium delivered the Patriots' sixth sack connected Herbert to crook them implicit connected downs again. 

In the container score, Maye went 17-of-29 done the aerial for 268 yards, with moving backmost Rhamondre Stevenson being his apical receiver with 75 yards connected 3 catches. Kayshon Boutte besides added 66 yards connected 4 grabs, portion Henry finished with 64 yards.

Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks to walk anterior to an NFL chaotic paper playoff crippled against the Los Angeles Chargers astatine Gillette Stadium connected Jan. 11, 2026 successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

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And Maye was besides the Patriots’ starring rusher with 67 yards connected the crushed connected 9 carries, arsenic helium continuously picked his spots to gash the Chargers’ defense.

For Los Angeles, Herbert’s playoff woes continue, arsenic he’s present 0-3 aft this performance. He had conscionable 159 yards passing and 57 yards rushing.

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