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The New England Patriots defended home court in the Wild Card round and dominated the Los Angeles Chargers in a 16-3 victory to advance in the NFL Playoffs.
New England, winning its first playoff game since its Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2018, will await the victory of No. 4 Houston Texans and No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card matchups on Monday night to see who they face in the divisional round next week.
This game saw its first touchdown in the fourth quarter, but that was because of how stifling both defenses were in this contest. But it was clear the Patriots had all the answers for Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense.
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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Mike Vrabel’s team shouldn’t have given up just three points, especially after Drake Maye was picked off on the Patriots’ second drive at his own 10-yard line. However, the Patriots’ defense was relentless all night and the Chargers couldn’t adjust.
They stopped the Chargers on four plays to turn them over on downs and eventually got on the board first thanks to a 93-yard drive that resulted in a field goal.
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Los Angeles knocked on the door again with a third-and-2 from New England’s three-yard line, but Kimani Vidal was stuffed. Cameron Dicker added a field goal to tie the game, and only one more Patriots field goal was added to the score before halftime, a 6–3 lead for New England.
Although the Chargers couldn’t get anything going on offense, their defense kept them in this game, at least for the first three quarters. Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh while in Chargers territory to keep it a three-point game in the third quarter.
But after another failed drive, a third Patriots field goal split the drive to 9-3.
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots talks with teammates in a huddle prior to an AFC wild card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
The dagger to the Patriots came after another Chargers punt when Maye placed his pass perfectly to tight end Hunter Henry, the former Chargers star, for a 28-yard touchdown. The first six-pointer for either team seemingly ended all hope for Los Angeles.
On the ensuing drive, Herbert was crushed by K’Lavon Chaisson, resulting in a fumble recovered by Christian Elliss as the Gillette Stadium crowd went ballistic.
The Chargers tried to get some playoff heroics going as they thumped and thumped their way down the field into Patriots territory. But on fourth-and-9 from New England’s 34-yard line, Milton Williams ended all hope when he delivered the Patriots’ sixth sack of Herbert to turn them over on downs again.
In the box score, Maye went 17-of-29 through the air for 268 yards, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson being his top receiver with 75 yards on three catches. Kayshon Boutte also added 66 yards on four carries, while Henry finished with 64 yards.
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks to pass prior to an NFL wild card playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
And Maye was also the Patriots’ leading rusher with 67 yards on the ground on nine carries while constantly picking his spots to tear up the Chargers’ defense.
For Los Angeles, Herbert’s playoff struggles continue as he is now 0-3 after this performance. He had just 159 yards passing and 57 yards rushing.
