At a Glance
- New England ends a seven-year playoff drought with a 16-3 wild-card win over Los Angeles
- Drake Maye throws for 268 yards and one touchdown in his postseason debut
- Chargers’ offensive line collapses, surrendering six sacks and dooming Justin Herbert to an 0-3 playoff record
- Why it matters: The Patriots advance to host either Pittsburgh or Houston next Sunday, while the Chargers face another early off-season
The New England Patriots are back in the divisional round. The second-seeded Patriots snapped a seven-year playoff-victory drought by holding the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Chargers to a single field goal in a 16-3 win Sunday night at Gillette Stadium.
A kicking contest through three quarters tilted when Drake Maye found Hunter Henry for a fourth-quarter touchdown, giving New England breathing room it would not relinquish. The victory sets up a home date next Sunday against either the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers-led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers-or the fifth-seeded Houston Texans, who boast one of the league’s stingiest defenses under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, exits in the opening round for the third time in Justin Herbert’s career. The Chargers will spend the off-season searching for answers on offense and better injury luck after a campaign derailed by a battered front five.
Winners and Losers from Wild-Card Sunday
WINNER: Drake Maye
The rookie quarterback did not need style points; he needed a result. In his playoff debut, Maye delivered, completing 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He absorbed five sacks and lost a fumble, yet the former North Carolina star never folded under the bright lights.
His 24-yard strike to Henry-a former Charger-came with 8:12 remaining and broke a 9-3 stalemate. The score proved decisive, giving New England its first postseason victory since the 2018 AFC title game.
LOSER: Chargers Offensive Line
Injuries decimated Los Angeles up front, and the numbers were grim. At least three opening-day starters finished among the league’s bottom tier in both run- and pass-blocking metrics, according to News Of Fort Worth‘s review of NFL Next Gen Stats. The result: Herbert dropped back 31 times and hit the turf on six of them, losing 39 yards.
The final sack-a strip by linebacker Josh Uche recovered by New England-sealed the outcome with 1:48 left. The beleaguered unit never created daylight for running back J.K. Dobbins, who managed 22 yards on eight carries, and Herbert’s downfield looks rarely materialized.
WINNER: Christian Gonzalez
New England’s 2023 first-round cornerback showed why coaches rave about him. NFL Next Gen Stats logged five targets into Gonzalez’s coverage; he allowed zero receptions on 26 coverage snaps. The second-year pro has now yielded -9.7 receptions over expected this season, the best mark among all defenders.
Chargers wideouts Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen combined for 11 catches and 98 yards, numbers that reflect Gonzalez’s sticky coverage as much as anything.
LOSER: Greg Roman
The veteran coordinator arrived in Los Angeles with a reputation for physical rushing attacks, but his offenses have repeatedly stalled in January. Roman’s units in San Francisco, Baltimore and now Los Angeles have scored 20 or fewer points in six of his last seven playoff games.
Sunday followed the pattern. The Chargers punted on five straight second-half possessions, mustering 86 total yards after halftime. With Herbert set to turn 28 in March and entering the meat of his contract, the franchise faces pressure to modernize its scheme.
WINNER: Mike Vrabel
Hired last off-season after a year in Cleveland, the former Patriots linebacker has restored the hard-nosed identity that defined New England’s dynasty years. The defense allowed three points, generated three turnovers and held opponents to 4.7 yards per play since Week 10.
Offensively, Vrabel and coordinator Alex Van Pelt coaxed growth from Maye despite limited firepower beyond 32-year-old receiver Stefon Diggs. Whether the run continues or not, the Patriots believe they have found their long-term leader.
Key Takeaways
- New England advances to face either Rodgers’ Steelers or Ryans’ Texans at home next Sunday
- Drake Maye is 1-0 in playoff starts; Justin Herbert falls to 0-3
- Christian Gonzalez has allowed the fewest catches above expectation of any NFL defender this season
- Los Angeles’ offense managed three points and negative-4 rushing yards after halftime
- Greg Roman’s postseason scoring average drops to 14.9 points per game across 10 career contests
The Patriots will practice this week knowing another home game awaits. The Chargers, meanwhile, begin an off-season of soul-searching on the offensive side of the ball.
