NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The New England Patriots defended their territory in the Wild Card Round, dominating the Los Angeles Chargers in a 16-3 victory to advance in the NFL Playoffs.
New England, which won its first playoff game since its Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2018, will await the victor of the wild-card game No. 4 Houston Texans and No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night to see who they will face in the Divisional Round next week.
This game saw their first touchdown come in the fourth quarter, but that was because of how stifling both defenses were in this contest. But it was clear that the Patriots had all the answers for Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
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 allowed just three points, especially after Drake Maye was intercepted on the Patriots’ second drive at their own 10-yard line. However, the Patriots’ defense was relentless all night and the Chargers couldn’t adjust.
They stopped the Chargers in four plays to turn them around and finally got on the scoreboard first thanks to a 93-yard drive that resulted in a field goal.
49ERS ELIMINATE DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPION EAGLES FROM PLAYOFFS
Los Angeles came knocking again with third-and-2 from the New England three-yard line, but Kimani Vidal was full. Cameron Dicker added a field goal to tie the game, and only one other Patriots field goal was added to the score before halftime, a 6-3 New England lead.
While 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 sacked by Odafe Oweh while in Chargers territory to keep the three-point game going in the third quarter.
But after another failed drive, a third Patriots field goal split the uprights to make the score 9-3.
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots talks with his teammates in a huddle before 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 for the Patriots came after another Chargers punt, when Maye placed his pass perfectly for tight end Hunter Henry, the former Chargers star, for a 28-yard touchdown. The first three-pointer by either team seemingly ended all of Los Angeles’ hopes.
On the next drive, Herbert was crushed by K’Lavon Chaisson, resulting in a fumble recovery by Christian Elliss, as the Gillette Stadium crowd went wild.
The Chargers attempted to pull off some playoff heroics as they worked their way down the field into Patriots territory. But on fourth-and-9 from the New England 34-yard line, Milton Williams ended all hopes when he handed off the Patriots’ sixth sack to Herbert to turn them around again.
In the box score, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson his leading receiver with 75 yards on three receptions. Kayshon Boutte also added 66 yards on four grabs, while Henry finished with 64 yards.
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks to pass before 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 rushing yards on nine carries, while continually picking his spots to attack the Chargers’ defense.
For Los Angeles, Herbert’s playoff woes continue as he is now 0-3 after this performance. He had only 159 passing yards and 57 rushing yards.
