The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff berth in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season, beating the New England Patriots 40-7 on Saturday.
The Kansas City Chiefs already won the AFC West, so the Chargers will make the playoffs as a wild card team.
The Chargers started red hot, leading 17-0 before the Patriots finally responded.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) reacts after his touchdown pass against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Image Images)
Quarterback Justin Herbert hit wide receiver Derius Davis with a strike, connecting with him for a 23-yard touchdown. On the next offensive possession, kicker Cameron Dicker connected on a 27-yard field goal to put the Chargers up 10-0.
After the field goal, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye failed to convert the throw to the running back, and safety Derwin James Jr. recovered the fumble to give the Chargers good position at midfield.
Herbert took advantage of the good field position and hit rookie receiver Ladd McConkey for a six-yard touchdown to go up 17-0.
As the Chargers took a commanding lead, Maye temporarily left the bench in the first quarter to be checked out for a concussion.
The Patriots rookie quarterback was scrambling, trying to convert a third-and-four along the sideline when Chargers defensive back Cam Hart hit Maye high up, where there was helmet-to-helmet contact.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) against the New England Patriots in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
Maye lost the ball when he was hit, but the Patriots recovered it.
After the hit, Maye stayed down for a moment before finally getting up.
He was initially evaluated in the blue medical tent and then taken to the locker room, where he was later cleared to return to play.
The only highlight of the Patriots game came when Maye caused the Chargers to jump offside and then, with pressure in his face, threw a 36-yard dime to wide receiver Demario Douglas for a touchdown.
The touchdown cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-7, but those would be the only points the Patriots would score all day.
Herbert led the Chargers’ offense and gave Dicker a chance to score a field goal before halftime.
Dicker was good from 38 yards out and the Chargers took a 20-7 lead into halftime.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) reacts after a touchdown catch against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Image Images)
The Chargers kept their foot on the gas coming out of the second half.
The Patriots got the ball first coming out of the half, but went three-and-out.
Herbert then led a 10-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped by a 40-yard touchdown reception from Ladd McConkey, to put the Chargers up 27-7 and effectively sealed the game in the third quarter.
Chargers running back JK Dobbins scored a touchdown in his return from injury in the fourth quarter.
Herbert was sensational in the victory, completing 26-38 pass attempts for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback was pulled with more than ten minutes left in the fourth quarter and the game was out of reach.
McConkey surpassed Keenan Allen for the most receptions by a rookie in a season in Chargers history, with eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
This was the first time the Chargers scored 40 points in a game since 2021.
Maye was 12-for-22 with 117 yards and a touchdown, with six carries for 32 yards in the loss.
The last time the Chargers were in the playoffs was the 2022-2023 season, when they had one of the biggest collapses in NFL history, losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-30 after leading 27-0 at one point.
