The New England Patriots won their first playoff game in seven years on Sunday night, dismantling the Los Angeles Chargers in a 16–3 defensive masterclass at Gillette Stadium. In a battle between two of the league’s premier young quarterbacks, it was the Patriots’ defense that stole the show, “spinning the dial” on Justin Herbert and holding the Chargers to just a single field goal.
The Scoreboard: A Game of Defensive Inches
| Metric | Los Angeles Chargers | New England Patriots |
| Final Score | 3 | 16 |
| Total Net Yards | 207 | 381 |
| Sacks Allowed | 6 Sacks (Herbert) | 3 Sacks (Maye) |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 7.7% (1-for-13) | 33% (4-for-12) |
| Time of Possession | 27:45 | 32:15 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 0-for-2 | 0-for-3 |
The Turning Point: The Goal-Line Stand
The Chargers’ best chance to change the game’s momentum came early in the first quarter. After a Drake Maye interception set L.A. up with a first-and-goal at the 10-yard line, the Patriots’ defense delivered a legendary stand. They tackled Herbert short of the goal line on three consecutive downs before forcing an incompletion on 4th-and-goal from the 2. New England, which ranked 31st in red-zone defense during the regular season, held firm when it mattered most.
Individual Performance Deep Dive
Drake Maye (NE): Gritty Postseason Debut
Maye admitted it wasn’t his “prettiest” performance, but his dual-threat ability was the difference-maker.
- Passing: 17-of-29 for 268 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT.
- Rushing: A team-high 66 rushing yards on 10 carries, including a critical 37-yard scramble before halftime.
- The Dagger: In the fourth quarter, Maye uncorked a 28-yard touchdown strike to tight end Hunter Henry, finally putting the game out of reach.
Justin Herbert (LAC): Smothered in Foxborough
Herbert struggled under relentless pressure, finding no rhythm against Mike Vrabel’s defensive schemes.
- Passing: 159 yards, 0 TDs.
- Sacks: Hit 11 times and sacked 6 times.
- The Record: With this loss, Herbert falls to 0–3 in his career postseason starts.
Impact Players
- Rhamondre Stevenson (NE): Led the team with 75 receiving yards and added 53 yards on the ground.
- Odafe Oweh (LAC): A “one-man wrecking crew” with 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.
- Andres Borregales (NE): The rookie kicker was a perfect 4-for-4 on the night, providing 10 of the Patriots’ 16 points.
Social Media & Locker Room Reaction: “Spilling Blood”
The atmosphere at Gillette Stadium was electric, with fans traveling from as far as Germany for the Vrabel era’s first home playoff win.
- The Scheme: Patriots’ Robert Spillane revealed that Chargers players told him after the game they “had no clue”what New England was doing defensively due to the complex disguises.
- The Quote: Coach Mike Vrabel told his defense to be “willing to spill some blood out there” because “the big dogs come out in January”.
- The Locker Room: Drake Maye praised his defense post-game, saying, “They won the game for us… It wasn’t pretty, but we made plays when we had to”.
- Chargers Salt: L.A. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh expressed pride in his team’s fight but admitted the double-digit loss was “tough to even talk about” as they head into a long 2026 offseason.
What’s Next?
The No. 2 seed Patriots will remain in Foxborough to host the Divisional Round. Their opponent will be determined tonight when the winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans game is decided.
