Patriots’ protection dominates Chargers, retains them out of finish zone in playoff win

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The New England Patriots defended house turf within the Wild Card Spherical, dominating the Los Angeles Chargers in a 16-3 victory to maneuver on within the NFL Playoffs.

New England, profitable its first playoff sport since their 2018 Tremendous Bowl-winning marketing campaign, will await the victor of the No. 4 Houston Texans and No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card sport on Monday evening to see who they face within the Divisional Spherical subsequent week.

This sport noticed its first landing within the fourth quarter, however that was due to how suffocating each defenses had been on this contest. However it was clear the Patriots had each reply for Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense.

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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots celebrates after a landing within the third quarter in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures)

Mike Vrabel’s squad shouldn’t have given up solely three factors, particularly after Drake Maye was picked off on the Patriots’ second drive at his personal 10-yard line. Nevertheless, the Patriots’ protection was relentless all evening, and the Chargers couldn’t alter.

They stopped the Chargers on 4 performs to show them over on downs, and finally received on the board first because of a 93-yard drive that resulted in a area aim.

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Los Angeles was knocking on the door once more with a third-and-2 from New England’s three-yard line, however Kimani Vidal was stuffed. Cameron Dicker added a area aim to tie the sport, and solely one other Patriots area aim was added to the rating earlier than halftime, a 6-3 lead for New England.

Whereas the Chargers couldn’t get something happening offense, their protection stored them on this sport, a minimum of for the primary three quarters. Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh whereas in Chargers territory to maintain it a three-point sport within the third quarter.

However after one other failed drive, a 3rd Patriots area aim cut up the uprights to make it 9-3.

Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots talks to teammates in a huddle previous to an AFC wild card playoff soccer sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Pictures)

The dagger for the Patriots got here after yet one more Chargers punt, when Maye positioned his cross completely for tight finish Hunter Henry, the ex-Chargers star, for a 28-yard landing. The primary six-pointer for both group seemingly ended all hopes for Los Angeles.

On the following drive, Herbert was crushed by Okay’Lavon Chaisson, leading to a fumble recovered by Christian Elliss, because the Gillette Stadium crowd went ballistic.

The Chargers tried to get some playoff heroics going, as they dinked and dunked their means down the sector into Patriots territory. However on fourth-and-9 from New England's 34-yard line, Milton Williams ended all hope when he delivered the Patriots' sixth sack on Herbert to show them over on downs once more.

Within the field rating, Maye went 17-of-29 by means of the air for 268 yards, with working again Rhamondre Stevenson being his high receiver with 75 yards on three catches. Kayshon Boutte additionally added 66 yards on 4 grabs, whereas Henry completed with 64 yards.

Drake Maye of the New England Patriots appears to cross previous to an NFL wild card playoff sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Michael Owens/Getty Pictures)

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And Maye was additionally the Patriots’ main rusher with 67 yards on the bottom on 9 carries, as he constantly picked his spots to gash the Chargers’ protection.