Playoff football roared back into Gillette Stadium on Sunday night, and the New England Patriots made sure their fans had plenty to cheer about. In a tense, defense-dominated Wild Card clash, the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3, marking their first postseason win since 2019 and sending them on to the Divisional Round. For head coach Mike Vrabel, it was a signature victory in his debut playoff campaign with New England, while rookie quarterback Drake Maye weathered the storm to deliver the game's only touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The matchup, which kicked off at 8:15 p.m. ET in Foxborough, MA, was billed as a showdown between two of the NFL's most promising young quarterbacks: Drake Maye for the Patriots and Justin Herbert for the Chargers. But it quickly became clear that defense would rule the night. Both teams struggled to convert red zone opportunities, and the scoreboard reflected a gritty, old-school playoff battle.
The Chargers won the opening toss and deferred, putting Maye and the Patriots offense on the field. After an initial first down to Stefon Diggs, the drive stalled with a third-down sack, setting the tone for the evening. Justin Herbert and the Chargers responded with a pair of first downs, but a costly false start and an unsuccessful wide receiver screen left them punting after a delay of game penalty.
New England's next possession started deep in their own territory, and disaster struck when Maye's pass was deflected and intercepted by the Chargers at the Patriots' 10-yard line. With their backs to the wall, the Patriots defense delivered a huge early statement. Herbert was stopped short on three consecutive attempts, and on fourth-and-goal from the two, he fired incomplete to Keenan Allen, with Christian Gonzalez providing tight coverage. As reported by multiple outlets, "It was an outstanding goal-line stand by the defense with their backs against the wall, and it kept the score at 0-0 midway through the first quarter."
From their own two-yard line, the Patriots offense finally found some rhythm. Maye hit Rhamondre Stevenson for a short pass that Stevenson turned into a 48-yard burst, flipping field position in a flash. The Pats tried a trick play with Efton Chism attempting a pass to Maye, but it fell incomplete. Undeterred, Maye found Kyle Williams on fourth down to keep the drive alive. A 20-yard connection to Chism set up a red zone chance, but the Chargers' defense held firm, forcing a 23-yard Andy Borregales field goal to open the scoring early in the second quarter.
The Chargers answered with a methodical 11-play, 69-yard drive, highlighted by a 20-yard strike from Herbert to Ladd McConkey. But the Patriots' defense again stood tall near the goal line, stuffing Kimani Vidal on third down and holding LA to a 21-yard Cameron Dicker field goal. The game was tied, 3-3, and both defenses were clearly up to the playoff challenge.
As the first half wore on, both offenses struggled to gain traction. The Patriots' next drive fizzled after a dropped pass by Stevenson, and the Chargers were pinned deep by a Bryce Baringer punt. New England's pass rush came alive, with Milton Williams and K'Lavon Chaisson registering back-to-back sacks to force another LA punt. With just 31 seconds left in the half, Maye scrambled for a 37-yard gain, setting up a 35-yard Borregales field goal to give New England a 6-3 halftime lead.
Coming out of the locker room, the Patriots defense forced a quick three-and-out. Maye responded with a pair of first-down completions, including a 17-yarder to Hunter Henry and a 17-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson. But the Chargers' defense answered with a strip sack, recovering the fumble and halting the drive. Herbert tried to capitalize, drawing a 26-yard pass interference penalty, but New England again held firm, forcing a punt after a third-down incompletion.
Maye was sacked again on the next drive, but he rebounded with a 19-yard strike to Henry and a 42-yard bomb to Kayshon Boutte. The Patriots, however, continued to struggle in the red zone, settling for a 39-yard Borregales field goal to extend the lead to 9-3 as the game entered the fourth quarter.
The Patriots defense continued its relentless pursuit of Herbert, with Marcus Jones forcing a sack and fumble that Vidal recovered and advanced 17 yards. But once again, New England's secondary shut down the Chargers' passing attack, forcing another punt.
With just over nine minutes left, the Patriots offense finally broke through. Maye escaped pressure, found time thanks to a key block by TreVeyon Henderson, and delivered a perfect 28-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry. As reported, "Maye uncorked a perfect 28-yard touchdown strike to Hunter Henry for the first touchdown of the game." The score pushed the lead to 16-3, and the home crowd erupted.
The Chargers, now down two scores, tried to rally. Herbert scrambled for gains of 16 and 11 yards, but K'Lavon Chaisson's pressure forced a fumble that Christian Elliss recovered, giving New England the ball with a chance to seal the win. The Patriots couldn't capitalize, as Maye was hit and fumbled, but Jared Wilson recovered to avoid disaster.
Herbert and the Chargers mounted one last push, converting a fourth down but ultimately stalling as Milton Williams notched his second sack of the night. With under two minutes to play, the Patriots turned to Henderson, who picked up a crucial first down to ice the game. Maye took a knee in victory formation, and the celebration was on in Foxborough.
Statistically, the game was a testament to New England's defensive resurgence. The Patriots sacked Herbert five times and held him to just 159 passing yards, while limiting the Chargers to a single field goal. Maye finished with 66 rushing yards and threw for a touchdown, overcoming two fumbles (one lost) and an interception. Stevenson chipped in with 53 rushing yards and led the team with 75 receiving yards. The Patriots' red zone woes—settling for field goals on their first three trips—were overshadowed by their ability to make big plays when it mattered most.
For the Chargers, it was a night of missed opportunities and frustration. They failed to convert a fourth-and-goal early, couldn't finish drives, and ultimately couldn't solve the Patriots' pass rush. Herbert's mobility kept some drives alive, but the lack of explosive plays doomed LA's hopes of advancing.
As the Patriots move on to the Divisional Round, they'll await the winner of Monday night's contest between the Steelers and Texans. For a franchise that few expected to contend this season, the 2025 Patriots have already delivered a magical run—and with a defense playing at this level, who knows how far they can go?