Sunday, January 11, 2026 — AFC Wild Card Round
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with a strong defensive performance, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 16–3 on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium in the final game of Wild Card Weekend.
In their first playoff appearance since the 2021 season, the Patriots’ defense set the tone early and never relinquished control, holding one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses to just three points. New England’s victory marked the franchise’s first postseason win since Super Bowl LIII and snapped a string of early playoff exits in recent years.
Patriots Get Early Lead and Never Look Back
New England opened the scoring in the second quarter when kicker Andy Borregales drilled a 23-yard field goal, giving the home team a 3–0 advantage. The Chargers answered with a 21-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker later in the quarter to tie the game at 3, but the Patriots seized momentum before halftime with another Borregales field goal, this one from 35 yards, to push the lead to 6–3 heading into intermission.
The Patriots extended their lead early in the second half on another Borregales kick, a 39-yard field goal, making it 9–3 before the fourth quarter.
Big Defensive Stand and Late Touchdown
New England’s defense was the story of the game, consistently pressuring Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and limiting the Bolts’ offense to just 207 total yards. The Patriots registered multiple sacks and forced key punts throughout the night, quelling any Chargers’ momentum.
In the fourth quarter, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected on a 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry, sealing the victory and pushing the score to 16–3. This touchdown was the first allowed by Los Angeles’ defense all night and provided New England with breathing room late.
Chargers Struggle to Find Rhythm
The Chargers weren’t able to generate consistent offense against New England’s aggressive scheme. Despite showing flashes — including an interception by Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley on New England’s second drive — Los Angeles came away with only a field goal from that possession after failing to convert on fourth down inside the Patriots’ 5-yard line.
Offensive linchpin Justin Herbert faced relentless pressure all evening and was sacked multiple times, contributing to a Chargers performance that never found sustained rhythm. The Bolts’ offense struggled to sustain drives, leading to a low time of possession and limited scoring chances.
Patriots Advance, Chargers Season Ends
With the win, the Patriots improved their record to 1–0 in the 2026 playoffs and advanced to the Divisional Round, where they were set to face the winner of the Texans–Steelers matchup next week.
For New England, this victory represented a major milestone under head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye, signaling a revival of postseason success for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. It also demonstrated the Patriots’ defensive prowess — a unit that controlled the line of scrimmage and dictated the game’s pace.
The Chargers’ season came to an end with a final record of 11–6, despite a strong regular season and playoff berth. Los Angeles will turn its attention to the offseason as the team looks to build from its promising campaign.