The New England Patriots took down the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in a gritty AFC Wild Card playoff matchup on January 11, 2026, at Gillette Stadium. It was a low-scoring affair where New England’s defense completely took over, holding the Chargers to just a single field goal while the Patriots chipped away with three field goals from Andy Borregales and sealed it with a late touchdown.
The game started as a defensive battle, with both sides forcing quick stops and punts early on. The Patriots’ defense set the tone right away, putting constant pressure on Justin Herbert and limiting the Chargers’ offense to minimal yardage. Los Angeles managed a 37-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker in the second quarter to tie things up briefly, but New England responded with their own field goals to take a narrow lead into halftime.
The real turning point came in the fourth quarter. With the score sitting at 9-3, Drake Maye put together a clutch drive, highlighted by a big 16-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte and a 13-yard run from Rhamondre Stevenson. That march ended with a beautiful 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry with about 6:42 left, pushing the lead to 13 points and basically putting the game away. On the Chargers’ final desperate push, Milton Williams delivered a massive sack on fourth down to end their hopes for good.
Speaking of standout performances, Maye showed composure in his playoff debut, going 17-of-29 for 268 yards and that crucial touchdown, while also leading the team with 66 rushing yards. He did have an interception and a lost fumble, but the defense bailed him out every time. The real star on defense was Milton Williams, who wrecked havoc with six sacks on Herbert — including the game-sealer — disrupting everything the Chargers tried to do. Herbert fought hard, completing 19-of-31 for 159 yards and adding 57 on the ground, but the constant pressure (six sacks total) and no touchdowns doomed Los Angeles.
This win marks the Patriots’ first playoff victory since 2018, advancing them to the AFC Divisional Round where they’ll host the winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Houston Texans game. It’s a huge step in their resurgence, especially with Maye leading the way and that suffocating defense stepping up when it mattered most. For the Chargers, who finished the regular season 11-7, it’s another early playoff exit, leaving plenty of questions about protecting Herbert and getting the offense clicking in big moments. New England is rolling into the next round with serious momentum.
