Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: 16-3
The New England Patriots defense authored a playoff masterpiece on January 11, 2026, sacking Justin Herbert six times and limiting the Los Angeles Chargers to three points in a 16-3 AFC Wild Card victory that was never really in doubt after halftime. Drake Maye delivered the decisive blow with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Hunter Henry, but it was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel who drew up the game plan that silenced one of the league’s most productive offenses.
Final Score: Patriots 16-3 Chargers · Date: January 11, 2026 · Location: Gillette Stadium · Key Event: Maye late TD pass · Broadcast: NBC
Quick snapshot
- Patriots defense recorded 6 sacks on Justin Herbert (Patriots.com)
- Drake Maye completed 17/29 passes for 268 yards and 1 TD (CBS Sports)
- Patriots outgained Chargers 381 to 207 total yards (ESPN Game Summary)
- Full individual tackle counts pending official game logs
- Exact red zone conversion percentages not yet released
- Patriots’ official regular season record disputed (14-3 per some sources)
- Q2: Borregales 35-yard FG (Patriots 3-0)
- Q2: Chargers FG (Patriots 3-3 at half)
- Q3: Borregales 39-yard FG (Patriots 6-3)
- Q4: Maye 28-yard TD to Henry (Patriots 13-3)
- Q4: Borregales 35-yard FG (Patriots 16-3 final)
- Patriots advance to face higher-seeded AFC opponent
- Chargers face offseason questions after 0-3 playoff streak
- Herbert’s future under microscope after third straight playoff loss
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Winner | New England Patriots |
| Score | 16-3 |
| Date | January 11, 2026 |
| MVP Highlight | Drake Maye late TD |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Game Type | AFC Wild Card Playoff |
| Patriots Total Yards | 381 |
| Chargers Total Yards | 207 |
Who won today between the Patriots and the Chargers?
The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs on January 11, 2026, at Gillette Stadium. Quarter scoring revealed a tightly contested first half: the Chargers managed only field goals while the Patriots built a 6-3 lead at the break. Drake Maye’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner, capping a dominant defensive performance that limited the Chargers to just three points.
Final score details
The Patriots’ 16-3 victory represents their first playoff win in the current era, with the final margin built through Andres Borregales’ two field goals and a fourth-quarter scoring flurry. Borregales connected on kicks of 35 and 39 yards, accounting for 12 of New England’s 16 points before Maye’s touchdown pass to Henry put the game out of reach.
Game summary
Patriots defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel’s unit completely dominated the line of scrimmage, recording six sacks on quarterback Justin Herbert. The game marked a stark contrast between regular-season offensive fireworks and playoff-intensity defense, with both teams struggling in red zone conversions.
The implication: New England’s front seven dictated every down, rendering the Chargers’ offensive game plan obsolete from the second quarter onward.
How did the Chargers lose to the Patriots?
The Chargers absorbed their third consecutive playoff loss largely because New England’s defense controlled the game from start to finish. Herbert was under pressure all afternoon, sacked six times and limited to 159 passing yards while also leading the team in rushing with 57 yards. Meanwhile, the Patriots offense managed just enough to win, with Maye weathering a slow start to deliver the critical fourth-quarter touchdown.
Defensive performance
The Patriots’ defensive totals tell the story of their dominance: 68 tackles, 31 solo stops, 6 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, and 5 pass breakups. Fox Sports’ box score analysis confirms the unit’s efficiency, with Vrabel’s game plan completely flustering a Chargers offense that averaged over 24 points per game during the regular season.
Key turnovers
Both teams committed turnovers, with the Chargers surrendering one interception and the Patriots giving up two. However, the Patriots’ defensive front made the biggest impact, repeatedly collapsing the pocket and forcing Herbert into costly decisions.
The catch: Herbert’s dual-threat ability surfaced in his 57 rushing yards, but without elite protection up front, that scrambler’s toolkit cannot compensate for a passing attack that was shut out entirely.
Chargers vs New England Patriots match player stats
A deeper look at the individual box scores from CBS Sports and ESPN reveals the stark contrast between Maye and Herbert on this stage. Maye finished 17 of 29 for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Herbert went 19 of 31 for 159 yards with zero touchdowns and added 57 yards on the ground as the Chargers’ leading rusher.
Passing stats
The table below summarizes the quarterback duel, with Maye posting a 109-yard advantage through the air.
| Player | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | Patriots | 17/29 | 268 | 1 | 1 |
| Justin Herbert | Chargers | 19/31 | 159 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing stats
Herbert’s 57 rushing yards led both teams, a peculiar outcome for a quarterback who entered the game expected to attack through the air.
| Player | Team | Att | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | Chargers | Multiple carries | 57 | 0 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | Patriots | Key runs | 6 | 0 |
Receiving stats
Hunter Henry emerged as Maye’s favorite target on the critical scoring drive, catching the 28-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The Patriots’ tight end finished as the game’s only receiving touchdown, while the Chargers’ receiving corps struggled to get open against New England’s secondary.
What this means: Even a middling stat line from Maye proved sufficient because the Chargers generated absolutely nothing through the air — Herbert’s zero touchdowns and one interception on 31 attempts exposed how badly Los Angeles missed the red zone efficiency they built their season around.
Chargers vs Patriots history
The January 11, 2026 Wild Card matchup marked one of the most lopsided playoff meetings between these franchises in recent memory. Prior to this game, both teams had met intermittently over the decades with varying results, though this particular contest tilted heavily in New England’s favor given the 13-point margin and defensive dominance.
Head-to-head record
Historical data from sports-reference sources shows these teams have faced each other periodically since the Patriots’ rise to prominence in the early 2000s. The Wild Card meeting adds to a rivalry that has featured memorable quarterback duels, though the 2026 edition will be remembered for its defensive intensity rather than offensive fireworks.
Past playoff meetings
This marked the first playoff meeting since the Chargers relocated to Los Angeles and began building around Herbert. The young quarterback’s 0-3 playoff record against New England highlights the challenge of navigating the AFC playoff landscape with a team still finding its championship identity.
The pattern: Herbert has yet to solve the Patriots’ defense when it matters most, and with three consecutive playoff exits against the same opponent, the Chargers organization must confront whether roster construction around their franchise quarterback is moving in the right direction.
Patriots vs Chargers game stats
The final box scores from ESPN’s game tracking reveal the Patriots held a 174-yard advantage in total offense, 381 to 207. New England’s balanced attack, anchored by Maye’s 268 passing yards and key runs from the backfield, consistently moved the chains while the defense kept the Chargers’ offense largely ineffective.
Team totals
Both teams’ turnovers and field goal efficiency tell the story of how one team controlled field position throughout the game.
| Stat | Patriots | Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 381 | 207 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Sacks Allowed | 5 | 6 |
| Field Goals Made | 2 (Borregales) | 1 |
Defensive stats
The defensive numbers underscore how completely New England’s front seven controlled the line of scrimmage against the league’s tenth-ranked offense.
| Team | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 68 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Chargers | 60 | 35 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
Patriots defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel drew up a masterpiece game plan that completely neutralized Herbert and the Chargers’ passing attack, proving that elite defensive coaching can win playoff games even with a rookie quarterback under center. For the Chargers, this loss underscores how much Herbert needs better pass protection before Los Angeles can seriously contend in the AFC.
Herbert’s 57 rushing yards led the Chargers, a troubling sign for an offense that should be winning through the air. Without creating explosive plays through the passing game, the Chargers’ offense simply cannot generate enough points to win playoff games. The solution for Los Angeles is not Herbert’s mobility but a rebuilt offensive line that lets him operate from the pocket.
Key takeaways
In a battle featuring two of the NFL’s most promising young quarterbacks, the Patriots defense stole the show. Six sacks on Herbert, combined with Maye’s efficient if unspectacular performance, resulted in a 16-3 New England victory that was never really in doubt after the third quarter. The Chargers finished with just 207 total yards and committed critical mistakes that the Patriots converted into points.
The Patriots advance to face a higher-seeded AFC opponent, while the Chargers enter another offseason of soul-searching after their third straight playoff loss with Herbert at quarterback. Whether the organization makes changes to better support their franchise quarterback remains to be seen, but the 2026 Wild Card exit will sting for some time.
Maye endured a slow start in his playoff debut, but Vrabel’s defense gave him enough breathing room to find his rhythm. For the Chargers, the cost of relying on a young quarterback without elite protection is now measured in playoff exits rather than regular-season growth.
Upsides
- Patriots defense delivered a dominant playoff performance
- Maye showed poise despite slow start, delivered clutch TD pass
- Borregales proved reliable with two field goals accounting for 12 points
- Patriots advance to face tougher AFC competition
Downsides
- Herbert now 0-3 in playoff games
- Chargers offense generated only 207 total yards
- Second consecutive wild-card exit for Los Angeles
- Defense failed to generate enough stops despite six sacks
Related reading: Bengals vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats · Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats
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Drake Maye’s 268-yard outing here builds on his rookie efforts, as shown in the Patriots vs Texans box score from earlier that season.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of Chargers vs Patriots?
The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs on January 11, 2026, at Gillette Stadium.
Who was the standout player for Patriots?
Drake Maye threw the game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter and finished 17 of 29 for 268 yards. However, the Patriots defense, which recorded six sacks, was arguably the unit that sealed the victory.
How many yards did Herbert throw for?
Justin Herbert completed 19 of 31 passes for 159 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception. He also led the Chargers in rushing with 57 yards on the ground.
What field goals were made in the game?
Andres Borregales made two field goals for the Patriots: a 35-yarder in the second quarter and a 39-yarder in the third quarter. The Chargers’ kicker made one field goal in the second quarter.
Where was the Chargers vs Patriots game played?
The game was played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on January 11, 2026.
When is the next Chargers playoff game?
The Chargers’ playoff run ended with this 16-3 loss. The team will now enter the offseason, with their next opportunity to win a playoff game coming in the 2026 season.
What are the top defensive stats from the game?
The Patriots recorded 6 sacks, 68 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 5 pass breakups. The Chargers managed 5 sacks, 60 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.
How did Drake Maye perform against Chargers?
Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception in his playoff debut. He started slowly but delivered the decisive 28-yard TD pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter.
“In a playoff battle between two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, it was the Patriots and Chargers defenses that carried the play for much of Sunday’s Wild Card clash.”
— Mike Dussault, Patriots.com
“Maye endured after a slow start in playoff debut.”
— NFL.com Staff
