The New England Patriots moved on to the divisional round on Sunday night. Taking down the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium, the team won its playoff opener with a final score of 16-3.
Here is who
caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ wild card victory.
Winners
DT Milton Williams & ED K’Lavon Chaisson: Against a beat-up Chargers offensive line, the Patriots pass rush had the ability to take over Sunday night’s game. While it took a few series for them to heat up, the unit prevailed and ended the night pressuring Justin Herbert on nearly half of his drop backs. That effort was led by Milton Williams and K’Lavon Chaisson.
New England’s top addition this offseason got home for a pair of sacks — the second on the Chargers’ final play of the game — and worked well in line games where he also freed Anferee Jennings for another takedown. Along the edge, Chaisson recorded a pair of sacks himself and added an additional QB hit and forced fumble in the fourth quarter.
CB Christian Gonzalez & S Craig Woodson: New England’s top corner played like his All-Pro self in his playoff debut. In total, Gonzalez did not allow a reception on five targets his way — three while working against Quentin Johnston. Gonzalez also recorded a pair of pass breakups, but unfortunately was ruled out for the game with a head injury after the second. His availability will be a key storyline next week.
Elsewhere in the secondary, rookie Craig Woodson brought the physicality on defense with 11 total tackles and one for a loss. Woodson also popped at times on special teams.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson continued his end-of-year heater Sunday night as the back totaled 128 yards from scrimmage. Carrying the ball 10 times, Stevenson totaled 53 yards (5.3 average) while he struck the biggest play of the game — taking a check-down 48 yards behind a big downfield block by Kyle Williams to kickstart New England’s first field goal drive — to help him add 75 yards on three receptions.
Losers
LT Will Campbell and LG Jared Wilson: New England’s rookie left side of the offensive line had their struggles against a talented Chargers’ front. At left tackle, Campbell allowed a team-high six pressures and a pair of sacks — one resulting in a strip sack of Drake Maye.
In his first game back from a two-week absence due to a concussion, Jared Wilson also allowed two sacks and four pressures at left guard as the Chargers got home on a number of line games off the left side. While Mike Vrabel did not hesitate to insert Wilson back into the lineup this week, the team could turn back to Ben Brown next week if they believe the rookie’s issues were more than just rust in his first game back.
Honorable mentions
- Drake Maye was first to admit his performance Sunday night was not his best. Maye had some uncharacteristic misses — such as overthrowing an open Hooper in the end zone — and said he felt like he held on to the ball at times which may have contributed to losing a fumble on a strip sack. But when New England needed him the most, Maye delivered with a beautiful 28-yard touchdown just over Derwin James to Henry on a sail concept. Maye finished the second-half 11-of-14 for 173 yards while generating +0.23 EPA per drop back and also made some key plays with his legs.
- Kayshon Boutte earned praise from Maye after the game for attacking the ball on a pair of big completions. Boutte led the team with four receptions and 66 yards.
- Efton Chism continued to do dirty work in the run game with a noticeable block on Derwin James to help spring a run. Chism also caught a 20-yard completion in a zone void but overshot Maye on his own pass off a trick play a handful of plays earlier.
- A quiet stat sheet game for Stefon Diggs with just two catches on five targets for 16 yards. But Diggs was a focal point for the Chargers defense as they often dropped defenders off the line of scrimmage to take the veteran out of the progression. That led to opportunities for other pass catchers, who will need to step up if defenses continue to key in on Diggs.
- Hunter Henry broke the damn with a 28-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter while also adding receptions of 17 and 19 yards. Austin Hooper also was open for a touchdown but was overthrown.
- Six quarterback hits in addition to Chaisson’s three and Williams’ two (Cory Durden 2x, Christian Elliss, Marcus Jones, Carlton Davis III, and Anfernee Jennings, who got home for a sack). Christian Barmore also recorded three pressures.
- Despite the pass rushing success, New England’s four-man front continued to struggle generating pressure at just over 18 percent of the time. That led to them blitzing more than expected in order to disrupt Herbert.
- Praise from head coach Mike Vrabel and the players for defensive play caller Zak Kuhr. The interim DC spun the dial all night long on Herbert and the Chargers and his blitzes had the QB running for his life.
- Attacking the football was a point of emphasis for New England’s defense as Justin Herbert had fumbled five times since breaking his left hand (just two before). Herbert put the ball on the ground twice (and nearly a third time) and the Patriots got one recovery by Christian Elliss.
- Beyond Gonzalez, Marcus Jones held Ladd McConkey to one catch on two targets (20 routes) with one pass breakup. Credit also to Charles Woods in the secondary for playing 23 defensive snaps in relief of both Gonzalez and Carlton Davis.
- “Skill” player, as Stefon Diggs called him, Andy Borregales debuts his playoff career with a perfect 3-for-3 night in a cold and windy Gillette Stadium.
