For the first time since 2019, the New England Patriots are set to host a playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
Following a 14-win season, the NFL’s No. 2 seed in the AFC will welcome the Los Angeles Chargers
to Foxborough. In a matchup between two MVP-caliber quarterbacks, Justin Herbert will look for his first playoff win as Drake Maye makes his first career start in the postseason.
Follow along down below live from Gillette Stadium throughout Sunday night.
Live score: Patriots 9 : 3 Chargers
Sunday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster
First Quarter
The Chargers won the toss and deferred, putting Drake Maye and the Patriots offense on the field first. Maye picked up an initial first-down through the air to Stefon Diggs before then facing a 3rd-and-6, where LA’s defense had tight coverage leading to them getting home for a sack to force a punt.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense started their night with a pair of first downs before a false start and blown up wide receiver screen set them behind the sticks. Facing a 3rd-and-12, an underneath pass to Oronde Gadsden was complete but brought down short of the sticks by Carlton Davis. With the offense on the field for 4th-and-2, LA could not draw a false start and took a delay of game to punt.
New England’s next possession started backed up at their own eight-yard line. After going backwards on a first-down run, Maye’s next attempt was deflected up into the air and intercepted by the Chargers.
Los Angeles took back over threatening at New England’s 10-yard line and two runs from Herbert set up a 3rd-and-goal from the three. From the gun, Herbert looked to escape up the middle of the pocket but was stopped for just one yard. With the offense on the field on 4th-and-goal from the two, Herbert rolled to his right and fired an incompletion to Keenan Allen with Christian Gonzalez in coverage.
Second Quarter
Following the turnover on downs, the Patriots found themselves backed up again at their own two-yard line. A check down to Rhamondre Stevenson quickly found them breathing room as the back rumbled for 48 yards to midfield. Eventually facing a 3rd-and-4, a reverse to Efton Chism saw the receiver let one go downfield to Maye which fell incomplete. The offense stayed on the field, however, and moved the chains as Maye found Kyle Williams to set up outside the red zone. New England then overcame a second-down sack as Maye found Chism for a 20-yard gain before the unit faced a 3rd-and-6 from the five — where Maye was forced into a throwaway. Andy Borregales then opened the scoring with a 23-yard field goal. [Patriots 3 : 0 Chargers]
After a first-down run stuff by Craig Woodson, Herbert found success through the air hitting Ladd McConkey for a 20-yard gain to beat a New England blitz. Marching down field behind two more conversions and a face mask penalty on Christian Elliss put LA in the red zone. Facing 3rd-and-short from the three-yard line, a handoff to Kimani Vidal was stuffed for no gain. Cameron Dicker’s 21-yard field goal was then good. [Patriots 3 : 3 Chargers]
Back in a tie game, a first-down check down to TreVeyon Henderson helped get the drive started with a fresh set of downs. Set up in a 3rd-and-5 just over midfield, a pass to Rhamondre Stevenson went off the running back’s out stretched hand to force a punt.
With the Chargers’ backed up at their own eight-yard line, New England’s blitz finally got home as Carlton Davis got home on a pressure to force a near fumble but incompletion. A 10-yard completion to Keenan Allen then found the unit some room to operate ahead of the two-minute warning. Herbert then barley converted a 3rd-down sneak to keep LA’s drive alive before New England’s pass rush made their mark with Milton Williams and K’Lavon Chaisson recording back-to-back sacks to force a punt.
Taking over just shy of midfield with 31 seconds left, Maye took off with his legs for a 37-yard gain to set up inside the red zone with 16 seconds remaining on the clock. Two throwaways then led to a field goal with six ticks on the clock which Borregales connected on from 35 yards out. [Patriots 6 : 3 Chargers]
A short Chargers kick return ended the half.
Third Quarter
Opening the second-half with the ball, LA faced a 3rd-and-5 where Marcus Jones wrestled a ball loose from Ladd McConkey to force an incompletion and three-and-out.
Maye’s first two attempts of the half went for first downs, with the second being a perfectly placed ball between zone defenders to Hunter Henry for 17 yards. At midfield in a 3rd-and-6, Maye took his check down to Stevenson who picked up 17 more yards to move New England into Chargers’ territory. A speed option then saw Maye pick up a 3rd-and-1 with his legs to move inside the red zone, where the Chargers defense then got home to force a strip sack which they recovered.
A second-down shot by Justin Herbert drew a pass interference penalty on Carlton Davis that netted Los Angeles 26 yards to move just shy of midfield. In a following 3rd-and-4, New England’s pass rush forced Herbert out of the pocket and saw the QB’s pass fall incomplete down the right sideline.
New England’s second possession started by going backwards again as Maye was brought down for another sack off of his left side. In 3rd-and-12, Maye stood in to find Hunter Henry over the middle for 19 yards to overcome the loss and move the chains. The next drop back saw Maye take a shot downfield where Kayshon Boutte came back to the ball for a 42-yard catch to suddenly have New England in LA territory yet again. Overshooting an open Austin Hooper in the end zone then led to a 3rd-and-4, where Maye found Douglas, who dropped a ball that was short of the line to gain. Borregales’ 39-yard field goal was then good. [Patriots 9 : 3 Chargers]
Fourth Quarter
Strong kick coverage by Brenden Schooler and Dell Pettus started the Chargers drive inside their own 20. Marcus Jones got home on a first-down blitz to force a sack and fumble, which Vidal recovered and took 17 yards to get LA on the move. A Christian Gonzalez pass breakup then helped set up a 3rd-and-7 where Herbert’s pass was incomplete leading to another punt.
