If you turned off the TV thinking the NFL playoffs would be a high-flying shootout on Sunday night, you probably woke up feeling a little confused. The vibe in Foxborough was... well, it was cold. Gritty. Kinda ugly if you like fantasy points, but beautiful if you’re a fan of old-school New England defense. The sunday night football result was a 16-3 victory for the New England Patriots over the Los Angeles Chargers, and honestly, it felt even more lopsided than the score suggests.
Drake Maye didn’t need to be a superhero. He just needed to not be Justin Herbert, who spent most of the night running for his life from a Patriots pass rush that looked like it was shot out of a cannon.
The Scoreboard Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
A 16-3 final looks like a Big Ten game from the 1920s. But for the Patriots, this was a massive statement. It was their first postseason win since they beat the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. Think about that for a second. It’s been a long road back to relevance in Foxboro.
The Chargers, meanwhile, looked completely out of sync. They came in as the No. 7 seed with a four-game win streak but left looking like a team that forgot how to play in the cold. Justin Herbert was sacked six times. SIX. The New England defense tied a franchise record for postseason sacks, matching a mark they set back in 2018 against Tennessee.
👉 See also: Dodgers Black Heritage Night 2025: Why It Matters More Than the Jersey
Key Moments that Defined the Night
- The First Points: It took until the second quarter for anyone to do anything. Andy Borregales hit a 23-yard chip shot to put New England up 3-0. It wasn't flashy, but in a game like this, it felt like a 20-point lead.
- The Pass Rush: Keion White and the rest of the front seven were relentless. They didn't just sack Herbert; they harassed him. Every time he dropped back, there was a navy blue jersey in his face.
- The Turnover Battle: While Maye played it safe, the Chargers couldn't sustain a drive to save their lives. They were held to just three points, tying a franchise postseason low for points allowed by a Patriots defense.
Why the Sunday Night Football Result Matters for the AFC
This win changes the entire complexion of the divisional round. Because New England (the No. 2 seed) took care of business, the bracket is now set. The Patriots are moving on to host either the Houston Texans or the Pittsburgh Steelers, depending on how that Monday night matchup shakes out.
If you’re a Buffalo Bills fan, you were watching this game with one eye open. The Bills managed to escape Jacksonville with a 27-24 win earlier in the day thanks to a "Josh Push" touchdown, but New England looks like a different beast. The Patriots are now 24-5 all-time in home playoff games. That .827 winning percentage is the best in the league for any team with at least 15 home starts.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Game
People are going to look at Drake Maye’s stats and say he didn't "win" the game. Sure, he didn't throw for 400 yards. But he did exactly what Mike Vrabel asked: he protected the football. In the playoffs, that’s usually enough when your defense is playing out of its mind.
✨ Don't miss: College Football Top 10: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Rankings
The Chargers had plenty of chances. They just couldn't capitalize. Brandon McManus missed a crucial field goal earlier in the day for the Packers in a different game, but the Chargers' kicking game wasn't much better in terms of impact—mostly because they couldn't even get into field goal range consistently.
The Defensive Masterclass
Honestly, we need to talk more about Mike Vrabel. He’s now evened his postseason coaching record at 3-3. He’s built a team that thrives in the mud. While the rest of the NFL is obsessed with wide-open offenses and 50-yard bombs, the Patriots just won a playoff game by holding one of the best quarterbacks in the world to a field goal.
What’s Next for the Winners and Losers?
For the Chargers, this is a bitter pill. They had the talent to make a run, but they got bullied. Jim Harbaugh's squad is going to have to look in the mirror this offseason and figure out how to protect Herbert, because seeing him get hit that many times was almost hard to watch.
🔗 Read more: Cleveland Guardians vs Atlanta Braves Matches: Why This Interleague Rivalry Hits Different
The Patriots? They’re clicking at the right time. They’ve won 13 of their last 14 games. Drake Maye is a finalist for MVP for a reason—not just because of his arm, but because of his poise.
Next Steps for Your Playoff Bracket:
- Watch the Monday Night Game: The result of Texans vs. Steelers determines who travels to Foxborough next weekend.
- Monitor Injuries: Keep an eye on the Patriots' defensive line depth; they played a lot of snaps and hit hard.
- Check the Lines: If the Patriots are playing at home in the divisional round, history says they’re the safest bet in the AFC.
New England is officially back in the hunt, and the sunday night football result proves that defense still wins championships—or at least Wild Card games in January.