Honestly, if you turned off the TV before the fourth quarter of the Patriots and Chargers game, you basically missed the entire season in a microcosm. January football is usually a slog. It's cold, it's defensive, and points are harder to find than a quiet room at a sports bar. But Sunday night was different.
The New England Patriots won Sunday night’s NFL game by a score of 16-3, officially punching their ticket to the Divisional Round.
Now, a 16-3 scoreline might look like a defensive bore on paper. It wasn't. It was a physical, almost violent introduction to the Mike Vrabel era of postseason football in Foxborough. While the afternoon saw the 49ers pull off a stunning 23-19 upset over the defending champion Eagles, the night belonged to a kid named Drake Maye and a defense that looked like the 2003 "Homeland Defense" units of old.
Who Won Sunday Night’s NFL Game and How It Happened
The Chargers came into Gillette Stadium as favorites in many circles. Justin Herbert is a superstar, even if he was playing through the lingering effects of hand surgery. But the Patriots' defense decided that Sunday night wasn't going to be his night.
They sacked Herbert six times. Six.
It wasn't just the quantity of the hits; it was the timing. Every time Los Angeles seemed to find a rhythm, someone like Milton Williams or Keion White was there to blow up the backfield. Williams actually celebrated the win so hard he head-butted coach Mike Vrabel, leaving the coach with a bloodied lip during the post-game presser.
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"The big dogs come out in January," Vrabel said while literally bleeding for his team. You can't script that kind of intensity.
The Drake Maye Playoff Debut
There’s always a ton of pressure on a rookie quarterback in their first playoff start. Drake Maye didn't play a "perfect" game. He threw a pick and lost a fumble. In the regular season, that might have cost them.
But Maye showed that "it" factor when it mattered most.
- Passing: 17 of 29 for 268 yards.
- Rushing: 66 yards (team high).
- The Dagger: A fourth-quarter touchdown strike to Hunter Henry that finally broke the Chargers' spirit.
He looked comfortable in the chaos. When the pocket collapsed—which happened often—he didn't just throw the ball away; he tucked it and ran for 10 or 15 yards at a time. It kept the chains moving and, more importantly, kept Herbert off the field.
Why the Chargers’ Offense Stalled
It’s easy to blame Herbert, but that’s a lazy take. The Chargers' offensive line was essentially a revolving door for the better part of three hours. They finished with just 207 total yards.
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When your leading rusher is your quarterback (Herbert had 57 yards on the ground), you know the traditional run game has failed. J.K. Dobbins and the rest of the backfield couldn't find a gap all night. The Patriots played a "bend but don't break" style that actually never even really bent.
The Afternoon Shocker: 49ers Dethrone the Eagles
We can't talk about who won Sunday night’s NFL game without mentioning the absolute chaos that happened just hours earlier in Philadelphia. The 49ers went into Lincoln Financial Field and took down the Eagles 23-19.
This game was wild. Jauan Jennings—a wide receiver, mind you—threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey on a trick play. That’s the kind of stuff that usually happens to the Eagles, not by them.
The 49ers proved they are the ultimate "anywhere, anytime" team. Brock Purdy was efficient, finishing with a 111.4 passer rating, while the Eagles' offense looked strangely out of sync. There was even a visible sideline clash between Nick Sirianni and A.J. Brown. That's never a good sign when your season is on the line.
A Historic Moment for Tight Ends
One for the trivia buffs: Dallas Goedert became the first tight end in NFL postseason history to rush for a touchdown. It was a 1-yard sweep that briefly gave Philly the lead. It’s those kinds of weird, specific stats that make the playoffs so much fun to track.
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What This Means for the Divisional Round
The dust has settled on Wild Card Sunday, and the bracket is looking spicy.
The Patriots are heading to the Divisional Round to host the winner of the Monday night matchup between Pittsburgh and Houston. Because they secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC during the regular season, the road to the AFC Championship still has a chance of going through Foxborough if the Broncos slip up.
The 49ers, meanwhile, have to pack their bags for Seattle. They beat the Seahawks in the season opener, but Seattle took the rematch in the season finale. It’s a rubber match with the highest possible stakes.
NFL Sunday Night Results Summary
If you’re just looking for the quick hits from Jan 11, 2026:
- Patriots 16, Chargers 3: New England’s defense dominates; Drake Maye wins his playoff debut.
- 49ers 23, Eagles 19: San Francisco uses a trick-play TD to eliminate the defending champs.
- Bills 27, Jaguars 24: Earlier in the day, Buffalo survived a late surge from Trevor Lawrence.
The big takeaway? Home-field advantage didn't mean much for the Eagles, but it was everything for the Patriots.
If you're looking to track how the odds shift for next weekend, keep an eye on the injury report for George Kittle. He was carted off during the 49ers game, and his availability will completely change the game plan for their trip to Seattle. For the Patriots, it's all about whether they can keep that defensive front healthy. If they play like they did Sunday night, no one in the AFC is going to want to visit Gillette Stadium.
Keep your eyes on the Monday night injury reports and the early lines for the Divisional round, as the "home dog" narrative is likely going to be a major talking point in the Vegas circles this week.