The New England Patriots didn't actually play a game today, January 15, 2026. If you’re checking the score right now, you’re likely feeling that mid-week itch for playoff football, but the team is currently in the middle of a massive preparation week. They just came off a physical, grind-it-out 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday in the Wild Card round.
Honestly, that game was a throwback. Mike Vrabel has this defense playing like it’s 2004 again.
Who Won Today's Patriots Game? Looking Back at the Wild Card
Since there isn't a live game on a Thursday, the "win" everyone is still talking about is that dominant defensive showing against Justin Herbert. New England’s defense was basically a brick wall. They racked up six sacks. Six! Milton Williams was a man possessed, eventually clinching the game with a sack that led to a celebration so intense he actually bloodied Mike Vrabel’s lip with a head-butt.
That’s the kind of energy in Foxborough right now.
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Drake Maye, the kid everyone was worried about early in the season, showed he belongs in the postseason. He wasn't perfect—he had two turnovers—but he made the plays that mattered. That 28-yard touchdown strike to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter was absolute dimes. It put the game out of reach and proved that even when things get "ugly and nasty," as Williams put it, this roster doesn't blink.
The Numbers That Actually Mattered
- Final Score: Patriots 16, Chargers 3.
- Drake Maye's Debut: 17-of-29 for 268 yards and 1 TD. He also led the team in rushing with 66 yards.
- Defensive Stand: They held the Chargers to just 207 total yards.
- The Drought Ends: This was New England's first playoff win in seven years.
What’s Next for New England?
The Patriots are currently resting up and game-planning for a massive Divisional Round clash. They are scheduled to host the Houston Texans this coming Sunday, January 18, 2026.
This isn't going to be a cakewalk. Houston is coming in hot, having won ten straight games. They’ve got a defense that just embarrassed Pittsburgh and a pass rush featuring Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. that can ruin a quarterback's afternoon real quick.
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If you're looking for who won today's patriots game, the answer is technically "nobody," but the focus is entirely on whether the offensive line can protect Drake Maye's blindside against those Houston edge rushers. Mike Vrabel noted this week that the Texans possess "talent, length, and effort" on the edges. That’s coach-speak for "we’re worried about our tackles."
Key Injuries to Watch
The team is currently nursing a few bumps. Christian Gonzalez left the Chargers game with a head injury. In the NFL's concussion protocol era, his availability for Sunday is the biggest question mark in New England. If he can’t go, the secondary is going to have a much harder time containing Houston’s explosive receivers.
Final Insights for the Divisional Round
New England is playing with house money at this point. Nobody expected a 14-3 regular season or a dominant Wild Card win in year one of the Vrabel era.
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If you want to stay ahead of the curve for Sunday's game:
- Monitor the Injury Report: Specifically look for Christian Gonzalez’s practice participation on Friday.
- Watch the Line: The opening spread has the Patriots as slight home favorites, but the total is low, suggesting another defensive battle.
- Check the Weather: It’s January in Foxborough. Wind and sleet are the Patriots' best friends when facing a dome team like the Texans.
The "win" today is the extra day of rest. The real test happens in a few days at Gillette Stadium.
Keep an eye on the official injury reports released Friday afternoon for the final word on the secondary’s health.