Patriots Ride Defense Past Chargers in Wild Card

Summary:

• The New England Patriots’ defense overwhelmed Justin Herbert, holding the Los Angeles Chargers to three points and sealing the game with late pressure.
• Milton Williams shone bright and celebrated with over-the-top excitement that left Mike Vrabel bloodied.
• Drake Maye leaned on his legs and one key touchdown pass to Hunter Henry to move the Patriots into the next round.

Late in New England’s 16-3 NFL Wild-card playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers, defensive lineman Milton Williams celebrated a fourth-down sack with so much enthusiasm that he head-butted his head coach while still wearing his helmet.

Mike Vrabel walked the bloody celebration off and explained afterward that the message had clearly landed.

We talked to them about spilling some blood out there, that the big dogs come out in January. I think Milt took that to heart in the way he played the game, in the way he finished the game. He came over and got me pretty good.

The Patriots now move on to host the winner of Steelers-Texans next weekend, marking their first playoff win since the Brady-Belichick era ended with Super Bowl 53. This one looked familiar in at least one way. The defense did most of the talking.

Justin Herbert spent the night under constant pressure behind a battered offensive line. New England hit him 11 times and sacked him six times, forcing him to scramble 10 times just to survive. Herbert finished with 159 passing yards and admitted afterward that it was not close to enough.

We have to do better than three points. As an offense, it’s got good enough. Quarterback play wasn’t good enough. We let the defense down today.

Williams, who won a Super Bowl with the Eagles last season, said Vrabel’s tone all week fired him up.

We were hearing it all week. We showed up.

That energy carried New England even without a dominant passing night from Drake Maye. The second-year quarterback struggled early and finished 17-for-29 for 268 yards. His legs, however, mattered more, as a 37-yard scramble before halftime set up a field goal and gave the Patriots a 6-3 lead. Later, a perfectly placed throw to Hunter Henry near the pylon turned the game.

The Chargers stayed close thanks to two takeaways, but their offense never found rhythm. They went 1-for-10 on third down and failed twice in the red zone.

Keenan Allen said.

Bittersweet the season ended like this. Definitely felt like we had a team that was capable of making a run for it

New England outgained Los Angeles 381-207, and Maye made it clear who deserved the credit.

They won the game for us. I didn’t throw very well tonight. Need to be better. We did what we had to do. That’s what it takes in the playoffs