New England Patriots
Justin Herbert is a harmful passer, however the Patriots may exploit a porous Los Angeles offensive line subsequent weekend.
The Patriots’ spectacular turnaround season continued on Sunday with a 38-10 win over the Dolphins — closing out the regular-season slate with a 14-3 report and the No. 2 seed within the AFC.
Now, the true work begins for Mike Vrabel and a Patriots crew seeking to carry that momentum into the postseason.
The No. 2 Patriots will host a playoff sport at Gillette Stadium for the primary time for the reason that 2019 season subsequent weekend, as New England will tackle the No. 7 Chargers within the wild-card spherical of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 11.
Kick-off from Gillette Stadium is about for 8 p.m., with Sunday’s postseason matchup to be broadcast on NBC.
Regardless of avoiding a first-round matchup towards Josh Allen and the Payments, the 11-6 Chargers determine to be a troublesome out for New England as Vrabel’s membership seems to punch its ticket to the AFC Divisional Spherical.
“We’ll prepare and get rolling and attempt to do what we do each week, which is put together and check out to determine who we now have obtainable and what we really feel just like the keys are going to be and attempt to apply and be able to go,” Vrabel stated of New England’s strategy coming into subsequent week. “That’s all we’ve carried out all 12 months, and it’s all we’ll have the ability to do that week within the playoffs.”
Listed below are 4 issues to find out about New England’s first-round foe:
The Chargers all however ended the Jerod Mayo period final season
Subsequent weekend is not going to stand as the primary time that Drake Maye has confronted off towards Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Los Angeles twisted the knife towards the Jerod Mayo-led Patriots final December, doling out arguably the worst lack of a 4-13 marketing campaign for New England by way of a 40-7 blowout at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024.
“That is what I instructed the gamers, there’s actually nothing good to take out of that sport at the moment,” Mayo — who was fired by New England only a week later — stated after that drubbing by the hands of the Chargers. “Simply the shortage of execution. Look, that’s a superb soccer crew, they usually’re a well-coached soccer crew. We simply didn’t play effectively sufficient in any part of the sport.”
It was an unsightly sport throughout for a seemingly rudderless Patriots crew in that final assembly towards Los Angeles.
New England’s protection allowed seven-straight scores at one level, with rookie wideout Ladd McConkey — whom the Patriots handed on within the 2024 NFL Draft earlier than taking one-and-done receiver Ja’Lynn Polk — including insult to damage with eight catches for 94 yards and two scores.
Maye — then seen as a uncooked rookie as an alternative of a premier MVP candidate — closed out that sport 12-for-22 for 117 yards, a landing, and a fumble on a botched pitch off an tried reverse to DeMario Douglas. The primary-year QB additionally needed to briefly depart the sport to be evaluated for a head damage.
What a distinction a season could make for Maye and the Patriots, who will look to precise some revenge towards the Chargers with rather more at stake subsequent week.
“It’s a brand new crew, it’s a brand new 12 months,” Christian Gonzalez stated postgame when requested to match this Patriots crew to the one which was defeated by the Chargers final December. “I imply, we are able to’t actually look again at that sport. It’s new 12 months, it’s the playoffs. Simply are available in right here and prepare and watch the movie and see what they love to do and give you a sport plan and go on the market and provides it every thing we’ve acquired.”
Regardless of that lopsided loss final season, New England had had the higher of the Chargers within the postseason through the years — holding a 3-0 report towards them within the playoffs (after the AFL-NFL merger).
New England’s final playoff win over the Chargers was a 41-28 victory within the 2018 AFC Divisional Spherical — which stands because the final house playoff victory for the Patriots.
Justin Herbert has labored since hand surgical procedure
If the Chargers are going to come back into Foxborough and finish the Patriots’ season, loads goes to fall on Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert in terms of extending drives and conserving the ball out of Maye’s arms.
The 27-year-old Herbert has been one of many high signal-callers within the league since making his debut in 2020, throwing for 163 touchdowns and 58 interceptions over his six seasons within the NFL.
Taking part in in entrance of a porous offensive line this season (extra on that shortly), Herbert nonetheless managed to throw for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over 16 video games.
“Clearly I like his sport, love the best way he throws the soccer, throws it at a excessive stage,” Maye stated of Herbert. “He could make performs on the transfer, could make performs off-platform, can launch it, and I believe the best way he holds himself and cares about his teammates, it’s actually concerning the crew, not about himself, I’ve a whole lot of respect for Justin and the way he performs the sport and he performs it at a very excessive stage.”
New England’s protection might want to corral Herbert and forestall him from extending performs if this crew needs to maintain its season alive. However Herbert’s well being is one thing to maintain tabs on going into subsequent weekend.
After present process surgical procedure to restore a fracture in his left (non-throwing) hand on Dec. 2, Herbert’s play dipped. Despite the fact that he didn’t miss any video games after going underneath the knife, he threw for simply 5 touchdowns and three interceptions in his subsequent 4 video games earlier than sitting out Los Angeles’ regular-season finale towards the Broncos on Sunday.
That week off might need carried out Herbert some good. However a diminished Herbert can be a welcome sight for a Patriots protection that entered Week 18 in twenty sixth place in passing defensive DVOA (defense-adjusted worth over common).
In his postseason profession, Herbert is 0-2 with a 52.0 completion share, two touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.
Los Angeles has a evident flaw within the trenches
New England doesn’t precisely boast an imposing cross rush. Solely six NFL groups posted fewer than the 35.0 sacks the Patriots generated in 2025.
Nonetheless, the 2025 Patriots protection doesn’t have to boast the likes of a main Willie McGinest, Matt Judon, or Chandler Jones so as to make life depressing for this Chargers offense.
Los Angeles’ offensive line has been decimated by accidents this season, dropping All-Professional left deal with Rashawn Slater throughout coaching camp to a torn patellar tendon, whereas Professional Bowl proper deal with Joe Alt landed on season-ending injured reserve in November as a consequence of ankle surgical procedure.
With out their two franchise tackles, Los Angeles’ offensive line has often taken on water this 12 months — coming into Week 18 with a league-worst cross block win fee of 54 p.c, per ESPN. Their run block win fee of 69 p.c additionally ranks thirty first within the NFL, additional hindering the Chargers’ skill to achieve chunk yardage on the bottom.
New England’s protection will not be anchored by its pass-rushers, however gamers like Ok’Lavon Chaisson, Milton Williams, and Harold Landry ought to have the ability to get their alternatives to wreak havoc towards Herbert subsequent weekend.
The Chargers have annoyed opposing QBs this season
Maye has carved up opposing defenses all season lengthy en path to a MVP-level marketing campaign.
However Los Angeles’ protection underneath one of many high defensive coordinators within the sport in Jesse Minter may show to be a thorn within the facet of New England’s explosive offense.
The Chargers are at their greatest once they’re irritating opposing QBs and limiting their choices by way of the air. Getting into Week 18, quarterbacks have recorded a league-worst 74.8 p.c passer ranking towards the Chargers, and are finishing simply 60.79 p.c of their throws towards Los Angeles — the fifth-lowest mark within the league.
Past taking away Maye’s choices, the Chargers are additionally adept at forcing turnovers and disrupting promising drives. Los Angeles is one among 11 groups to report no less than 45.0 sacks on the season, and have been one among 9 groups to put up no less than 23 takeaways — together with 19 interceptions.
Granted, a QB like Maye within the midst of one of many extra environment friendly passing seasons in NFL historical past may very well be the game-breaking expertise that would land punches towards Minter’s protection.
Nonetheless, Maye should deal with the ball and make the right reads towards Los Angeles’ zone-heavy coverages if the Patriots need to play within the AFC Divisional Spherical.
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