Patriots smother Justin Herbert, Chargers in dominant AFC wild-card victory
- - Patriots smother Justin Herbert, Chargers in dominant AFC wild-card victory
Frank Schwab January 11, 2026 at 10:52 PM
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is just 27 years old. He has a lot of time to win a playoff game. But a reputation is building, and it’s not a good one.
The Chargers’ 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots in a wild-card game Sunday night featured yet another poor performance by Herbert in a playoff game. It wasn’t all Herbert’s fault. His offensive line has been an issue for most of the season. L.A.’s running game never got much going. Too often the Chargers ask Herbert to do it all, and perhaps that wore on him over a long season. But after this latest playoff failure in his third postseason appearance, Herbert’s lack of any success on the league’s biggest stage will start to become a big part of the story of his career.
Herbert came up well short despite the Chargers’ defense keeping Los Angeles in the game until the fourth quarter. Herbert hadn’t even surpassed 100 yards passing deep into the fourth quarter against a Patriots defense that doesn’t intimidate anyone. The Patriots’ offense wasn’t great, but Drake Maye at least had one big touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give his team a comfortable lead.
Next week, the Patriots will play the winner of Monday night’s Houston Texans-Pittsburgh Steelers game.
Herbert has been to the playoffs three times, and each time has been a different type of meltdown from the Chargers and their quarterback. In a league that puts a lot of emphasis on how a quarterback does in the postseason, a bare playoff résumé for Herbert will start to get noticed.
No touchdowns through 3 quarters
A game with two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks produced a first half with no touchdowns.
The Chargers got down to the 2-yard line after picking off a Maye pass deep in Patriots territory, but went for it on fourth down and Herbert threw incomplete. New England had a 93-yard drive but it kicked a field goal when the drive stalled.
FOURTH DOWN STOP 🛑 📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/aehuuGAk36
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 12, 2026
The biggest offensive play of the first half came on a Maye run. He took off in the final minute of the first half and had a wide-open field in front of him. He ran for 37 yards before he was stopped, and that set up a field goal in the final seconds of the half.
The Patriots led 6-3 at halftime. After a thrilling first four games to start the playoffs, the uneventful first half was a letdown.
With 9:35 left in the fourth quarter, someone finally reached the end zone. Maye had his best pass of the night, a perfect throw to Hunter Henry for a 28-yard score. With the way the Chargers’ offense was playing, the 13-point lead after that touchdown seemed insurmountable.
HUNTER HENRY MAKES IT A TWO-SCORE GAME LACvsNE on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/MuIjMaqOpn
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2026
The Patriots might not have been lighting up the scoreboard, but Maye was having a good night. The same couldn’t be said for Herbert.
Justin Herbert struggles in playoffs again
Herbert’s first playoff appearance started well. The Chargers took a 27-0 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a wild-card playoff game at the end of the 2022 season. Then the Chargers had one of the biggest collapses in NFL playoff history and lost 31-30.
Last season, the Chargers made it back to the playoffs and Herbert threw four interceptions and Los Angeles lost 32-12 to the Texans.
Sunday night was another rough playoff outing. Herbert’s night was summed up on one play, when Herbert was under pressure, fumbled and got crushed by Elijah Ponder as the Patriots recovered the fumble. Herbert laid on the ground in pain for a few seconds afterward.
GET ON THAT!!!!!!📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/jRUgddmwbj
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 12, 2026
Herbert missed several passes he usually makes. An offense that averaged 21.6 points per game this season scored just three Sunday night. It took almost 55 minutes for Herbert to get over the 100-yard mark passing for the game. Every one of his playoff appearances has been a similar story: Herbert hasn’t played anywhere near the level we saw from him in the regular season.
Herbert and the Chargers should be a playoff contender again next season. Their offensive line will be healthier and the organization will continue to build up the roster. After Sunday night, Herbert should be eager to get back to the playoffs and finally have a good game once he’s there.
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Sun, January 11, 2026 at 7:59 PM ESTRyan Young
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 11:06 PM ESTRyan YoungUp next for the Patriots
With their win, the Patriots will now host either the Houston Texans or Pittsburgh Steelers next weekend. The Texans and Steelers will square off on Monday night to wrap up wild-card weekend.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 11:05 PM ESTRyan YoungFinal: Patriots 16, Chargers 3
The Patriots have sealed their win, and they’re headed to the divisional round. It marked the team’s first playoff win since Super Bowl 53 in 2019.
Justin Herbert is now 0-3 in his playoff career.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM ESTRyan YoungHerbert sacked to end it
The Patriots are all over Justin Herbert tonight. That was their sixth sack of the game, and it just sealed their playoff win.
BIG MILT HOW ARE YA!?!?!?@miltonw_12 | #NEPats📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/hxFPvu7KoK
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:47 PM ESTRyan Young
The Chargers just got the ball back after a quick stop, so they aren’t out of it just yet. But they’ll have to work quickly here if they have any shot of getting back in this.
They’re down 16-3 with 5:39 left.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:42 PM ESTRyan YoungJustin Herbert sacked, fumbled
Justin Herbert was absolutely crushed on this strip sack, and was so slow to get up. The Patriots will take back over, and we’re just about done here.
GET ON THAT!!!!!!📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/jRUgddmwbj
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:36 PM ESTRyan YoungTouchdown, Patriots!
Finally, we have a touchdown. Drake Maye just hit Hunter Henry for a perfect 28-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone, and the Patriots are suddenly in full control midway through the fourth quarter.
HUNTER HENRY MAKES IT A TWO-SCORE GAME LACvsNE on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/MuIjMaqOpn
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:25 PM ESTRyan Young
Back-to-back incompletions there, and a bad miss by Keenan Allen that would have been negated by an illegal shift anyways, gave the ball right back to the Patriots.
New England could ice the game right here with a touchdown, though the game hasn’t seen one yet tonight.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:21 PM ESTRyan YoungEnd of 3: Patriots 9, Chargers 3
The Patriots are up by six entering the final quarter tonight, but the Chargers are driving after a huge Justin Herbert scramble and a self fumble recovery moved them near midfield.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:14 PM ESTRyan YoungPatriots tack on another FG
Kayshon Boutte put the Pats in scoring position, but they had to settle for another field goal just a few plays later. A 39-yarder has them up 9-3 now with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
KAYSHON BOUTTE FOR 42 YARDS LACvsNE on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/FyfgjcwAqN
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:06 PM ESTRyan Young
A controversial PI call extended that drive, but added pressure on Justin Herbert there on third down forced an errant throw and the eventual Chargers punt.
So the Patriots fend off points after the turnover, and will take back over.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 10:01 PM ESTRyan YoungChargers take over!
Odafe Oweh just drilled Drake Maye in the backfield and forced the ball loose to come up with another turnover, so the Chargers will take back over. That’s a huge stop there with the Patriots in the red zone.
let's go, D📺 | @snfonnbc pic.twitter.com/cdoZb5V3fW
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:51 PM ESTRyan Young
That was the perfect start to the third quarter for New England. The Pats forced a quick three-and-out, and just barely broke up what would’ve been a deep gain to Ladd McConkey on third down.
So, another punt for the Chargers.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:34 PM ESTRyan YoungJustin Herbert vs. Drake Maye
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:33 PM ESTRyan YoungHalftime: Patriots 6, Chargers 3
The Patriots settled for another field goal there before halftime, so they’ll enter the break up by three.
We’ve got a low scoring battle brewing in Foxborough so far in the final wild-card game of the night.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:29 PM ESTRyan Young
That’s a 37-yard gain from Drake Maye, and the Patriots are suddenly in scoring position here before halftime.
Drake Maye running!LACvsNE on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/1nVJgJtjeE
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:26 PM ESTRyan Young
The officials marked Justin Herbert short of the first down on a short third-and-one, but a review ended up giving the Chargers the first down anyways to keep their drive alive.
But then, back-to-back sacks doomed them anyways. Williams got to Herbert first, and then Chaisson followed suit.
The Patriots will get the ball back with about 40 seconds left in the half.
Second sack of the drive from the @Patriots defense 💪LACvsNE on NBCStream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/CuW6zUL1jM
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2026
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:12 PM ESTRyan Young
The Chargers forced a quick stop there, but will now take over at their own 8 yard line after a perfect punt from the Patriots. They’ll get the ball back with 3:23 left in the half.
A score here would be huge, especially considering they’ll get the ball back after halftime, too.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 9:03 PM ESTRyan YoungChargers take the points this time
The Chargers quickly made it down the field there, thanks in part to an early 20-yard pass to Ladd McConkey, and then opted to take the points this time. A 21-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker has tied the game back up.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 8:51 PM ESTRyan YoungPats settle for a FG
The Chargers came up with a huge defensive stand of their own there, but the Patriots opted to settle for the points this time. So they’re up 3-0 after an easy 23-yard field goal.
- Sun, January 11, 2026 at 8:47 PM ESTRyan YoungEnd of 1: Patriots 0, Chargers 0
We’re still scoreless tonight in Foxborough, but Drake Maye and the Patriots will be at the Chargers’ 11 yard line with a first down when we come back.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
