FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Los Angeles Chargers’ season came to a grinding halt in New England, undone by relentless pressure up front and missed opportunities on offense as the New England Patriots secured their first playoff victory in seven years.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Los Angeles Chargers’ season came to a grinding halt in New England, undone by relentless pressure up front and missed opportunities on offense as the New England Patriots secured their first playoff victory in seven years.
The Patriots exploited a vulnerable Chargers offensive line, sacking quarterback Justin Herbert six times and holding Los Angeles to just 207 total yards, including 120 through the air. Herbert finished 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was also the Chargers’ leading rusher with 57 yards, falling to 0–3 in his postseason career.
Patriots’ Defense Sets the Tone
New England’s defensive resurgence was aided by improved health. For the first time since Nov. 13, the Patriots had three of their top defenders — defensive tackle Milton Williams, linebacker Robert Spillane, and outside linebacker/defensive end Harold Landry III — on the field together.
That trio helped fuel a dominant performance, capped when Williams recorded a fourth-down sack of Herbert late in the game to seal the win.
“It’s on us, what we do. I’ve been saying that all season,” Williams said. “We can control the game. If we do what we need to do up front, we’re going to win.”
The Patriots’ red-zone defense, which ranked 30th in the NFL during the regular season, was especially sharp early. New England stopped the Chargers on four straight plays from first-and-goal at the 10-yard line to keep the game scoreless, then later forced Los Angeles to settle for a field goal attempt instead of a touchdown.
Turning Point in the Fourth Quarter
The decisive stretch came early in the fourth quarter. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected on a 16-yard completion to Kayshon Boutte, followed by a 13-yard run from Rhamondre Stevenson, a Cerritos College product. That drive ended with Maye delivering a precise 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry, a former Charger, giving New England a 16–3 lead.
Maye (66 yards) and Herbert (57) were the leading rushers for their respective teams, underscoring a game dominated by defense and field position.
The Chargers threatened briefly on the ensuing possession, picking up back-to-back first downs. But linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked Herbert, recovered the loose ball, and extinguished any hopes of a comeback.
Los Angeles had one final possession, but it ended fittingly — with Herbert again taken down by Williams on fourth down.
Familiar Playoff Frustration
This marked the second straight season the Chargers exited in the wild-card round and the first time since 2007 that the franchise failed to score a playoff touchdown, a 21–12 AFC Championship loss — also to New England.
Despite the loss, there were bright spots on defense. Former Crenshaw High standout Daiyan Henley led the Chargers with 13 tackles, nine of them solo, continuing his strong season.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh praised Herbert’s toughness, noting the quarterback played through a hand injury.
“He’s a warrior. He just gives it everything he has, all the time,” Harbaugh said. “It’s an issue, but he doesn’t flinch, like a warrior would.”
Changes Ahead in Los Angeles
Days after the loss, the Chargers announced they had parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman and offensive line coach Mike Devlin, signaling changes ahead.
“Right now, I don’t have the answers,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to look at that — and everything. We weren’t good enough as a team, and that’s my responsibility.”
The Chargers finish the season 11–6 and now turn their focus to finding a new offensive coordinator to maximize a talented roster led by Herbert. That group includes Pro Bowl tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, both of whom suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the year.
For the Chargers, the offseason arrives with hard questions — and the hope that changes up front will lead to different results when January football returns.