By Kyle Hightower
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye threw a landing move to Hunter Henry within the fourth quarter, and New England’s protection roughed up Justin Herbert because the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff sport on Sunday night time.
Andy Borregales kicked three area objectives for the Patriots (15-3), who gained a playoff sport for the primary time since their Tremendous Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night time’s sport between Pittsburgh and Houston within the divisional spherical.
In his first profession playoff sport, Maye accomplished 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards. He additionally threw an interception and misplaced a fumble, however the Chargers (11-7) couldn’t capitalize on these turnovers.
New England held the Chargers to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six instances, with a type of leading to a misplaced fumble that arrange the Patriots’ TD.
“How about our defense, man? Congrats to the defense,” Maye mentioned. “What a night. It was so fun to watch.”
That is the second straight season by which the Chargers have misplaced within the wild-card spherical. Herbert completed 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his crew’s main rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 within the playoffs.
The Chargers final failed to attain a TD in a playoff sport of their 21-12 AFC championship sport loss to the Patriots throughout the 2007 season.
The Patriots drove into the purple zone on their first possession of the third quarter, however the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De’Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.
After Los Angeles punted, Maye linked on a move to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. However New England settled for a 39-yard area purpose that stretched their result in 9-3.
Early within the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard move to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to arrange his exact 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in entrance 16-3.
The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. However when Herbert dropped again to move on the subsequent play, linebacker Okay’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on free ball.
Los Angeles had one last possession, nevertheless it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Milton Williams on fourth down.
Patriots get 3 the exhausting method
The opening quarter had a number of motion, nevertheless it took till early within the second quarter for the Patriots to finish a scoreless stalemate.
With New England pinned inside its personal 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a move supposed for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.
Los Angeles began with the ball on the Patriots 10 however was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a move to Keenan Allen.
The Patriots took over and obtained some respiratory room by way of a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.
13 performs and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales’ 23-yard area purpose.
Accidents
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left within the first half with a toe damage however returned. … CB Christian Gonzalez left within the second half with a head damage.
Up subsequent
Chargers: Finish of season.
Patriots: Host both Houston or Pittsburgh subsequent Sunday.
