Wildcard Win: Patriots Defense Smothers Herbert, Chargers 16-3

The Patriots’ defense, playing their best game of the year, shut down the Chargers’ offense and QB Justin Herbert, leaving him battered and bruised by the game’s end, sacking him six times, with 11 QB hits, en route to a 16-3 win in the Wild Card playoff game at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots’ secondary, married along with that pass rush, showcased how good they can be, putting the LA pass catchers, three of whom (Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston) had over 700 yards receiving this season, on a milk carton.

Herbert was held to just 120 yards net passing, and 66 of those were on the final drive, when the Patriots were happy to give the Bolts the underneath stuff in a play for the ticking clock. Until LA’s final drive, Herbert had zero (0) yards passing in the second half (1-7 zero yards); that’s how dominant the defense was.

However, the Chargers’ defense was also outstanding, and their pass rush, especially in the first half, held Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense at bay. Maye was just 6-15 for 93 yards, with an interception in the first half. Maye rebounded in the second half, going 11-14 for 175 yards and a touchdown.

After trading punts to begin the game, the Patriots began their second drive on their own 8-yard line. A Maye pass was tipped at the line by defensive lineman Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley. But with a 1st and goal from the 10-yard line, the Chargers went nowhere and turned it over on downs. It was a harbinger of things to come from the New England defense.

Taking over at their own two-yard line, the Patriots moved 93 yards to take a 3-0 lead. On first down, Maye recognized a blitz and hit Rhamondre Stevenson on a screen pass for 48 yards to midfield. They got all the way to LA’s five before stalling. Andy Borregales then kicked a 23-yard field goal.

The Chargers answered with their longest and only long drive of the game. Herbert led them 69 yards down to the three-yard line, where they, too, stalled. Cameron Dicker kicked a 21-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3.

Just before halftime, Maye moved the Patriots into field goal range with a 37-yard scramble, and Borregales kicked a 35-yard field goal as the half ended to give the Patriots a 6-3 lead at the break.

After halftime, the Chargers’ offense went nowhere. The Patriots had a promising drive snuffed out by a strip sack of Maye inside of field goal range. After forcing another LA punt, the Patriots went 64 yards on eight plays, with Borregales hitting his third field goal to make it 9-3. Maye missed a wide-open Austin Hooper in the end zone.

On their next possession, the Patriots finally found the end zone on a beautiful 26-yard touchdown pass from Maye to Hunter Henry over the outstretched arms of Derwin James. That play was possible due to a great blitz pick up from TreVeyon Henderson.

The defense was teeing off on Herbert, and for their sixth and final sack, Milton Williams blew through the interior offensive line and blasted Herbert for a fourth-down stop. LA was just 1-10 on third down, 1-3 on fourth down, going 0-2 in the red zone.

HC Mike Vrabel was very pleased about the defense’s performance.

“Well, I think the stop early helped, the fourth down stop, really set the tone. But being able to stop the run, if you look at the runs that they handed off to the running back, that’s kind of where things started.

“You’re going to look at the rushing yards and whatever it was, but those are quarterback scrambles on passes. Our ability to stop the run and force second and third and long situations, I think, really helped us. Those are only good if you can take advantage of them.

“We caused some turnovers, we hit the quarterback, and one time it bounces into the running back’s hands, and he’s taken off running, and Harold [Landry] runs and makes a great effort play. That’s going to go for 12 yards and start it as a strip sack, and then next time, that very easily could be our football.

“Just the effort, and everybody played, and everybody contributed, and so many guys went down. Other guys in there stepped up. We play a lot of guys on defense, and I think that they all appreciate that, and I think they all have roles. That’s fun to see everybody contribute.”

Other observations included:

-The Chargers rushed for just 87 yards, 57 of those coming from scrambles by Herbert. The running backs finished with just 30 yards.

-The Patriots rushed for 146 yards and 5.0-yard average. Maye led the way with 66 yards rushing. Stevenson and Henderson combined for 80 yards rushing.

-Maye finished the game, 17-29 for 268 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

-Rhamondre Stevenson finished with another excellent game, going for 128 combined yards, 10 rushes for 53 yards, and 3 catches for 75 yards.

-Hunter Henry had three catches for 64 yards, including the 26-yard score and a 28-yarder against his former team.

-Kayshon Boutte had a very solid game, catching four passes for 66 yards, including a career-long 42-yard toss from Maye.

-Efton Chism had a 20-yard catch, but on a trick play, overthrew a wide-open Maye down the right sideline.

-The left side of the offensive line, with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, struggled against the Chargers’ talented pass rushers. Something to keep in mind next week against either Houston or Pittsburgh.

-Getting the key members of the defense back (Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, and Harold Landry from injuries was key for the shutdown of LA’s offense.

-The linebackers, especially Christian Elliss, were fantastic.

-K’Lavon Chaisson had two sacks, two TFLs, and three QB hits. Milton Williams had two sacks, two TFLs, and two QB hits, but the pressure was generated across the board.

-Anfernee Jennings had a sack, a TFL, and a QB hit while playing in the rotation along the edge.

-Prior to leaving with a head injury, Christian Gonzalez was immense, shutting down the perimeter. His status will bear watching this coming week.

The Patriots will now watch tonight’s Houston-Pittsburgh game and host the winner next Sunday in the Divisional Playoff game.

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About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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