The Patriots earned their first playoff win since beating the Rams in the Super Bowl, which seems like a lifetime ago. After getting ousted in their previous two playoff openers, the win and the electric atmosphere around the team were very pleasing to see.
The game was a defensive rock fight; although the Patriots outgained the Chargers handily, they turned the ball over and struggled to finish drives. This one was a defensive gem, as the team was approaching full health, welcoming back Robert Spillane and Harold Landry, and having Milton Williams back last week.
And it showed. The Patriots’ defense held LA to just 3 points and 1-for-10 on third down, as they dominated the game up front against a beat-up Chargers offensive line.
Drake Maye and the offense shook off a rough start and finished strong, leading to a 16-3 victory and the right to host another playoff game next week.
The Patriots will host the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
So, as we always do, let’s break it down by position
Quarterback: B
Drake Maye didn’t have his usual excellent game and made a few throws he’d like back. And his two fumbles (one lost) hurt. But he also made smart plays with the ball, throwing it away rather than risking a turnover at the end of the half.
His checkdown to Rhamondre Stevenson for 48 yards when backed up on the two-yard line was a great read. And his 28-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry just over the outstretched hand of Derwin James was a thing of beauty.
After a slow start, Maye was 11-14 for 173 yards and a touchdown in the second half. And he rushed for a game-high 69 yards. While he wasn’t great, it wasn’t a bad playoff debut.
Running Backs: A
Rhamondre Stevenson continued his excellent play. He had just 13 touches but generated 128 total yards, 53 yards rushing on 10 carries, and three catches for 75 yards, including the aforementioned 48-yarder.
TreVeyon Henderson added 36 total yards, but his blitz pickup on the Henry touchdown was the key to the play.
Wide Receivers: C
Stefon Diggs was held in check as the Chargers made a concerted effort to double him and take him away in this game. They played more man coverage than usual, and the receivers had trouble getting open. Diggs and Demario Douglas had drops.
Kayshon Boutte had a very solid game with 66 yards receiving. Efton Chism had a 20-yard catch, but overthrew Maye on a wide-open trick play. Kyle Williams had a key block on Stevenson’s 48-yard catch.
The group will need better production on Sunday against Houston.
Tight Ends: B+
Hunter Henry came through once again as one of, if not the most reliable, of Drake Maye’s pass catchers. Henry finished with three catches for 64 yards, including the game’s only touchdown. His run blocking was also solid.
Austin Hooper struggled in the running game, but was wide open for a touchdown where Maye overthrew him in the end zone. He was also the target of the batted pass/interception in the first quarter.
Jack Westover had his first playoff catch, and the second of his career, for eight yards.
Offensive Line: C
The Chargers attacked the left side of the offensive line with rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. The duo allowed three sacks, Campbell one, and Wilson with two. They’ll need to be much better this week, going against the equally physical Texans’ edge rushers.
Campbell was actually very good in the running game. Morgan Moses had a solid game on the right side.
Defensive Line: A
The defensive line had a fantastic game on Sunday night. Five of the six sacks, eight of the11 QB hits, five tackles for loss. We know that the Chargers’ offensive line was beat up, but this was just domination.
Chargers running backs had 30 yards rushing. Justin Herbert had 120 yards net passing, and most of that was on the garbage time drive at the end of the game, where the Patriots willfully traded space for time.
Milton Williams, two sacks, two TFLs, two QB hits, seven pressures. K’Lavon Chaisson, two sacks, two TFLs, three QB hits, seven pressures. Cory Durden had two QB hits and seven pressures. Herbert was pressured on 56.8 percent of his drop-backs.
Linebackers: A
Robert Spillane was back, and the linebacker group was fantastic. They shut down the running game, where they were flying all over the field, and held TE Oronde Gadsden to just three catches for 30 yards.
Christian Elliss had a great game, often setting up as a spy on Herbert, making eight tackles with a pass defensed. Gibbens was outstanding with seven tackles and five stops.
Secondary: A
The Patriots’ secondary put the Chargers’ top three receivers, Ladd McConkey (3-32), Keenan Allen (3-25), and Quentin Johnson (3-20), all of whom had 700+ yards receiving this season, on a milk carton. The coverage all game was smothering. Herbert had nowhere to throw the ball.
Christian Gonzalez was his typical shut-down self in man coverage until his injury. That will bear watching this week as they prepare for the Texans.
Special Teams: A
The Patriots’ STs were excellent on Sunday night. The coverage units kept the Chargers under wraps while the return game was good.
Andy Borregales was 3-3 on his field goal attempts, the rookie has been solid all season long.
Coaches: A
Mike Vrabel and the coaching staff had the team ready to go. Vrabel has hit on all the vibes all season long. And got a bloody lip celebrating with Milton Williams after his sack sealed the deal for the Patriots.
Huge kudos to Zak Kuhr and the game plan he devised to dismantle the Chargers. This young Patriots team, with the sprinkling of veteran leadership, has been a different team since that Week 3 loss to the Steelers. And the coaching staff has them ready to go every week.
Josh McDaniels got things figured out, and the offense moved the ball well after halftime.
We’re on to the Texans and the Divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium. One quick thought about this game, which I’ll go into detail in today’s Patriots No Huddle podcast, is that the Houston defense is legit. They are excellent across the board.
They are so good, they just line up and say, “We do what we do, try to beat us.” And that is very reminiscent of those tough Steelers’ teams. But Josh McDaniels seemingly always had an answer for those “do what we do” teams.
It should be a very tough game, but by no means an unwinnable one. Execution trumps experience every time. Let’s go
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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)
HOU game is a tough one. I’ve had HOU as the best team in the AFC for awhile. There’s reasons aplenty to pick the pats or HOU. But you know, noone has talked of weather being a factor, with temps around 32 and an inch or more of snow showers in the mix. Does that throw off the southern dome team..?… HOU D and road game stats are solid. But in snow/cold? No data there. People are maybe over-reacting a tad on the HOU D. A little. Pitt offense is terrible and part of that. Also over-reacting to Stroud’s performance,… Read more »