Patriots links 1/12/26: Defense headlocks, noogies Chargers into submission

TEAM TALK

• Post Game Notes, Patriots-Chargers: Pats advance to 22nd Divisional playoff game, improve to 4-1 vs. Chargers in the postseason; Pats register six sacks vs. Chargers; hold opponent to just 3 points; More.
• Gamebook: Full Chargers at Patriots stats.
• Evan Lazar’s Game Observations: 8 takeaways from Sunday night’s Wild Card win. Play of the Game: Defense gets rolling with critical 4th-down stop in the Red Zone; More!
• Mike Dussault’s Rapid Recap: Chargers make Patriots earn every yard; More!
• Post Game Quotes: Patriots and Chargers.
• Post Game Pressers: Mike Vrabel – Drake Maye – Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, Rhamondre Stevenson, Will Campbell, Robert Spillane, K’Lavon Chaisson, Andy Borregales, Kyle Williams, Jaylinn Hawkins.
• Post Game Interview on NBC: Drake Maye and Hunter Henry.
• Locker Room Celebration: Inside the locker room after Wild Card win. (1.30 min. video)
• Highlights: Chargers at Patriots wild card playoffs. (6 min. video)
• Postgame Show: Full breakdown of Wild Card win over Chargers. (1 hour, 41 min.)

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan details how the Patriots defense bullied the Chargers into submission. Chaisson had sacked Herbert. Ponder had blasted him. Ellis had stolen the ball and ripped all hope from him and his offense on that play. But it was the entire Patriots’ defense that had put the Chargers in a headlock for three-plus quarters and finally choked them out.
• Zack Cox explains how Patriots defense manhandled the Chargers with ‘Violence and aggression.’
• Ethan Hurwitz spotlights how the Pats defense proved they’re elite against the Chargers.
• Steve Balestrieri recaps the Patriots defense smothering Justin Herbert and the Chargers 16-3.
• Mark Daniels writes the Chargers came into Gillette Stadium with more wins against playoff opponents and a better strength of schedule. They left with a loss. The Patriots proved people wrong last night.
• Mike D’Abate gives us his Pats-Chargers Takeaways: Drake Maye, defensive takeover. Maye completed 17-of-29 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown pass. while running for a team-high 66 yards; More.
• Mark Daniels shares 14 takeaways from the wild-card win. Defense starts fast, Offense starts slow; More!
• Alex Barth posts five takeaways from the Pats’ 16-3 postseason win. 1. Dominant defensive effort.
• Doug Kyed sorts through the best and worst to see what we learned from the 16-3 playoff win.
• Doug Kyed reports Drake Maye acknowledged his struggles vs. the Chargers, but he still showed his elite play with his touchdown pass to Hunter Henry.
• Chris Mason highlights Will Campbell after his playoff debut. “The stadium was electric tonight, best I’ve seen it since I’ve been here; shoutout to the defense, they kept us in it…” More.
• Zack Cox highlights Stefon Diggs’ passionate motivational speech ahead of yesterday’s game.
• Doug Kyed looks at how the Pats were rewarded in the playoffs by standing by Rhamondre Stevenson.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Albert Breer (SI) NFL Takeaways: Mike Vrabel’s Patriots vision takes center stage; Plus,...