The New England Patriots won a defensive battle on Sunday night against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. Fans may not have been treated to offensive fireworks, but the game still ended up being the largest margin of victory of the NFL’s wild card weekend so far.

Let’s get into our lessons learned from the Patriots’ first postseason win since Super Bowl LIII.

The defense steps up

The offense wasn’t at its best on Sunday, but it didn’t matter, because the defense stepped up and won the Patriots the game. When Drake Maye was intercepted at the 10-yard line on...

For much of the regular season, Drake Maye carried the New England Patriots to victory. In the wild card playoff round against the Los Angeles Chargers, however, others had to do the heavy lifting.

Celebrating a 16-3 victory at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night, the defense was the star of the show. Maye’s performance, meanwhile, was a mixed bag that included displays of his elite playmaking ability as well as some inaccurate passes and ball security concerns.

Unsurprisingly, the Pro Bowler stressed the need for improvement afterwards.

“Wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure, but this defense was so fun to watch,”...

The New England Patriots moved on to the divisional round on Sunday night. Taking down the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium, the team won its playoff opener with a final score of 16-3.

Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ wild card victory.

Winners

DT Milton Williams & ED K’Lavon Chaisson: Against a beat-up Chargers offensive line, the Patriots pass rush had the ability to take over Sunday night’s game. While it took a few series for them to heat up, the unit prevailed and ended the night pressuring Justin Herbert...

The New England Patriots put the clamps on the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round of the playoffs, surrendering only a field goal in a 16-3 victory on Sunday night. The defensive performance paved the way for that win, and it was one earned through relentless pressure and deception.

That combination, conducted from the sideline by defensive play caller Zak Kuhr, left the Chargers guessing throughout the night. And don’t just take it from us: they said so himself, according to linebacker Robert Spillane.

“Zak has been great all year. He keeps the dial spinning. He keeps offenses...

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye ran off the field to chants of “MVP! MVP! MVP!” on Sunday.

It’s safe to say that he didn’t play like one, though…

Maye, who turned the ball over twice and was one lucky bounce away from doing it a third time, deflected any and all credit following his first playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium.

“It wasn’t my best tonight, but hey, that’s why you have teammates — they picked me up tonight,” Maye said following the game, per team-provided video. “… I’ve got to be better.”

New England...

Head coach Mike Vrabel was on the visitors’ sideline the last time the New England Patriots hosted a playoff game.

He wasn’t on Sunday night as the AFC East champions outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers for a 16-3 win.

Here’s a glance back on the wild card at Gillette Stadium, six years removed from the previous, before sights set on the divisional round.

Maye rides the waves for first playoff win

A long line of Patriots awaited their NFL playoff debuts. Drake Maye stood at the front of it.

The 23-year-old quarterback completed 17-of-29 passes for 268 yards on...

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is on the board with his first playoff victory since returning to the franchise — but he isn’t satisfied.

Vrabel took his typical approach to the postgame media availability following Sunday’s wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, choosing to take the positives of the performance and intertwine them with points of emphasis moving forward.

“We turned the ball over far too many times, but what our defense was able to do early in the game… really set the tone for the rest of the game,” Vrabel said, per team-provided video. “It could...

The New England Patriots successfully defended their home turf in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. Hosting the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium, they celebrated a 16-3 victory to keep their season alive and advance to the divisional round.

Here is a Patriots-centric view at some of the key moments of the game.

Moment No. 1: Denied

The Patriots offense did not get off to the greatest start. After a punt on their first series, the second possession did not get any better: on the series’ second play, a Drake Maye pass intended for Austin Hooper...

The New England Patriots took care of business in their wild-card matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Who’s next?

It’ll remain to be seen, as they’re scheduled to host the winner of Monday’s matchup between the four-seed Pittsburgh Steelers and five-seed Houston Texans.

When?

NBC announced the matchup will take place on Sunday, Jan. 18.

It’s currently unknown what time that matchup will take place, though the options are 3 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET. The NFL announced dates for the other three contests, as well, with Saturday’s two games slated to take place at 4:30 p.m....

The New England Patriots keep checking boxes. After securing a division title and the right to host their first playoff game at Gillette Stadium in six years, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel took full advantage of the opportunity that presented itself agains the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round.

Led by their defense, the Patriots celebrated a 16-3 victory to advance to the divisional round. It was New England’s first victory in the postseason since Super Bowl LIII in February 2019.

Updated 2026 AFC playoff bracket

The Patriots’ game on Sunday night was the fifth...

The New England Patriots defense had some good moments in the first half of its wild card playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it also saw one of its starting members depart with an injury. In the second quarter, cornerback Carlton Davis left with what was later announced as a toe injury.

He is officially questionable to return to the game.

Filling his usual role as the Patriots’ starting outside cornerback opposite Pro Bowler Christian Gonzalez, Davis registered three tackles and a quarterback hit before leaving the game. That hit, coming on the Chargers’ final offensive possession of...

For the first time since 2019, the New England Patriots are set to host a playoff game at Gillette Stadium.

Following a 14-win season, the NFL’s No. 2 seed in the AFC will welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to Foxborough. In a matchup between two MVP-caliber quarterbacks, Justin Herbert will look for his first playoff win as Drake Maye makes his first career start in the postseason.

Follow along down below live from Gillette Stadium throughout Sunday night.

Live score: Patriots 0 : 0 Chargers

*Sunday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | Broadcast information...