Silence the Doubters: Will the Chargers or Patriots Advance to the NFL Divisional Round?
All season long, the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots had something to prove from the get-go. Both teams want to silence their doubters and show they’re a much bigger threat than everyone else thinks. For Los Angeles, they want to show their fans and the rest of the NFL they’re not a first-round exit team this season and can compete with an AFC West rival, plus the first seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos, and other threats like the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. Yet, for New England, they’ve improved 10 wins from a season ago. They want to prove it wasn’t an “easy” schedule that got them to 14 wins, get rid of the “frauds” headline away from their name, and they can compete with the AFC’s top teams. This matchup is highlighted by both teams’ quarterbacks and will be a battle of who has the better offense. A win in the Wild Card for the Chargers would put them in the Divisional Round matchup with the Broncos; however, the Patriots’ potential opponent is still a mystery, as if the Pats win and the Bills also win, Buffalo will play Denver. Yet, if Jacksonville and New England win, they’ll face each other in the Divisional Round.
The big question surrounding Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is whether he’s built for pressure in the playoffs. In the last three playoffs, the Chargers were eliminated from the Wild Card Round two times. Before Herbert, Los Angeles made it to the Divisional Round in 2018 before being eliminated by the Patriots, coincidentally. Herbert is still dealing with a fractured bone in his non-throwing hand. However, that shouldn’t stop the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. With many of his starters returning for the matchup after receiving rest in Week 18 against the Broncos, Los Angeles is ready to silence the doubters at all costs. One big question arises for Chargers running back Omarion Hampton, and whether he’ll play in this big-time playoff matchup. Unlike most of his offensive counterparts, Hampton has been dealing with an ankle injury. With 545 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in addition to his 192 receiving yards and receiving touchdown this season, Hampton’s presence will be important for the Chargers to get past the Patriots. Receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen will play a key role for their quarterback; one of these stars will need a breakout performance to exceed Los Angeles’ hopes to advance to the next round.
New England showcases quarterback Drake Maye with a multitude of options at his disposal. Whether it’s his running backs, receivers, or tight ends, any one of these guys could hugely impact the game. In their 38-10 win over the Miami Dolphins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson recorded 131 rushing yards with just seven carries with two rushing touchdowns, as well as two catches for 22 yards and a receiving touchdown. In different matchups across the regular season, Maye, as well as guys like Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, and TreVeyon Henderson, have influenced this offense, changing this team completely from just a year ago. There are questions about the Patriots’ defense, specifically with guys like Robert Spillane, Harold Landry, and Khyiris Tonga coming back into the fold after dealing with injuries. Yet, with other top guys on defense, such as Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams, and K'Lavon Chaisson, the Patriots should be ready to step up against the Chargers and silence the doubters. The Patriots’ 23-year-old quarterback has steadily kept his name in the MVP conversation all season long, and with leading a four-win team a season ago to 14 wins, plus leading the NFL with a 72% completion percentage. It’s time to determine, in his first taste of the NFL Playoffs, if Maye can sustain the pressure and take this team further than most expected.
This contest is expected to be a back-and-forth, offensive-style game that showcases these two teams’ offenses at the highest level. Besides the quarterback matchup, the matchup between McConkey and Gonzalez should be one to watch. If this is not an offensive barrage, it will be the Patriots’ defense leading the way. While the Chargers’ defense has multiple Pro Bowl players like Khalil Mack and Derwin James Jr., New England’s defense has played as a more consistent unit throughout the season, and potentially adding guys such as Spillane, Landry, and Tonga into the lineup only makes this defense a lot scarier to deal with.
Between these two teams, I firmly believe the New England Patriots have the upper hand, even with the inexperience coming into this matchup. They’ve been intact all season, with a few injuries here and there. Yet, those haven’t rattled this team, nor have their three losses, two of which came within the first three weeks of the season. Once they play an all-around tougher team like the Bills, Jaguars, and Broncos, I don’t see the Patriots’ Super Bowl dreams being pulled down just yet. If New England’s defense rattles Herbert and the Chargers, I say the Patriots come on top 24-13; however, if this becomes an offensive barrage as it very well could be, I still say New England comes out on top 35-31.
