What to Make Of the Patriots Wild Card Win Over the Chargers
In a Wild Card Round matchup where both teams looked to silence the doubters, the New England Patriots took care of business with a 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium. While this matchup could have ended in a scoring barrage, both teams’ defenses showed up and pressured each other’s quarterbacks, hoping to force a big play. New England’s 146 rushing yards, six sacks, and a recovered fumble really propel this Patriots team to a win in Foxborough. The Patriots will hope to continue their postseason success after securing their first playoff victory in nearly seven years, and quarterback Drake Maye will look to keep the MVP chants flowing. Monday night’s matchup between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers will decide who New England will play at home this upcoming week, with the rest of the Divisional Round shaped up.
Drake Maye Played Exceptionally Well in the Win
This game saw a fumble, an interception by Maye, with the Patriots quarterback being sacked five times. However, he did finish this win off, completing 17 of his 29 pass attempts, throwing 268 yards, and a touchdown while running the ball 10 times for 66 yards. The Chargers’ defense pressured Maye a ton in this matchup, with the MVP candidate either being sacked or forced to run the football for a gain of yardage. Even with a few mistakes in his first-ever NFL Playoff game, the 23-year-old quarterback looked poised and in control, doing whatever he could to get the job done. Maye has grown significantly from last season and proves it once again in his first NFL Playoff win.
Rhamondre Stevenson Was the Patriots MVP During This Win
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson played a big game for New England and looked like the team’s MVP during Sunday night’s win. Stevenson recorded 128 yards of total offense: 10 carries for 53 yards and had three catches for 75 yards. During the first quarter, he had a huge 48-yard reception. While the only touchdown scored in this game was from tight end Hunter Henry, the Patriots’ top running back had some key plays that led to multiple first downs. Even with Maye leading the Patriots in rushing yards, Stevenson’s impact on this game cannot be denied.
Patriots Defense Looked the Best It Has All Season
While you could argue that the Patriots’ defense played better games, those were against weaker opponents. With the defense stepping up in the team’s first playoff win in seven seasons against a Chargers team that was ready to prove themselves, this outing was quite possibly the best New England’s defense has looked. Defensive tackle Milton Williams and linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson combined for four of the Patriots’ six sacks. Cornerback Marcus Jones had a sack and a forced fumble in the win. The Patriots’ defense looked hungry on nearly every play. Questions have arisen about cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury. Hopefully, he’s able to suit up against either the Texans or Steelers.
