The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers by a 16-3 margin in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game.
It was a defensive battle that pitted two top-10 defenses against one another with the season on the line. The only touchdown in the game was a 28-yard pass from quarterback Drake Maye to tight end Hunter Henry that didn’t even come until the fourth quarter.
New England’s defense held the Chargers to only 207 total yards in the game. The defensive backfield’s coverage against Los Angeles’ receivers was suffocating throughout the night. On the ground, the Chargers were held to only 87 total yards.
They couldn’t get anything going on offense.
On the other hand, the Patriots had offensive opportunities that they failed to capitalize on throughout the game. Maye didn’t have his best game in his playoff debut, going 17-of-29 passing for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also had a strip sack fumble on a drive that made it all the way to the red zone.
Later in the game, he nearly gave up a second strip sack fumble, but the ball was recovered by rookie guard Jared Wilson. Those turnovers could have easily cost the Patriots the game, but that was never going to happen on a night where the defense had Herbert’s number.
Here’s what fans were saying after the victory:
Not too bad for a team that “didn’t play anyone” all season & would “lose in their first playoff game.” Go PATS! #NEPats
— Trent (@MCHSWKU) January 12, 2026
Build Milton Williams a statue
— P1 (@HoodiDubs) January 12, 2026
Fellow Patriots fans, let’s do something nice and start a phone chain to check in on all 27 Chargers fans to make sure they’re ok.
— Charles Edgar Cheeserton III (@SoxPatsFanInKC) January 12, 2026
Big dub in the chat to host another playoff game next weekend!
— Em 😎 (@Always_151) January 12, 2026
This was definitely worth staying up till 4am in the uk to watch GO PATS!!!
— Meryem Sarioglu 🇹🇷🏴🇵🇸 (@meryemsarioglu3) January 12, 2026
1st playoff win in 7 years!! What a season!
— Matt (@Matt41155) January 12, 2026
let’s gooo baby 3 more man
— bob truck (@TruckBon) January 12, 2026
all they kept telling me was first round exit
— koda (@kodamd22) January 12, 2026
Damn it feels good to be winning games in January again.
— ANGRYPUG (@ANGRYPUG) January 12, 2026
I’m sorry but our Defense tonight I applaud you, I wasn’t familiar with you lots game wow
— Steven (@UtdSteven) January 12, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Twitter reacts to Patriots’ first playoff win in seven years