FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry within the fourth quarter, and New England’s protection roughed up Justin Herbert because the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff recreation on Sunday night time.
Andy Borregales kicked three subject targets for the Patriots (15-3), who gained a playoff recreation for the primary time since their Tremendous Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night time’s recreation between Pittsburgh and Houston within the divisional spherical.
In his first profession playoff recreation, Maye accomplished 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards. He additionally threw an interception and misplaced a fumble, however the Chargers (11-7) couldn’t capitalize on these turnovers.
New England held the Chargers to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six instances, with a kind of leading to a misplaced fumble that arrange the Patriots’ TD.
“How about our protection, man? Congrats to the protection,” Maye stated. “What an evening. It was so enjoyable to look at.”
That is the second straight season through which the Chargers have misplaced within the wild-card spherical. Herbert completed 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his workforce’s main rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 within the playoffs.
The Chargers final failed to attain a TD in a playoff recreation of their 21-12 AFC championship recreation loss to the Patriots throughout the 2007 season.
The Patriots drove into the purple zone on their first possession of the third quarter, however the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De’Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.
After Los Angeles punted, Maye related on a move to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. However New England settled for a 39-yard subject purpose that stretched their result in 9-3.
Early within the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard move to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to arrange his exact 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in entrance 16-3.
The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. However when Herbert dropped again to move on the following play, linebacker Okay’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on unfastened ball.
Los Angeles had one closing possession, however it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Milton Williams on fourth down.
Patriots get 3 the laborious means
The opening quarter had numerous motion, however it took till early within the second quarter for the Patriots to finish a scoreless stalemate.
With New England pinned inside its personal 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a move supposed for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.
Los Angeles began with the ball on the Patriots 10 however was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a move to Keenan Allen.
The Patriots took over and received some respiratory room by way of a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.
13 performs and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales’ 23-yard subject purpose.
Accidents
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left within the first half with a toe damage however returned. … CB Christian Gonzalez left within the second half with a head damage.
Up subsequent
Chargers: Finish of season.
Patriots: Host both Houston or Pittsburgh subsequent Sunday.
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