Those wondering how Mike Vrabel’s young team and quarterback would handle the pressure of a home playoff game in January got their answer on Sunday night.
The New England Patriots are advancing largely because of their defense’s ability to create relentless pressure on Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert. He was pressured 16 times, and that led to 11 QB hits, six sacks, and two forced fumbles.
And while it definitely wasn’t pretty at times, the Patriots are also advancing because of their own young QB, Drake Maye, who made enough plays in the second half under constant duress from the Chargers' front to salt away a 16-3 win inside a rocking Gillette Stadium.
There were plays Maye would love to have back, especially his pair of fumbles inside collapsing pockets, but he was able to use his legs and creativity to survive a 35.9 percent pressure rate from Los Angeles, and 14 pressures overall, per Pro Football Focus.
How did the Chargers go about applying that pressure? That's impossible for Vrabel and company to ignore as they enter the divisional round of these playoffs.
Patriots win ugly, as playoff pressure reveals both promise and problems
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was one of the best in the business in 2025, and it was painfully obvious where he felt the weakness in Maye’s protection was on Sunday night.
Los Angeles feasted on Maye’s blind side, often deploying multiple rushers on the left side against Patriots rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson.
It was a formula that limited the Patriots’ explosive offense to just six points in the first half. According to PFF, Campbell and Wilson combined to allow 11 of New England’s 14 QB pressures in the game, and all three sacks.
The #Patriots rookie left side of the offensive line is having a tough time tonight. Wilson has given up two sacks and Campbell allowed the strip sack.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) January 12, 2026
Rust could’ve been a factor. Campbell only played 24 snaps in Week 18 against the Dolphins, so this was his first full football game since injuring his knee in Week 12. Wilson missed time the past two weeks while recovering from a concussion.
To the credit of Maye, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and the Patriots, they adjusted and moved the football much better in the second half. One of the drives ended in a strip sack, though, and Wilson made one of the most underrated plays in the game when he pounced on another loose football in the fourth quarter.
It’s a blessing for New England’s pass-protection struggles to come in a playoff win, as the experience should serve the Patriots’ many first-year players well going forward.
But in an upcoming divisional round matchup with either Houston or Pittsburgh, the defensive fronts are only going to get tougher to handle from this point forward, and you can bet they’ll be copying the Chargers’ strategy until the Patriots prove they can handle it.