One of the most unexpected aspects of the Patriots' big win over the Chargers on Sunday was the defense's absolute domination, particularly in the second half. The group had been relatively good throughout the season, but their inconsistency became an unfortunate part of their identity.
That was predicted to continue against Justin Herbert and the LA offense, only for the defense to play some of their best football when it mattered most. And within that impressive showing was an under-the-radar secret weapon of sorts that got him on the map ahead of next week's divisional round.
The undrafted linebacker, Elijah Ponder, has had an up-and-down tenure in New England so far, going into the 2025 season looking like an easy cut candidate. He managed to turn that around and make the 53-man roster, and now looks like a home run addition that can't continue to be overlooked.
The defense will certainly need him to replicate that kind of production next week when they face the STEELERS OR TEXANS on Sunday.
Elijah Ponder is becoming an integral part of the Patriots' defense in the playoffs
During a game headlined by the defense, with standout performances from Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, and Milton Williams, Elijah Ponder deserves to be in the same conversation when reflecting on the group's performance.
The rookie's speed off the line was particularly impressive, especially in the second half, when the pass rush finally came alive and brought the pressure to Justin Herbert in a way he wasn't expecting.
Per NextGenStats:
— Boorish (@Boorish_Sports) January 12, 2026
Ponder’s 0.83 Get-Off was the fastest Patriots edge defender last night.
For comparison, Harold Landry was 0.97
Ponder has a legit first step. It’s not consistently translating to the box score but I’m buying stock. https://t.co/oiwYquPC4R
They will need that same energy next week against a quarterback like AARON RODGERS OR CJ STROUD if they want a chance to win.
Ponder will be a vital part of being successful, particularly with Harold Landry and Robert Spillane still getting acclimated to being back on the field after missing several games. On top of that, it looks like they'll rely on Milton Williams on later downs, giving Ponder a big opportunity to step up earlier and make an impact.
This is his chance to earn an even bigger role moving forward, especially if they reach the AFC Championship game. He clearly has all the natural talent; it's just taken a bit longer to get there fully, but he is heating up at exactly the right time.