The Patriots’ defense, playing their best game of the year, shut down the Chargers’ offense and QB Justin Herbert, leaving him battered and bruised by the game’s end, sacking him six times, with 11 QB hits, en route to a 16-3 win in the Wild Card playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots’ secondary, married along with that pass rush, showcased how good they can be, putting the LA pass catchers, three of whom (Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston) had over 700 yards receiving this season, on a milk carton.
Herbert was held to just 120 yards net passing, and 66 of those were on the final drive, when the Patriots were happy to give the Bolts the underneath stuff in a play for the ticking clock.