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19h ago

Patriots Host Chargers in Wild-Card Matchup Defined by Drake Maye vs. Derwin James

New England says it will keep its routine unchanged entering a zone-heavy defense built to erase deep shots.

Drake Maye
Drake Maye has carved up opposing zone coverages this season.
Stefon Diggs is one of the veteran leads on a young Patriots roster.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye scrambles up the field as Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) chases him during their Dec. 2024 game in Foxborough, Mass. The Chargers will try to limit Maye, who has evolved into a league MVP candidate in his second NFL season, when the teams square off in an AFC wild-card playoff game on Sunday night in Foxboro. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Overview

  • The AFC wild-card game kicks off Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium and airs on NBC, with No. 2 New England hosting No. 7 Los Angeles.
  • Second-year QB Drake Maye enters as an MVP candidate after 4,394 passing yards, 31 TDs and a league-best 72% completion rate, with elite efficiency on deep throws.
  • The Chargers’ defense under Jesse Minter ranks among the NFL’s best at limiting explosives and taking the ball away, and the plan stresses containing Maye’s scrambling and tackling him like a running back.
  • Patriots coaches and veterans are preaching consistency — encapsulated by Stefon Diggs’ “no new macaroni” mantra — with Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels keeping preparation on its regular rhythm.
  • New England has zeroed in on Derwin James as the matchup fulcrum, praising his versatility after a season with 94 tackles and three interceptions, and remembering his two sacks in a 40-7 Chargers win over the Patriots last year.