Overview
- The AFC No. 2 seed New England Patriots will face the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 8 p.m.
- Head coach Mike Vrabel said the goal is to host games and compete for championships, not just qualify for the playoffs.
- Vrabel reported multiple players are sick, including two offensive linemen, and local coverage noted no new updates to the injury report.
- Players and coaches called for a tough home environment, echoing Vrabel’s past ‘viper’s den’ description and Will Campbell’s expectation of the loudest crowd of the year.
- The matchup marks New England’s first home playoff game since 2019, following a 2025 regular season in which the Patriots went 8-0 on the road and 6-3 at home.