Overview
- New England hosts Los Angeles on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET after the Patriots secured the No. 2 seed and the Chargers entered as the No. 7 seed.
- Belichick, speaking on Sirius XM, highlighted Justin Herbert’s hand injury and offensive line issues as vulnerabilities if the Chargers must pass frequently.
- He added that a tight, run-supported game script could keep Los Angeles viable given its strong defense under Jim Harbaugh.
- NBC’s Devin McCourty said both sides see appeal in the matchup, noting New England’s limited pass rush against a Chargers front that has struggled in protection.
- Drake Maye enters his first playoff start after an MVP-caliber regular season, facing a talented Chargers defense that will test New England’s high-powered offense.