FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
The Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season, and for the first time since the Tom Brady era, they’re hosting a playoff game at Gillette Stadium. See up-to-the-minute updates from Foxborough here:
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Game time and weather
Kickoff for the game is set for 8:15 p.m.
Fans can expect partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s. There is a small chance of a brief passing snow shower during the game.
By the fourth quarter, temperatures could be in the lower half of the 30s.
How we got here
The Patriots, who are coming off a 14-3 regular season in quarterback Drake Maye’s second year in the NFL, will face the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6).
New England did not play the Chargers this season, but they were matched up with them in December 2024, a 40-7 loss. Maye did not play that entire game, finishing with just 117 yards and 1 touchdown.
What a difference a year makes. Since that game, the Pats have won 15 of their past 18 games, and Maye looks like the potential NFL MVP after completing 72% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. He also rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Los Angeles lost two straight games to end the season. They are led by QB Justin Herbert, who passed for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Injuries
For the Patriots, DL Khyiris Tonga is out with a foot injury and CB Alex Austin is out with a wrist injury. Los Angeles will be without WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring injury) and S Kendall Williamson (ankle injury).