Jan. 10, 2026Updated Jan. 11, 2026, 1:04 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
The LA Chargers (11-6) and New England Patriots<\/a> (14-3) meet Sunday for an AFC Wild Card playoff game. Kickoff at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (NBC \/ Peacock). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s<\/a> NFL odds around the Chargers vs. Patriots odds and make our expert NFL picks and predictions<\/a> for the best bets.<\/p>\n The Patriots lead the all-time series 27-17-2, including a 41-28 victory in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game on Jan. 13, 2019. These teams have met 4 times in the postseason, with the home team winning 3 times. That includes a 51-10 win by the San Diego Chargers<\/a> over the Boston Patriots in the AFL Championship Game on Jan. 5, 1964.<\/p>\n Patriots QB Drake Maye, an MVP candidate, completed 72.0% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 TDs and 8 INTs in the regular season, while also running for 450 yards and 4 TDs. He is making his first-career NFL postseason start.<\/p>\n Chargers QB Justin Herbert completed 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 TDs and 13 INTs in the regular season, and he was held out of the Week 18 game to rest. He’s been dealing with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand since Week 13, wearing a protective glove, but hasn’t missed any time due to the injury. Herbert has made 2 postseason starts in his career, completing just 52.0% of his attempts (39-of-75) for 515 yards, 2 TDs and 4 INTs. In his most recent playoff start, he threw for 242 yards, 1 TD and 4 INTs in a 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in an AFC Wild Card on Jan. 11, 2025.<\/p>\n The Chargers lost their final 2 games in the regular season, including a 20-16 setback at home in Week 17 as a 1.5-point favorite as the Under (38.5) cashed in Herbert’s last appearance. The Bolts are 2-5 against the spread (ATS) in the past 7 road games. The Under cashed in 3 of the past 4 road outings, too.<\/p>\n The Patriots closed on a high, winning and covering the final 3 games, with the Over going 5-0 in the final 5 outings. New England went 4-1 ATS in the final 5 contests, too.<\/p>\n Watch the NFL on Fubo!<\/a>Chargers at Patriots odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 7:52 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Moneyline (ML): Chargers +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Patriots -200 (bet $200 to win $100)Against the spread: Chargers +3.5 (-110) | Patriots -3.5 (-110)Over\/Under (O\/U): 45.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Chargers at Patriots key injuries<\/p>\n Chargers<\/p>\n OT Austin Deculus (oblique) questionableLB Bud Dupree (hamstring) questionableTE Tucker Fisk (ankle) questionableRB Omarion Hampton (ankle) questionableWR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) outDB Elijah Molden (hamstring) questionableLB Del’Shawn Phillips (hamstring) questionableS Kendall Williamson (ankle) out<\/p>\n Patriots<\/p>\n CB Alex Austin (wrist) questionableWR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) questionableLB Harold Landry III (knee) questionableOT Thayer Munford Jr. (knee) questionableDT Khyiris Tonga (foot) out<\/p>\n The Huddle<\/a> has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Subscribe now<\/a>!<\/p>\n SNF: Best Prop Bets<\/a>Chargers at Patriots picks and predictionsPrediction<\/p>\n Patriots 27, Chargers 16<\/p>\n The Patriots (-200) will cost you 2 times as much as your potential return, and that’s a little too expensive for a standalone wager. If you were to play New England as part of a multi-leg parlay, that would be perfectly OK to include it.<\/p>\n PASS a straight up play, however.<\/p>\n PATRIOTS -3.5 (-110) is worth a look.<\/p>\n While Maye is making his first NFL postseason start, and Herbert has 2 starts under his belt in the playoffs, experience isn’t everything. Herbert was a disaster in his most recent playoff start, and he was a little banged up down the stretch, albeit to his non-throwing hand. Maye is an MVP candidate, and he is at home, which will certainly help him get acclimated in the postseason.<\/p>\n It’s also tough for the Chargers going west to east, although the later start time will lessen the sting of the 3-hour difference. The last time the Bolts played in the Eastern Time Zone, they were boat-raced by the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-6 in Week 11. They’re 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS in the Eastern Time Zone this season, too, and 0-4 ATS in 4 games east of the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n UNDER 45.5 (-110) is the lean in this night game in Foxboro, but go lightly. The weather won’t be much of a factor with temperatures around freezing, but there will be partly cloudy conditions with only a 15% chance of precipitation with a slight breeze.<\/p>\n The Under went 2-2 in those 4 games for the Chargers east of the Mississippi, while going 3-1 in the past 4 road outings.<\/p>\n The Patriots cashed high in the final 5 games of the regular season, so proceed with caution, and the Over was 6-1 in the final 7 home outings.<\/p>\n New England should be decent on offense, but L.A. might struggle.<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow @danieledobish on\u00a0Twitter\/X<\/a>.\u00a0Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n Access more NFL coverage:<\/p>\n TheHuddle Fantasy Football<\/a> | BearsWire<\/a> | BengalsWire<\/a> | BillsWire<\/a> | BroncosWire<\/a> | BrownsWire<\/a> | BucsWire<\/a> | CardsWire<\/a> | ChargersWire<\/a> | ChiefsWire<\/a> | ColtsWire<\/a> | CommandersWire<\/a> | CowboysWire<\/a> | DolphinsWire<\/a> | EaglesWire<\/a> | FalconsWire<\/a> | GiantsWire<\/a> | JaguarsWire<\/a> | JetsWire<\/a> | LionsWire<\/a> | NinersWire<\/a> | PackersWire<\/a> | PanthersWire<\/a> | PatriotsWire<\/a> | RaidersWire<\/a> | RamsWire<\/a> | RavensWire<\/a> | SaintsWire<\/a> | SeahawksWire<\/a> | SteelersWire<\/a> | TexansWire<\/a> |\u00a0TitansWire<\/a> | VikingsWire<\/a> | DraftWire<\/a> | TouchdownWire<\/a> | ListWire<\/a><\/p>\n