{"id":670318,"date":"2026-01-12T02:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T02:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/670318\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T02:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T02:38:15","slug":"chargers-vs-patriots-score-live-updates-justin-herbert-drake-maye-face-off-in-wild-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/670318\/","title":{"rendered":"Chargers vs. Patriots score, live updates: Justin Herbert, Drake Maye face off in wild card"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the first time the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots will face off in the postseason<\/a> since 2019, when Philip Rivers and Tom Brady were still leading these respective franchises. Now the Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 campaign and in head coach Mike Vrabel\u2019s first year, no less. The Chargers went 4-2 in their last six games but enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak.<\/p>\n

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has the Chargers in the playoffs in each of his first two seasons<\/a>, but this time they\u2019re looking to advance past the wild-card round, unlike last postseason. The Chargers haven\u2019t advanced past the wild-card round since the 2018-19 postseason, and it won\u2019t be easy to do against the fourth-best scoring defense in the NFL. Quarterback Justin Herbert is 0-2 in the playoffs and has completed just 52% of his passes. He\u2019ll need a breakout performance for the Chargers to have a chance in New England.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

The Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time in four years, and they\u2019re viewed as a championship contender for the first time since Tom Brady exited the building following the 2019 season. Vrabel has come in and immediately turned this ship around from a team that won eight games in the previous two seasons combined to 14 in year one of his tenure. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is an MVP candidate<\/a>, and the team is ahead of schedule in its rebuild.<\/p>\n

Chargers-Patriots start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass.
TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock, NFL+<\/p>\n

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights, and more as Justin Herbert and the Chargers visit Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the wild-card round:<\/p>\n

Live20 updatesSun, January 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 6:34 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 6:33 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Patriots settled for another field goal there before halftime, so they\u2019ll enter the break up by three.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got a low scoring battle brewing in Foxborough so far in the final wild-card game of the night.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 6:29 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a 37-yard gain from Drake Maye, and the Patriots are suddenly in scoring position here before halftime.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 6:26 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The officials marked Justin Herbert short of the first down on a short third-and-one, but a review ended up giving the Chargers the first down anyways to keep their drive alive.<\/p>\n

But then, back-to-back sacks doomed them anyways. Williams got to Herbert first, and then Chaisson followed suit.<\/p>\n

The Patriots will get the ball back with about 40 seconds left in the half.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 6:12 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Chargers forced a quick stop there, but will now take over at their own 8 yard line after a perfect punt from the Patriots. They\u2019ll get the ball back with 3:23 left in the half.<\/p>\n

A score here would be huge, especially considering they\u2019ll get the ball back after halftime, too.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 6:03 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Chargers quickly made it down the field there, thanks in part to an early 20-yard pass to Ladd McConkey, and then opted to take the points this time. A 21-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker has tied the game back up.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:51 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Chargers came up with a huge defensive stand of their own there, but the Patriots opted to settle for the points this time. So they\u2019re up 3-0 after an easy 23-yard field goal.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:47 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

We\u2019re still scoreless tonight in Foxborough, but Drake Maye and the Patriots will be at the Chargers\u2019 11 yard line with a first down when we come back.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:44 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Pats tried to set up a trick play on third down, but Efton Chism couldn\u2019t throw it to a wide open Drake Maye on the right side of the field.<\/p>\n

But Maye found Kyle Williams on fourth down, so the drive continues.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:38 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

Well, that was a missed opportunity for the Chargers. The Patriots fended off three straight short runs from the Chargers, two of which came from Justin Herbert, and then forced an incompletion there on fourth down.<\/p>\n

Despite starting at the 10 yard line, the Chargers failed to get any points on the board. The Patriots survive, and will now take over at their own 2.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:34 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

Drake Maye had a pass tipped at the line, and Daiyan Henley was there waiting to come up with the huge interception.<\/p>\n

The Chargers are suddenly at the 10 yard line, poised to take the lead for the first time tonight.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:29 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Chargers\u2019 drive just stalled out too, and they took a delay of game penalty to set up a better punt.<\/p>\n

Nothing going for either team so far tonight. Drake Maye and the Patriots will come back out.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:21 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

Drake Maye picked up a quick first down, but was then immediately shut down by the Chargers defense. They came up with a huge sack on third down there to force a punt.<\/p>\n

So, here comes Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense for the first time tonight.<\/p>\n

\"RyanSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:17 PM PST<\/p>\n

Ryan Young<\/p>\n

The Patriots have received the opening kick, and this playoff edition of \u201cSunday Night Football\u201d in Foxborough is officially underway.<\/p>\n

\"KateSun, January 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM PST<\/p>\n

Kate Magdziuk<\/p>\n

It\u2019s almost time! The Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots are about to kick off live from Gillette Stadium at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on NBC, Peacock and NFL+.<\/p>\n

\"KateSun, January 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM PST<\/p>\n

Kate Magdziuk<\/p>\n

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford officially closed out the 2025 regular season as the favorite to win NFL MVP this season, narrowly ahead of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Stafford\u2019s odds sit at -190 on FanDuel Sportsbook<\/a>, while Maye sits at +155.<\/p>\n

Stafford \u2014 a three-time Pro Bowler \u2014 managed a career best 46 passing touchdowns in 2025, tossing a 7.7% touchdown rate, to exceed 4,700 passing yards for the fourth time in his career. He also edged out Maye for first-team All-Pro honors<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maye earned second-team All-Pro honors.<\/p>\n

\"KateSun, January 11, 2026 at 4:15 PM PST<\/p>\n

Kate Magdziuk<\/p>\n

\"CrissSun, January 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM PST<\/p>\n

Criss Partee<\/p>\n

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, linebacker Harold Landry, and tackle Thayer Munford are all active for Sunday\u2019s wild card game against the Los Angeles Chargers.<\/p>\n

\"KateSun, January 11, 2026 at 3:47 PM PST<\/p>\n

Kate Magdziuk<\/p>\n

With less than 90 minutes remaining until the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots kick off in the wild card, each team has announced its inactives for gameday.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look:<\/p>\n

Chargers inactivesPatriots inactives<\/p>\n

QB Tommy DeVito (Emergency 3rd QB)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is the first time the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots will face off in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":670319,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2050],"tags":[833,7,1012,1159,262,838,1167,249,2326,2094,6,208,3725,1369],"class_list":{"0":"post-670318","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-england-patriots","8":"tag-drake-maye","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-jim-harbaugh","11":"tag-justin-herbert","12":"tag-los-angeles-chargers","13":"tag-mike-vrabel","14":"tag-new-england","15":"tag-new-england-patriots","16":"tag-newengland","17":"tag-newenglandpatriots","18":"tag-nfl","19":"tag-patriots","20":"tag-philip-rivers","21":"tag-tom-brady"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115879812820374722","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670318\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/670319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}