In a 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs, Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter when the New England Patriots defense was giving Justin Herbert a hard time.
Andy Borregales made three field goals for the Patriots (15-3), who closed out the 2018 season with their first playoff win since winning the Super Bowl. They will host the winner of Monday night’s divisional round game between Pittsburgh and Houston.
In his first career playoff game, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the Chargers (11-7) were unable to capitalize on those turnovers.
New England held the Chargers to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six times, including one lost fumble that set up a Patriots TD.
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye earns first career playoff win
“How’s our defense? Congratulations to our defense,” May said. “What a night it was. So much fun to watch.”
This is the second year in a row that the Chargers have been eliminated in the wild card round. Herbert completed 19-of-31 for 159 yards and was the team’s leading rusher with 57 yards despite falling to 0-3 in the playoffs.
The last time the Chargers failed to score a TD in a playoff game was during the 2007 season, when they lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, 21-12.
Leader in statistics:
charger
Passing: Justin Herbert, 19/31, 159 yards, 0 TD Rushing: Justin Herbert, 10 carries, 57 yards Receiving: Rad McConkie, 3 catches, 32 yards
patriots
Passing: Drake Maye, 17/29, 268 yards, 1 TD, 1 rushing: Drake Maye, 10 carries, 66 yards. LaMondre Stephenson, 10 carries, 53 yards receiving: LaMondre Stephenson, 3 catches, 75 yards. Hunter Henry, 3 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
The Patriots drove into the red zone on their first possession of the third quarter, but the run ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oueh and Deshaun Hand recovered for the Chargers.
After Los Angeles punted, Maye connected with Keishon Butte and the Patriots went 42 yards to the Chargers’ 27, but New England made a 39-yard field goal to extend the lead to 9-3.
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Early in the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard pass to Boutte and a 13-yard burst from Rhamondre Stephenson to set up a precise 28-yard TD toss to Henry, giving the Patriots a 16-3 lead.
The Chargers started the ensuing drive with back-to-back first downs. But as Herbert dropped to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked Herbert and fell on a spill.
Los Angeles had one final possession, which ended when Herbert was sacked by Milton Williams on fourth down.
Watch every NFL Playoff and Super Bowl I game live from Levi’s Stadium on Sky Sports NFL.
