FOXBORO — Countless MVP chants reigned down on quarterback Drake Maye in Sunday night’s 16-3playoff win over the Chargers, so that must make the Patriots’ defense the MVU. Because the defense, not the offense, was the most valuable unit in the wild-card round win.
Countless MVP chants reigned down on quarterback Drake Maye in Sunday night’s 16-3 playoff win over the Chargers, so that must make the Patriots’ defense the MVU.
Because the defense, not the offense, was the most valuable unit in the wild-card round win.
The defense put Justin Herbert in a blender, leaving him battered and bruised by the end of the fourth quarter. The Chargers quarterback, who is considered one of the top in the league, couldn’t get comfortable behind an offensive line that features backups at both tackle spots.
There were questions coming into Sunday night’s game about whether the Patriots’ pass rush could actually take advantage of the Chargers’ offensive line. The answer to that question Sunday night was an emphatic yes, and they were aided by an excellent secondary that shut down the Chargers’ wide receiver trio of Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston.
Maye didn’t look like himself early in the game against a stout Chargers defense, but he came around with a 17-of-29 performance with 268 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception, seven rushing attempts and 69 rushing yards.
The Patriots’ first offensive series started promisingly with a first-down completion to Stefon Diggs on the second play of the game. Ultimately, the Patriots were forced to punt after Maye took a third-down sack.
The Chargers were also forced to punt after a six-play, 28-yard drive. The Patriots were aided by a false start after a Chargers first down. The Chargers first showed they were going for it on fourth down but took a delay of game and punted instead.
The Patriots got the ball at their own 8-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Maye’s pass was tipped at the line by defensive lineman Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley. There was no harm, no foul, however. The defense forced a turnover on downs on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line with an all-out blitz.
The Patriots drove 93 yards down the field on 14 plays to set up a 23-yard field goal from Andy Borregales to get on the board first for a 3-0 lead.
