Introduction
Football fans want fast, accurate answers — not fluff. When the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots met twice in 2024–25, both games told a completely different story. The regular season game on December 28, 2024, belonged to the Chargers entirely. But the Wild Card playoff on January 11, 2026, flipped the script in stunning fashion. Here is the complete Chargers vs New England Patriots match player stats breakdown for both crucial games.
Game 1: Chargers vs Patriots Regular Season — December 28, 2024
The Los Angeles Chargers traveled to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, for a Week 17 matchup that carried serious playoff implications. They left with a dominant 40–7 victory. Justin Herbert took control from the very first possession and never let the Patriots recover.
Final Score: Los Angeles Chargers 40 — New England Patriots 7
- Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- Date: December 28, 2024
- Attendance: 64,628
- Weather: 4°C, Mostly Cloudy, SSW Wind
- Referee: John Hussey
This result secured the Chargers’ second playoff appearance in three seasons under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, while New England’s rookie quarterback Drake Maye faced one of his toughest afternoons of the season.
Game 1 Complete Passing Stats Table
| Player | Team | COMP | ATT | Yards | TD | INT | QB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | LAC | 26 | 38 | 281 | 3 | 0 | 116.2 |
| Drake Maye | NE | 12 | 22 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 84.8 |
Justin Herbert delivered the best passing performance between the two quarterbacks. He completed 68.4% of his throws, found three different receivers in the end zone, and was never intercepted. This was Herbert’s new season high for touchdown passes, breaking his previous mark of two.
Drake Maye showed patches of promise — he became the first rookie quarterback in Patriots franchise history to throw a touchdown pass in eight straight games — but he was sacked four times and fumbled the ball in a costly second-quarter sequence.
Game 1 Complete Rushing Stats Table
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | LAC | 19 | 76 | 4.0 | 1 |
| Antonio Gibson | LAC | 12 | 63 | 5.3 | 0 |
| Drake Maye | NE | — | — | — | — |
J.K. Dobbins set the tone on the ground with 76 yards and a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown. Antonio Gibson complemented him efficiently, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and making the Patriots’ defensive line pay on nearly every down. New England never generated a reliable ground attack, which compounded the pressure on Maye to make things happen through the air.
Game 1 Complete Receiving Stats Table
| Player | Team | REC | TGT | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladd McConkey | LAC | 8 | 10 | 94 | 11.8 | 2 |
| Derius Davis | LAC | — | — | 23 | — | 1 |
| DeMario Douglas | NE | 4 | 5 | 46 | 11.5 | 1 |
Ladd McConkey was the game’s most electrifying offensive player. The second-round rookie receiver caught 8 balls for 94 yards and scored twice — first on a 6-yard catch in the second quarter, then on a spectacular 40-yard strike in the third. With this game, McConkey also set a new Chargers rookie record for career catches, surpassing the mark set by Hall of Famer Keenan Allen back in 2013.
DeMario Douglas was the one bright spot for New England’s offense, snagging a 36-yard touchdown catch from Maye in the second quarter to briefly make it a 17–7 game.
Game 1 Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Breakdown
| Quarter | LAC | NE | Scoring Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 7 | 0 | D. Davis 23-yd TD pass from Herbert |
| Q2 | 17 | 7 | McConkey 6-yd TD; Douglas 36-yd TD (NE); Dicker 38-yd FG |
| Q3 | 30 | 7 | McConkey 40-yd TD; Dicker 41-yd FG |
| Q4 | 40 | 7 | Dobbins 2-yd rush TD; Dicker 35-yd FG |
| Final | 40 | 7 | — |
Game 1 Team Offensive Stats — Chargers vs Patriots
| Stat | Los Angeles Chargers | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 428 | 181 |
| Passing Yards | ~267 | 117 |
| Rushing Yards | ~161 | ~64 |
| First Downs | — | — |
| Sacks Allowed | 1 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 (1 fumble, tracked) |
| Time of Possession | 40+ minutes | ~20 minutes |
Los Angeles outgained New England 428–181 in total offense. The Chargers’ time of possession advantage — over 40 minutes compared to New England’s roughly 20 — wore down the Patriots defense and gave the Chargers offense time to build comfortable scoring drives all night.
Derwin James made headlines on the defensive side, recording two sacks — a new career high for the All-Pro safety.
Game 2: Chargers vs Patriots Wild Card Playoffs — January 11, 2026
Everything changed in January. The Patriots finished the 2025 regular season at 15–3 under new Head Coach Mike Vrabel, while the Chargers went 11–7 to earn a Wild Card seed. When the two teams met again at Gillette Stadium, New England’s defense made Justin Herbert’s night absolutely miserable, and Drake Maye delivered the decisive blow.
Final score: Los Angeles Chargers 3–New England Patriots 16
- Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- Date: January 11, 2026
- Round: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Game 2 Complete Quarterback Stats Table
| Player | Team | COMP | ATT | Yards | TD | INT | Rush Yards | Rush Carries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | NE | 17 | 29 | 268 | 1 | 1 | 66 | 10 |
| Justin Herbert | LAC | 19 | 31 | 159 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 10 |
Drake Maye He used his feet just as much as his arms to control the game.. His 66 rushing yards led both teams, and his 28-yard touchdown strike to tight end Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter put the game away. Maye’s passer rating wasn’t exceptional — he threw one interception and lost a fumble — but he made the one throw that mattered most.
Justin Herbert recorded just 159 passing yards against a New England defense that pressured him relentlessly. He was sacked six times and dropped to 0–3 in playoff appearances. Herbert also rushed for 57 yards — actually leading the Chargers in rushing himself — which tells you everything about how badly Los Angeles’ running game faltered on the biggest stage.
Game 2 Key Defensive Stats Table
| Stat | New England Patriots Defense | LA Chargers Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Total Sacks | 6 | 5 |
| Total Yards Allowed | 207 | — |
| Key Individual Sack Leaders | K’Lavon Chaisson (2), Milton Williams (2) | Odafe Oweh (3) |
| Forced Fumbles | 1 (K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sack) | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 (Daiyan Henley) | 1 |
The Patriots’ defensive performance ranked among the franchise’s finest playoff showings in recent years. K’Lavon Chaisson’s strip-sack of Herbert in the fourth quarter essentially ended the game. Milton Williams closed it out with a sack on fourth down with two minutes remaining. Odafe Oweh, acquired by New England in an October trade from the Baltimore Ravens, led the Chargers’ pass rush with three sacks of Maye — though it wasn’t enough.
Game 2 Key Skill Player Stats
| Player | Team | Position | Stat Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Henry | NE | TE | 28-yd TD reception (game-deciding score) |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | RB | 53 rush yds, 75 receiving yds |
| TreVeyon Henderson | NE | RB | Key pass block on TD play |
| Ladd McConkey | LAC | WR | 20-yd gain, limited overall |
| Keenan Allen | LAC | WR | Key missed catch near end of game |
| Kayshon Boutte | NE | WR | 42-yd gain to set up scoring drive |
Rhamondre Stevenson was arguably the most complete offensive player on the field. He combined 53 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards to carry the load for a Patriots offense that couldn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter. His 48-yard checkdown reception directly after the Chargers turned it over on downs in the first quarter kept New England’s first major drive alive.
Game 2 Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Breakdown
| Quarter | NE | LAC | Scoring Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 0 | 0 | No scoring — Patriots goal-line stand |
| Q2 | 6 | 3 | Borregales 23-yd FG (NE); Dicker 21-yd FG (LAC) |
| Q2 (late) | 6 | 3 | Borregales 2nd FG before half |
| Q3 | 9 | 3 | Borregales 39-yd FG (NE) |
| Q4 | 16 | 3 | Maye → Henry 28-yd TD; Williams sack seals it |
| Final | 16 | 3 | — |
Justin Herbert’s Playoff Record — A Growing Concern
The Chargers vs New England Patriots match player stats from the Wild Card game raised serious questions about Herbert as a postseason quarterback. After three playoff appearances, his record stands at 0–3 with no touchdown passes in the Wild Card loss.
| Playoff Game | Opponent | Herbert Passing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Wild Card | Jacksonville Jaguars | Led 27-0, collapsed | Loss 30–31 |
| 2023 Wild Card | Houston Texans | 4 INTs | Loss 12–32 |
| 2025 Wild Card | New England Patriots | 159 yds, 0 TDs | Loss 3–16 |
Each playoff loss carried a different storyline, but the common denominator remained. Herbert played the 2025 regular season with a broken left hand and dealt with a depleted offensive line — so the context matters. But the results don’t lie. When January comes, the Chargers haven’t found answers.
Drake Maye’s Rise: From Rebuild to Playoff Winner
What makes the Chargers vs New England Patriots match player stats from the Wild Card so fascinating is Drake Maye’s transformation in Year 2. The Patriots went 5–12 in his rookie season. In 2025, Maye threw for 4,397 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions, leading the NFL with a 113.2 passer rating.
Maye wasn’t perfect against Los Angeles. He lost a fumble, threw an interception, and missed a wide-open Austin Hooper for a potential touchdown. But he scrambled for 66 yards and delivered a game-winning pass under pressure. That combination of poise and athletic ability gave the Patriots something Herbert’s teams have never quite had in January.
Ladd McConkey — The Young Star Making History
No conversation about the chargers vs new england patriots match player stats is complete without highlighting Ladd McConkey. In the regular season game, the second-round receiver broke the Chargers’ all-time rookie receiving record previously held by Keenan Allen. He caught 8 balls, gained 94 yards, and scored twice.
Even in the playoff loss, McConkey remained Herbert’s most reliable target. His speed off the line and crisp route-running make him one of the more exciting young wide receivers in the AFC. With another full offseason, McConkey figures to be at the center of whatever the Chargers build next.
How New England’s Defense Beat the Chargers in Both Meetings
The defensive narrative shifted dramatically between games. In December, the Chargers’ offense rolled freely for 428 yards. By January, the Patriots’ pass rush sacked Herbert six times and forced the Chargers into just 207 total yards.
Here is what changed:
- Mike Vrabel’s scheme emphasized interior pressure through Milton Williams and situational edge rushers
- Odafe Oweh, fresh off a midseason trade from Baltimore, gave New England a pass-rusher with elite closing speed
- Coverage discipline kept Herbert holding the ball longer on each dropback — and the Patriots made him pay every time
- K’Lavon Chaisson’s strip-sack in the fourth quarter sealed the outcome the moment Herbert had a chance to mount a comeback
Herbert was pressured on 42.8% of his dropbacks during the 2025 regular season — the highest rate in the entire NFL — and was hit 129 times, also a league-worst figure. The Patriots studied the tape and exploited exactly what every other defense had already tried to do.
Head-to-Head Series Context: Chargers vs Patriots All-Time
The Chargers and Patriots have a long, layered history that stretches back decades. New England’s dynasty era under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady produced some of the most memorable Patriots-Chargers playoff encounters. Now the rivalry enters a fresh chapter with two young quarterbacks — Herbert and Maye — set to compete in the AFC for years.
- 2024 Season meetings: Chargers 40–7 regular season; Patriots 16–3 playoff
- Each team won one meeting in the same calendar year
- Herbert falls to 0–3 in playoffs; Maye wins his first playoff start
- New England advanced to the AFC Divisional Round; Chargers went home in January
6 FAQs: Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats
Q1: What was the final score of the Chargers vs Patriots regular season game on December 28, 2024?
The Los Angeles Chargers won 40–7 at Gillette Stadium. Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes, and Ladd McConkey caught two of them for 94 yards.
Q2: How did Justin Herbert perform in the 2025 AFC Wild Card game against the Patriots?
Herbert completed 19 of 31 passes for 159 yards, zero touchdowns, and was sacked six times. He also rushed for 57 yards as the Chargers’ leading ground gainer, but it wasn’t enough in a 16–3 loss.
Q3: What were Drake Maye’s stats in the Wild Card playoff win over the Chargers?
Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and one touchdown — a 28-yard strike to Hunter Henry. He also ran for 66 yards on 10 carries, leading both teams in rushing.
Q4: Who scored the game-winning touchdown in the Patriots vs Chargers Wild Card game?
Hunter Henry caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye in the fourth quarter to give New England a 16–3 lead. The score came with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Q5: How many times was Justin Herbert sacked in the Wild Card playoff game?
Herbert was sacked six times. K’Lavon Chaisson and Milton Williams each recorded two sacks, and a Chaisson strip-sack forced a critical fumble in the fourth quarter.
Q6: Did Ladd McConkey set any records in the Chargers vs Patriots matchups?
Yes. During the December 28 regular season game, McConkey broke the Chargers’ all-time rookie receiving record previously held by Keenan Allen, who caught 71 balls as a rookie in 2013.
Conclusion: Two Games, Two Completely Different Stories
The chargers vs new england patriots match player stats from 2024–25 show how quickly things change in the NFL. In December, the Chargers made the Patriots look like a team still searching for its identity. By January, New England’s defense transformed into a playoff-caliber unit that Herbert simply could not crack.
Justin Herbert’s regular season brilliance — playing through injuries, leading the Chargers to double-digit wins — deserves recognition. But the playoff picture remains his biggest challenge. Drake Maye, meanwhile, announced himself as a legitimate franchise cornerstone with a performance that was equal parts gritty and smart.
If you want to follow how these two teams shape up in the next season, bookmark this page — and drop your take in the comments. Who do you believe wins when these two quarterbacks meet again?
Sources:
- CBS Sports — Wild Card Game Recap: cbssports.com
- Sky Sports NFL — Chargers 16-3 Patriots Playoffs: skysports.com
- The Score — December 28, 2024 Box Score: thescore.com
- Patriots.com — Rapid Recap Wild Card Win: patriots.com
- Chargers.com — 5 Stats to Know Ahead of Wild Card: chargers.com
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