Chargers Vs Patriots: Five Things To Watch For, Including If The Chargers Finally Make A Deep Playoff Run 

The Los Angeles Chargers’ entire season comes down to four quarters in their Wild Card game against the Patriots on Sunday night. Here’s what to watch for: 

Will Quarterback Justin Herbert Have To Be Superman? 

It’s no secret that Justin Herbert is the heart of this football team and frequently has taken it upon himself to try to make plays in critical moments this year. The number of quarterback scrambles alone (49) shows he’s not afraid to extend plays with his legs and put his body on the line to make the most of the drive.

It’s impossible to forget the most recent example of this in the game against the Texans, where he scrambled for 28 yards, even after a large hit from cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Herbert was also seen running against the Eagles, just a week after getting surgery on his non-throwing hand.

He may be relied upon too much in this next game because of the Chargers’ poor offensive line, but hopefully, the pressure of the big moment doesn’t get to him, so even if he does have to carry the team again, he’s able to play clean and continue to lead the Chargers to wins. 

Can The Chargers’ Pass Rush Limit Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye?

The Patriots currently rank third in the league according to Fox Sports in total offense, with 379.4 average offensive yards and 58 offensive touchdowns. They also rank fourth in passing offense (250.5 average passing yards) and second in scoring offense (28.8 average points scored).

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Maye has certainly developed into the franchise quarterback for this team over the course of this season, with a 90.1% Pro Football Focus (PFF) offense grade and a career high in passing touchdowns (31), with two fewer interceptions (eight) than the previous year.

He’s also third in rushing yardage for the team (450), and 422 of those yards have come from scrambles. Maye, like many of the quarterbacks that the Chargers have faced this year, is not afraid to make plays with his legs but also has accuracy through the air. So the Chargers have to be prepared to get to him quickly.

Maye is fourth on ESPN’s NFL Player Passing Stats when it comes to sacks, as he’s been sacked 47 times, just below Herbert, who’s been sacked 54. So during this next game, these Chargers’ pass rushers need to add to that sack total.

Players like edge rushers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, along with Odafe Oweh, can hopefully stop Maye from escaping the pocket or getting the ball off too quickly. And though the pass blocking has been good for the Patriots, with this elite pass rush unit in LA, the Chargers will likely find holes to exploit in New England’s offensive line.

Will The Chargers Be Able To Stop The Patriots’ Running Backs? 

The Patriots rank sixth in rushing offense with 128.9 average rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. Besides the rushes of Maye, the Patriots also have two running backs they’ve counted on this year in rookie TreVeyon Henderson and veteran Rhamondre Stevenson.

Stevenson, in particular, still managed to match his career-high rushing touchdown total (seven) from 2024, despite rushing for fewer yards (603). Henderson, meanwhile, has had a few games with multiple touchdowns, including two with triple rushing yardage.

I’ve talked a lot this season about the Chargers giving up explosive plays, especially when it comes to running backs, so the run defense has to be tight. Linebacker Daiyan Henley still leads the team in solo tackles (54) while safety Derwin James Jr. is close behind with 50. Both will be counted on as well as defensive lineman Teair Tart, who’s had some stops at critical moments, like when he helped to limit Eagles running back Saquon Barkley in Week 14.

The Chargers cannot allow any coverage breakdowns to make sure these New England backs don’t pull a Barkley and get runaway touchdowns or large chunks of yardage.

How The Chargers’ Offensive Line Holds 

Every week, the offensive line is a question mark because every week it’s a worry, especially now, as it concerns Herbert’s health in this next game and hopefully beyond if the Chargers manage to win.

Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer has been out with a hamstring injury, and as many starters were rested on Sunday against the Broncos, offensive lineman Austin Deculus stepped in at left tackle and struggled against the Broncos’ pass rush.

Things are looking up, though, as Salyer had a full practice on Wednesday, so he should be ready for Sunday, which is great, as he’s the best chance at left tackle.

The Patriots’ pass rush is not going to be easy, as linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson has reached a career high in sacks (7.5) and forced fumbles (two), while linebacker Harold Landry III has 8.5 sacks, and both are tied at 10 tackles for loss.

The offensive line was such an issue in the Chargers’ last Wild Card game against the Texans. Without offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, it’s going to be tough. Still, these depth pieces and players like offensive guards Zion Johnson and Mekhi Becton, and center Bradley Bozeman, just have to hold long enough to make sure Herbert can create some magic. 

Can The Chargers Finally Win A Playoff Game In the Herbert Era? 

The Chargers have yet to win any playoff games with Herbert as quarterback. And in each appearance with him, they’ve either been dominated like they were against the Texans or let the game slip away, as they did against the Jags in 2022.

Are the Chargers finally able to get over the hump and win? Considering all the adversity this team has faced, for them to silence the naysayers and make a deep playoff run would do a lot of good for the franchise.