Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats
The chargers vs new england patriots match player stats from the AFC Wild Card meeting provide a clear picture of why New England won 16-3 despite the game remaining competitive for much of the night. The Patriots combined 381 total yards with six sacks, 146 rushing yards, and 268 passing yards, while the Chargers managed only 207 total yards. Justin Herbert completed 19 of 31 passes for 159 yards without a touchdown or interception, while Drake Maye produced 268 passing yards and the game’s only touchdown pass. The numbers show a game decided less by explosive scoring and more by field position, efficiency, defensive pressure, and New England’s ability to make more of its limited scoring opportunities.
The game was played at Gillette Stadium during AFC Wild Card Weekend. The Chargers entered with an 11-6 regular-season record, while the Patriots finished 14-3. New England eventually controlled the contest 16-3, ending Los Angeles‘ postseason run.
For readers checking the official statistical record, the official NFL game statistics provide the complete team statistics.
Game Overview
The final score can make the game appear one-sided, but the statistical story is more interesting.
New England did not dominate through a huge number of possessions or an overwhelming passing volume. Instead, the Patriots won by consistently gaining more from each offensive opportunity.
| Team | Chargers | Patriots |
| Final Score | 3 | 16 |
| Total Yards | 207 | 381 |
| Passing Yards | 120 net | 235 net |
| Rushing Yards | 87 | 146 |
| Offensive Plays | 59 | 64 |
| Yards Per Play | 3.5 | 6.0 |
| First Downs | 17 | 19 |
| Third Down | 1/10 | 4/11 |
| Fourth Down | 1/3 | 1/1 |
| Sacks Allowed | 6 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 27:45 | 32:15 |
| Red Zone | 0/2 | 0/3 |
One of the most important observations is that neither team was highly efficient in the red zone. New England went 0-for-3 on red-zone opportunities, while Los Angeles went 0-for-2.
That means the Patriots did not win because they repeatedly finished drives with touchdowns.
They won because their offense generated substantially more yardage, their defense repeatedly disrupted Herbert, and their kicking game converted opportunities.
Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Quarterbacks
Quarterback performance was central to the outcome.
Justin Herbert finished with 19 completions on 31 attempts for 159 gross passing yards. He averaged 5.1 yards per attempt, threw no touchdowns, and did not throw an interception.
However, the six sacks suffered by Los Angeles changed the practical value of that passing production.
Justin Herbert
Herbert’s final passing line was:
| Statistic | Herbert |
| Completions | 19 |
| Attempts | 31 |
| Completion Rate | 61.3% |
| Passing Yards | 159 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 5.1 |
| Touchdowns | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Sacks | 6 |
| Sack Yards Lost | 39 |
| QBR | 28.0 |
| Passer Rating | 74.5 |
A 61.3% completion rate normally does not look disastrous.
The problem was efficiency.
Herbert’s passing output produced only 159 gross yards, and six sacks cost another 39 yards. The official team statistics therefore list Los Angeles with 120 net passing yards.
That distinction matters when evaluating a quarterback in a playoff game.
A quarterback can avoid interceptions and still have a poor statistical impact if the offense struggles to maintain drive efficiency. Herbert protected the ball through the air, but the Chargers could not consistently turn completed passes into sustained offensive production.
Drake Maye
Drake Maye delivered a more productive performance for New England.
| Statistic | Maye |
| Completions | 17 |
| Attempts | 29 |
| Completion Rate | 58.6% |
| Passing Yards | 268 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 9.2 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Sacks | 5 |
| Sack Yards Lost | 33 |
| QBR | 68.6 |
| Passer Rating | 86.6 |
Maye’s completion percentage was actually lower than Herbert’s.
Yet his average gain per attempt was dramatically higher.
That is one of the clearest examples of why completion percentage alone is not enough to analyze quarterback play.
Maye averaged 9.2 yards per attempt compared with Herbert’s 5.1. New England also produced 235 net passing yards compared with Los Angeles’ 120.
The biggest difference was downfield efficiency.
Maye connected on several meaningful plays that allowed New England to move the chains without needing long, sustained drives on every possession.
His late fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Hunter Henry was especially important. With the Patriots leading 9-3, Maye found Henry for a 28-yard touchdown, giving New England a two-score advantage and effectively ending Los Angeles’ comeback hopes.
The Passing Battle Tells the Story
The passing numbers are perhaps the easiest way to understand the final score.
New England’s passing offense produced:
- 268 gross yards
- 235 net yards
- 17 completions
- 9.2 yards per attempt
- 1 touchdown
- 1 interception
Los Angeles produced:
- 159 gross yards
- 120 net yards
- 19 completions
- 5.1 yards per attempt
- 0 touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
The Chargers completed two more passes than New England.
But the Patriots gained 109 more gross passing yards.
That difference came from the type of completions, not simply the number.
Los Angeles repeatedly relied on shorter gains. New England created bigger chunks of yardage, including several substantial receptions by its running backs and receivers.
This is a useful lesson when studying NFL player statistics. Volume and efficiency should always be considered together.
Chargers Rushing Performance
The Los Angeles rushing attack produced 87 yards on 22 attempts.
That worked out to 4.0 yards per carry.
Justin Herbert Leads the Chargers in Rushing
Herbert was surprisingly the Chargers’ leading rusher.
He finished with:
- 10 carries
- 57 rushing yards
- 5.7 yards per carry
- 16-yard long
- 0 touchdowns
His rushing production represented a significant part of the Chargers’ total ground attack.
Kimani Vidal was next with 31 yards on 11 attempts.
| Chargers Rusher | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
| Justin Herbert | 10 | 57 | 5.7 | 16 | 0 |
| Kimani Vidal | 11 | 31 | 2.8 | 10 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | -1 | 0 |
| Team | 22 | 87 | 4.0 | 16 | 0 |
The numbers reveal an uncomfortable issue for Los Angeles.
The quarterback was the team’s most productive runner, while the conventional rushing attack struggled to create consistent yardage.
That placed additional pressure on Herbert to create plays himself.
Patriots Rushing Performance
New England was more effective on the ground.
The Patriots finished with 146 rushing yards on 29 attempts for a 5.0-yard average.
| Patriots Rusher | Carries | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
| Drake Maye | 10 | 66 | 6.6 | 37 | 0 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 10 | 53 | 5.3 | 13 | 0 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 9 | 27 | 3.0 | 15 | 0 |
| Team | 29 | 146 | 5.0 | 37 | 0 |
Maye again stands out.
His 66 rushing yards included a 37-yard run, and he averaged 6.6 yards per carry.
That rushing threat made it harder for Los Angeles to focus entirely on New England’s running backs.
Rhamondre Stevenson was also effective, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
The Patriots therefore had multiple ways to gain ground without depending entirely on their quarterback’s arm.
Receiving Leaders
The receiving statistics show another major contrast.
Los Angeles completed 19 passes for 159 yards, while New England completed 17 passes for 268 yards.
Chargers Receiving Leaders
Ladd McConkey led Los Angeles in receiving yardage.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Targets |
| Ladd McConkey | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| Oronde Gadsden | 3 | 30 | 10.0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Keenan Allen | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 0 | 10 | 8 |
| Kimani Vidal | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| Tre’ Harris | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| Quentin Johnston | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 9 | 6 |
| Tucker Fisk | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
McConkey’s 32 yards were enough to lead the team, but that number illustrates how difficult it was for Los Angeles to create a true receiving breakthrough.
No Chargers receiver reached 40 yards.
Keenan Allen received eight targets, the highest total among the listed Chargers receivers, but finished with only 25 yards.
That gap between opportunity and production is important.
Allen was involved in the passing game, but Los Angeles could not consistently turn those targets into meaningful yardage.
Patriots Receiving Leaders
New England’s receiving distribution was far more productive.
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Targets |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 3 | 75 | 25.0 | 0 | 48 | 4 |
| Kayshon Boutte | 4 | 66 | 16.5 | 0 | 42 | 4 |
| Hunter Henry | 3 | 64 | 21.3 | 1 | 28 | 5 |
| Efton Chism III | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Stefon Diggs | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 | 9 | 5 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Jack Westover | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Kyle Williams | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| DeMario Douglas | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
The Patriots’ receiving production was spread across several players, but three players were especially important.
Rhamondre Stevenson gained 75 receiving yards.
Kayshon Boutte added 66 yards.
Hunter Henry contributed 64 yards and scored the only touchdown of the game.
Together, those three players accounted for 205 receiving yards.
That is more than the entire Chargers passing offense produced.
Rhamondre Stevenson Was a Major Mismatch
One of the most interesting elements of the game was Stevenson’s receiving production.
He caught only three passes, but those receptions produced 75 yards.
His 25.0-yard average was the highest receiving average among Patriots players with multiple catches.
That suggests the Chargers defense had difficulty controlling New England’s backs when they were used in the passing game.
The 48-yard reception was particularly valuable because it created a major chunk of field position without requiring the Patriots to complete multiple short passes.
This is an important analytical point.
A running back’s value in modern NFL offenses cannot be judged only by rushing statistics.
Stevenson’s 53 rushing yards and 75 receiving yards gave him 128 total yards from scrimmage.
That made him one of the most influential offensive players in the game.
Hunter Henry Delivered the Decisive Play
Hunter Henry’s numbers were efficient rather than voluminous.
He caught three passes for 64 yards, averaging 21.3 yards per reception.
Most importantly, one of those receptions became the game’s only touchdown.
The 28-yard touchdown came with New England ahead 9-3 in the fourth quarter.
That play changed the strategic situation completely.
Before the touchdown, Los Angeles was one possession away from making the game extremely uncomfortable for New England.
After it, the Chargers needed two scores.
That is why player statistics should always be connected to game context.
A 28-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter can carry more practical importance than several catches accumulated earlier in a game.
Defensive Player Statistics
The defensive numbers were equally important.
Los Angeles recorded:
- 62 total tackles
- 38 solo tackles
- 5 sacks
- 7 tackles for loss
- 2 passes defended
- 5 quarterback hits
New England recorded:
- 70 total tackles
- 36 solo tackles
- 6 sacks
- 6 tackles for loss
- 5 passes defended
- 11 quarterback hits
The Patriots therefore generated more quarterback pressure.
That difference is critical because Herbert was already operating with limited offensive support.
Chargers Defensive Leaders
Daiyan Henley led Los Angeles with 13 tackles, including nine solo tackles.
Odafe Oweh produced three sacks.
Tuli Tuipulotu recorded one sack, while Da’Shawn Hand added another.
Henley also recorded an interception.
The Chargers defense therefore did enough to prevent New England from turning the game into a high-scoring offensive showcase.
But the defense spent too much time defending after the offense struggled to sustain drives.
Patriots Defensive Leaders
Craig Woodson led New England with 11 tackles, including seven solo tackles.
The Patriots’ biggest statistical advantage came from their pass rush.
Robert Spillane recorded two sacks.
Milton Williams recorded two sacks.
K’Lavon Chaisson recorded two sacks.
That gave New England six sacks from three players.
The Patriots also recorded 11 quarterback hits.
That pressure prevented Herbert from operating comfortably and helped force the Chargers into repeated difficult down-and-distance situations.
Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Defensive Comparison
The defensive comparison is revealing.
| Category | Chargers | Patriots |
| Total Tackles | 62 | 70 |
| Solo Tackles | 38 | 36 |
| Sacks | 5 | 6 |
| Tackles for Loss | 7 | 6 |
| Passes Defended | 2 | 5 |
| QB Hits | 5 | 11 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
Los Angeles actually produced the game’s only interception.
Yet New England’s defense was more disruptive overall.
That is because quarterback pressure was sustained throughout the game.
An interception is a major event, but pressure can affect several possessions without appearing as a turnover.
The Patriots’ 11 quarterback hits compared with five for Los Angeles are particularly telling.
Turnovers and Ball Security
Both teams lost one fumble.
Justin Herbert recorded two fumbles and lost one.
Drake Maye also recorded two fumbles and lost one.
Los Angeles additionally recorded an interception by Henley.
New England did not record an interception.
So the turnover totals favored Los Angeles slightly:
- Chargers: 1 interception gained, 1 fumble lost
- Patriots: 1 interception thrown, 1 fumble lost
Yet New England still won comfortably.
This is another reason why the game cannot be explained by turnovers alone.
The Patriots compensated for their two turnovers by gaining substantially more yardage and controlling the efficiency battle.
Third Down Was a Major Difference
Third-down efficiency provides one of the clearest explanations for the final result.
Los Angeles converted only 1 of 10 third downs.
New England converted 4 of 11.
That means the Chargers converted just 10% of their third-down opportunities.
The Patriots converted 36.4%.
This had several consequences.
When Los Angeles failed on third down, drives ended.
When New England converted third downs, the Patriots extended possessions and forced the Chargers defense to remain on the field.
Third-down performance also connects directly to time of possession.
New England held the ball for 32:15.
Los Angeles had possession for 27:45.
That five-minute difference is not enormous by itself, but in a low-scoring playoff game it matters.
Why the Chargers Struggled to Score
The Chargers scored only three points.
Their scoring came from Cameron Dicker’s 21-yard field goal.
The offense failed to produce a touchdown and finished 0-for-2 in the red zone.
Several factors contributed.
1. Limited passing efficiency
Herbert completed 19 passes, but those completions generated only 159 gross yards.
2. Six sacks
The six sacks reduced net passing production and repeatedly put Los Angeles behind schedule.
3. Poor third-down conversion
A 1-for-10 third-down record made it difficult to sustain possessions.
4. Limited explosive receiving production
No Chargers receiver reached 40 yards.
5. Ineffective rushing support
The Chargers averaged 4.0 yards per carry, but only 87 total rushing yards were produced.
These issues reinforced each other.
- When the running game did not consistently create favorable situations, the Chargers needed Herbert to carry more of the offense.
- When Herbert faced pressure, the passing game became less efficient.
- When the passing game struggled, third-down conversions became harder.
That cycle explains much of the offensive frustration.
Why New England Won
New England’s victory was built around efficiency rather than spectacular scoring.
The Patriots:
- Gained 381 total yards.
- Produced 146 rushing yards.
- Generated 235 net passing yards.
- Averaged 6.0 yards per offensive play.
- Converted 4 of 11 third downs.
- Recorded six sacks.
- Produced 11 quarterback hits.
- Held the ball for 32:15.
- Received major contributions from multiple skill players.
- Scored the game’s only touchdown.
The most important number may be yards per play.
New England averaged 6.0 yards per offensive play.
Los Angeles averaged 3.5.
That 2.5-yard difference across 64 Patriots plays and 59 Chargers plays represents a substantial difference in offensive efficiency.
Special Teams Performance
Special teams also played an important role because the game was so low scoring.
Cameron Dicker converted his only field-goal attempt for Los Angeles, a 21-yard kick.
Andy Borregales converted all three of his field-goal attempts for New England.
His field goals came from:
- 23 yards
- 35 yards
- 39 yards
He also converted the extra point following Henry’s touchdown.
That gave Borregales 10 points.
Dicker supplied all three Chargers points.
In a 16-3 game, the kicking comparison is meaningful.
New England did not waste scoring opportunities from field-goal range.
Return Game
Derius Davis provided useful field position for Los Angeles.
He returned four kickoffs for 100 yards, averaging 25.0 yards per return.
Jaret Patterson added one return for 28 yards.
New England’s Efton Chism III returned two kickoffs for 48 yards.
Marcus Jones recorded two punt returns for two yards.
The Chargers had the stronger individual kickoff-return total, but those gains did not translate into enough offensive scoring.
That distinction is important.
Good field-position statistics only matter when the offense can capitalize on them.
A Closer Look at Total Offensive Production
The 174-yard difference in total offense is the most striking team statistic.
New England:
381 total yards
Los Angeles:
207 total yards
That means the Patriots produced 84% more total offense than the Chargers.
The difference was spread across both phases.
Passing difference
New England produced 235 net passing yards.
Los Angeles produced 120.
Difference: 115 yards
Rushing difference
New England produced 146 rushing yards.
Los Angeles produced 87.
Difference: 59 yards
Combined difference:
174 total yards
This is why the final score was not simply a case of one or two lucky plays.
New England consistently gained more ground.
What the Stats Say About Justin Herbert’s Performance
It would be inaccurate to describe Herbert’s performance as a turnover disaster.
- He threw zero interceptions.
- He completed 19 passes.
- He also rushed for 57 yards.
But playoff quarterback evaluation requires more than avoiding mistakes.
Herbert’s 74.5 passer rating and 28.0 QBR reflected an offense that struggled to generate efficient production.
Six sacks were especially damaging.
The Chargers needed more explosive completions and more successful third-down possessions.
Instead, Herbert frequently had to operate in unfavorable situations.
The final statistics therefore show a quarterback who protected the football through the air but could not generate enough offense against a highly disruptive Patriots defense.
What the Stats Say About Drake Maye
Maye’s performance was more productive, although it was not flawless.
He threw one interception and lost one fumble.
His completion percentage was below Herbert’s.
Yet Maye generated 268 passing yards and 66 rushing yards.
That gave him 334 yards of combined passing and rushing production before considering any adjustments for sacks.
His ability to create yards with his legs was particularly useful.
The 37-yard run demonstrated how dangerous he could be when the defense lost containment.
Most importantly, Maye made the decisive fourth-quarter throw to Henry.
That is the kind of moment that can define a playoff performance.
The Importance of Explosive Plays
The game also demonstrates the value of explosive gains.
New England had several significant plays:
- Stevenson’s 48-yard reception
- Boutte’s 42-yard reception
- Maye’s 37-yard run
- Henry’s 28-yard touchdown
Los Angeles did not generate a comparable group of explosive offensive plays.
The Chargers’ longest listed reception was 20 yards.
Their longest rush was Herbert’s 16-yard run.
That difference matters because explosive plays reduce the number of snaps required to reach scoring range.
New England repeatedly gained large chunks.
Los Angeles generally had to build drives piece by piece.
Against a strong defense, that becomes difficult.
What Can Be Learned From the Box Score
The biggest lesson is that a box score becomes useful when individual statistics are connected.
Looking only at Herbert’s 19 completions might suggest reasonable quarterback production.
Looking only at Maye’s 17 completions might suggest that he was less accurate.
But adding yards per attempt, sacks, rushing production, third-down performance, and receiving explosiveness changes the interpretation.
Similarly, looking only at turnovers could make the game appear relatively balanced.
It was not.
New England’s ability to generate more yards per play and more quarterback pressure created a much stronger overall statistical profile.
Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Biggest Takeaways
Several individual performances stand above the rest.
Offensive standout: Drake Maye
Maye produced 268 passing yards, 66 rushing yards, and the game’s only touchdown pass.
Receiving standout: Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson totaled 128 yards from scrimmage, including 75 receiving yards.
Touchdown impact: Hunter Henry
Henry caught three passes for 64 yards and scored the decisive 28-yard touchdown.
Defensive standout for Los Angeles: Daiyan Henley
Henley led the Chargers with 13 tackles and also recorded an interception.
Pass-rush standout for Los Angeles: Odafe Oweh
Oweh recorded three sacks.
Pass-rush group for New England
Spillane, Williams, and Chaisson each recorded two sacks.
Special teams standout: Andy Borregales
Borregales made all three field-goal attempts and the extra point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Chargers vs Patriots playoff game?
The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
How many passing yards did Justin Herbert have?
Justin Herbert completed 19 of 31 passes for 159 passing yards. He threw no touchdowns and no interceptions.
How many passing yards did Drake Maye have?
Drake Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Who was the leading receiver for New England?
Rhamondre Stevenson led the Patriots with 75 receiving yards on three receptions. Kayshon Boutte had 66 receiving yards, while Hunter Henry had 64 yards and the only receiving touchdown.
Who led the Chargers in rushing?
Justin Herbert led Los Angeles with 57 rushing yards on 10 carries.
How many sacks did the Patriots record?
New England recorded six sacks. Robert Spillane, Milton Williams, and K’Lavon Chaisson each recorded two.
Conclusion
The chargers vs new england patriots match player stats show a game in which New England won through superior overall efficiency rather than overwhelming scoring volume.
The Patriots gained 381 total yards compared with 207 for Los Angeles. They averaged 6.0 yards per play, rushed for 146 yards, produced 235 net passing yards, and recorded six sacks. Their defense also generated 11 quarterback hits.
Drake Maye was productive both as a passer and runner, while Rhamondre Stevenson created major problems as a dual-threat offensive weapon. Hunter Henry supplied the decisive touchdown, and Andy Borregales converted every field-goal opportunity.
For Los Angeles, Justin Herbert avoided an interception and contributed 57 rushing yards, but the offense could not overcome six sacks, a 1-for-10 third-down rate, limited receiving production, and the absence of a touchdown.
The most revealing statistic is probably the 174-yard difference in total offense. It captures the central story of the game. New England consistently gained more from its possessions, created more explosive plays, pressured the quarterback more effectively, and eventually produced the one touchdown that separated the teams.
In a playoff game where every possession carries greater weight, those small advantages accumulated into a decisive 16-3 result.
