Patriots-Chargers Updates: Live Score, Highlights For Wild Card Matchup
It'll be a fun one at Gillette Stadium!
The 2025 NFL Playoffs will continue with its penultimate wild-card matchup coming between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
New England enters as a slight favorite, carrying their 14-3 regular season record to the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Los Angeles finished 11-6, which was good enough to finish as the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
NESN will have you covered all game long with live score updates, analysis and more!
FINAL SCORE: Patriots 16 – 3 Chargers
FINAL: The Patriots put things on ice with consecutive runs from TreVeyon Henderson — then victory formation.
1:55 (4Q): The Chargers couldn’t pull the rabbit out of their hat, essentially killing their own chances by substituting and allowing their opponent to not only do the same but also kill clock while on defense — though they did convert a 4th-and-9.
Williams put the game away with his second sack of the night.
5:39 (4Q): DISASTER. AVERTED.
Oweh almost did it again, knocking the ball loose from Maye and directly into the arms of offensive lineman Jared Wilson.
The Patriots were happy to punt.
8:08 (4Q): Herbert did his best to shoulder the load and respond, taking off early on the ensuing drive for for gains of 16 and 11 — he just couldn’t do it all himself.
K’Lavon Chaisson, Elijah Ponder and Christian Elliss combined to knock the ball loose and essentially end things with their unit’s first forced turnover of the postseason.
9:45 (4Q): TOUCHDOWN (NE)
The Patriots needed to kill clock and end the drive with points, and did exactly that with a gutsy performance to kickstart the fourth quarter.
Jack Westover and Kayshon Boutte made huge first-down catches that looked scary coming out of the hand. Maye fought out of a sack and scrambled to set up a second-and-short, which was converted by Stevenson. Hunter Henry then cashed in and finally got into. theend zone.
10:33 (4Q): Gonzalez (head) is questionable to return, according to the team.
14:01 (4Q): LA ended up punting just three plays later, thanks to a second-down pass deflection by Christian Gonzalez on Quentin Johnston and a brutal third-down drop by Keenan Allen.
The Chargers are 1-for-8 on third down one drive into the fourth quarter.
0:00 (3Q): It’s better to be lucky than good.
The Chargers nearly gave the game away with a Marcus Jones strip-sack of Justin Herbert, but the ball bounced directly into the arms of running back Kimani Vidal — who turned it into a first down and his club’s longest play of the second half. Herbert then used his legs to pick up another first down at the conclusion of the third quarter.
1:34 (3Q): FIELD GOAL (NE)
Hunter Henry helped his unit avoid disaster with a conversion on 3rd-and-13 from deep inside their own territory, before the biggest play of the day came on a honey hole shot to Kayshon Boutte.
New England couldn’t take advantage of another trip to the extended red area, with Maye missing a wide-open Austin Hooper in the end zone then throwing short of the sticks to DeMario Douglas.
Andy Borregales did his thing to push the lead to six, however.
5:10 (3Q): The Chargers spent the first two plays of their second second-half possession looking for bailouts, failing when targeting Christian Gonzalez but succeeding when they went to the other side of the field and targeted Carlton Davis III.
Davis was called for defensive pass interference, which pushed the ball out to the middle of the field — where the drive died a slow death following short runs from Kimani Vidal and and a Herbert throwaway in the face of Christian Barmore and Christian Elliss.
7:06 (3Q): The Patriots defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half.
Drake Maye and company took advantage, with Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry and Stefon Diggs taking advantage of a zone-heavy approach to march down into the red zone — which is when disaster struck.
Maye was stripped while looking to take a shot at the end zone, with Odafe Oweh knocking the ball loose and directly into the belly of Da’Shawn Hand.
15:00 (3Q): Carlton Davis III returned to the game following halftime.
HALFTIME: It’s just ugly sometimes…
The Patriots weren’t able to sustain drives offensively, especially due to the fact that they can’t push the ball down the field. New England averaged 6.7 yards per rushing attempt, however, and will likely start leaning more on the ground game if the score holds prior to its next possession.
Maye finished with 55 rushing yards, 95 passing yards and one interception in the first half. Stevenson and Henderson combined for just 32 total rushing yards, as opposed to 57 receiving yards.
Craig Woodson and Marcus Jones made some great plays in the running game, and both helped the defense get out of two first-and-goal situations allowing just three points.
0:02 (2Q): FIELD GOAL (NE)
MVP! MVP! MVP!
Maye earned his latest round of chants, picking up 37 yards on a wild scramble to set up a scoring opportunity just before halftime, which was cashed in following a 35-yard field goal by Borregales.
0:41 (2Q): The Chargers got the benefit of a generous spot on 3rd-and-1, keeping their chances at a double-dip alive. Herbert was tasked with getting his club into scoring position with 1:25 from the LA 28, though the drive stalled after an odd-looking sack by Milton Williams and a follow-up by K’Lavon Chaisson.
Williams probably should have been flagged for roughing the passer, but went unchecked.
2:00 (2Q): Carlton Davis III (toe) departed for the locker room before halftime, which is something we’ll be keeping an eye on.
3:23 (2Q): Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas showed up for the first time late in the first half, though the drive stalled out relatively quickly.
Bryce Baringer did a good job of pinning it deep, with Brenden Schooler and Jahlani Tavai downing his punt at the LA 8.
6:52 (2Q): FIELD GOAL (LAC)
Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen both moved the chains to push their club passed midfield. Kimani Vidal added another pair of first downs with his first two positive runs of the night, helping his club reach the red zone.
LA stalled out once again, however, forcing a game-tying field goal by Cameron Dicker.
13:32 (2Q): FIELD GOAL (NE)
The Patriots opened up the scoring with a 23-yard field goal from Andy Borregales.
Maye and Stevenson each had a couple chances at the end zone but were stopped short on their rushing attempts. The Chargers dropped eight into coverage on third down, forcing a throwaway and the field-goal attempt.
0:00 (1Q): *someone hit the David Andrews yelling “Mondreeeeeeeee” gif*
Stevenson opened up the third offensive drive of the game by taking a checkdown across midfield, before moving the chains again on an ensuing third-and-short.
Efton Chism III almost torched the drive with an outrageous overthrow on a trick play where he was targeting Maye, but got bailed out with a conversion on 4th-and-4. Chism then made up for his bad throw with a chain-moving catch that brought about the end of the first quarter — setting up 1st-and-10 from the LA 11.
5:12 (1Q): New England held defensively, getting the stop and keeping its opponent off the board despite being faced with first-and-goal!
Justin Herbert missed Keenan Allen in the front of the end zone on fourth down, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
7:03 (1Q): Yikes!
Maye was intercepted after making a bad decision to throw into traffic, with his dump off attempt being tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.
8:08 (1Q): The Chargers picked up first downs on their first and third plays from scrimmage, but saw the drive ultimately stall following a false start on rookie offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer. The Patriots brought pressure to force third-and-long, where they were able to tackle rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II short of the sticks and force a punt that was caught and downed at the NE 8.
12:23 (1Q): The Patriots moved the chains on their second offensive play of the game, but ultimately punted it away from midfield. Maye was sacked on 3rd-and-6 from his own 48, with the ensuing punt rolling into the end zone for a touchback.
Rhamondre Stevenson finished with carries of six and four yards. on the drive Stefon Diggs moved the chains with a seven-yard reception.
8:15 p.m. ET: The Chargers called tails during the pregame coin toss, and the coin landed on tails. The Patriots will receive the opening kickoff.
8:08 p.m. ET: Vince Wilfork is the first ever playoff “Keeper of the Light” at Gillette Stadium.
6:55 p.m. ET: New England and Los Angeles both released inactives list, with the former essentially returning to full strength.
6:26 p.m. ET: Chargers safety Derwin James wore his best vacation attire during his pregame walk around the field, rocking sunglasses, shorts and flip flops.
5:53 p.m. ET: Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has officially arrived for his first playoff start at Gillette Stadium.
5:23 p.m. ET: The Bruins, Red Sox and Celtics all showed their support ahead of a pivotal playoff run for New England.
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