Chargers vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats: Two Games, Two Completely Different Stories

Same teams. Same stadium. Completely opposite outcomes. The Chargers vs New England Patriots match player stats from December 2024 and January 2026 tell one of the NFL’s most compelling back-to-back stories of the season. One game was a masterclass in offensive efficiency. The other was a defensive demolition that sent Los Angeles home in the Wild Card round.

Whether you’re breaking down fantasy football numbers, studying game-plan tendencies, or just a fan who wants to understand what actually happened — this deep-dive has everything you need.

Head-to-Head Results at a Glance

The swing between these two results is striking. The Chargers won by 33 in Foxborough. Two weeks later, the Patriots returned the favor on the same turf — this time with postseason stakes.

Side-by-Side Team Performance

The December numbers are almost comical in how lopsided they look. Los Angeles outgained New England by 247 yards and held the ball for more than twice as long. The playoff game was far tighter in terms of possession, but New England’s 174-yard total yardage advantage proved decisive.

Quarterback Battle: Justin Herbert vs Drake Maye

Justin Herbert: December Brilliance, January Struggle

Herbert’s December line was close to perfect. He completed 68% of his passes, threw three touchdowns, took zero sacks, and didn’t force a single ball into danger. That performance made him just the third quarterback in NFL history to post at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in each of his first five seasons — an elite company to be in.

The rematch was the polar opposite. With New England’s defensive front sending wave after wave of pressure, Herbert was sacked six times and hit on 11 separate occasions. He finished with 159 yards, no touchdowns, and a rhythm he never found from the first snap.

Drake Maye: Baptism by Fire, Then a Statement Game

Maye was roughed up in December. Khalil Mack got to him twice, the rest of the Chargers front added to the misery, and the rookie was pulled well before the final whistle. His 117-yard, four-sack afternoon was a tough learning experience.

In the playoffs, Maye looked like a different player. Behind a clean pocket, he delivered 268 passing yards, added 66 rushing yards on 10 carries, and managed the game like a seasoned veteran. Interestingly, his career numbers against the Chargers heading into that game — a 72.8 passer rating across four matchups, with five touchdowns and four interceptions — didn’t hint at what was coming. He saved his best for the biggest stage.

Ground Game: Who Controlled the Line of Scrimmage?

Los Angeles ran the ball with purpose in December. Dobbins carried 19 times for 76 yards while the offensive line opened consistent running lanes. That ground game was the backbone of a 40-minute possession performance.

Stevenson’s 53-yard showing in the playoff — on 10 carries at 5.3 per pop — was steady if unspectacular. He reached 3,000 career rushing yards during the 2024 season, cementing his status as the ninth Patriot to hit that milestone. For the Chargers, Vidal’s 31-yard effort on 11 carries reflected how thoroughly the New England defense had shut down every dimension of their offense.

Receiving Corps Breakdown

Ladd McConkey’s December Breakout

McConkey was the story of the December win. Eight catches, 94 yards, two touchdown grabs including a 40-yarder — and in doing so, he crossed 1,000 receiving yards for the season. That made him only the third rookie wideout in Chargers history to reach that mark. The way he won on short and intermediate routes showed exactly why Jim Harbaugh targeted him in the draft.

Derius Davis added a 23-yard touchdown reception to push the lead further, turning a comfortable win into a rout.

Hunter Henry Delivers When It Matters Most

In the playoff rematch, tight end Hunter Henry was the difference-maker. Three catches, 64 yards, and the game’s lone touchdown. On five targets, he found ways to get open against a secondary that was otherwise effective all night. Kayshon Boutte chipped in with four catches and 66 yards, while Stevenson was also a factor out of the backfield with 75 receiving yards on three grabs.

For the Chargers, Keenan Allen’s three-catch, 25-yard performance on eight targets summed up their offensive woes — opportunities were there, but execution wasn’t.

Defensive Stats: Where Games Were Won and Lost

Mack’s December dominance over Maye tied in with the Chargers’ broader defensive structure that held New England to 181 total yards — their joint-worst performance of the season. Mack has a habit of getting to Patriots quarterbacks specifically, having recorded two sacks against them during his 2023 season where he matched his career high of 15 sacks.

New England’s playoff defensive performance, however, deserves its own spotlight. Six sacks. Eleven quarterback hits. One forced fumble that directly created a touchdown. They made Herbert uncomfortable from the first possession and never let him settle. When you limit a quarterback of Herbert’s caliber to 159 yards with zero touchdowns, you’ve done something special.

Turnover Battle

The Chargers’ clean December performance — zero giveaways against a defense that was actively hunting the ball — was a big reason they controlled the game so thoroughly. Ball security allowed long drives to finish in scores rather than three-and-outs.

The playoff game was messier for both sides. Maye threw an interception and the Patriots lost a fumble, yet New England still won convincingly. That speaks to just how dominant their defensive performance was — they won despite turning the ball over twice.

Third Down Efficiency: The Hidden Story

Third down conversion rate often tells you more about a game than any other single stat. In December, the Chargers were nearly automatic on third down — converting 59% of attempts and sustaining the kind of drives that drain a defense’s will to compete.

The playoff reversal is stark. One conversion from ten chances. That 10% rate meant the Chargers’ offense was constantly punting, keeping their defense on the field and letting the Patriots dictate tempo. No team wins consistently at 1-for-10 on third down, and Los Angeles paid the full price.

Time of Possession: The Clock as a Weapon

The Chargers held the ball for over 40 minutes in December — running 67 total offensive plays to New England’s 44. That gap isn’t just a stat; it’s a reflection of complete offensive execution and a defense that kept getting stops.

In the playoff game, both offenses moved quickly, and the possession split was relatively balanced. Los Angeles ran 59 plays, New England 64. The difference came down to what happened on those plays rather than how many there were.

Red Zone and Special Teams

Both teams went scoreless in red zone touchdown attempts during the playoff game, settling for field goals on each visit inside the 20. That trend ultimately hurt the Chargers more, as their lone scoring opportunity in field goal range left them perpetually trailing.

Cameron Dicker handled kicking duties for Los Angeles across both matchups without any critical misses. Joey Slye connected on his only extra point attempt for New England in December.

The most notable special teams play came in the December game — a Derius Davis kickoff return of 20 yards that was negated by an offensive holding call, which dampened a potential momentum shift.

What These Numbers Actually Tell You

For the Chargers: The playoff loss exposed a very real vulnerability. When Herbert faces a consistent pass rush, this offense stalls completely. The line that was impenetrable in December was overwhelmed just weeks later. Fixing that inconsistency is now the off-season priority if Los Angeles intends to make a deeper playoff run.

For the Patriots: This victory was a statement about identity. Mike Vrabel’s defense showed it could neutralize one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks when the game mattered most. New England bent on yardage but never broke when points were on the line. That’s the hallmark of a well-coached unit.

For the broader picture: These two games are a reminder that NFL parity is real. A team that wins by 33 in December can lose by 13 in January. Game-plan execution, matchup-specific preparation, and situational football matter far more than regular-season records would suggest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Chargers vs Patriots playoff game in January 2026?

The New England Patriots won 16–3 in the AFC Wild Card round at Gillette Stadium. The Chargers managed only a single field goal while New England scored a touchdown and three field goals.

What were Justin Herbert’s stats in the December 2024 Chargers vs Patriots game?

Herbert completed 26 of 38 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions, posting a 116.2 passer rating. He was also never sacked.

How many sacks did the Patriots record in the 2026 playoff game against the Chargers?

New England sacked Herbert six times and registered 11 quarterback hits. One sack directly forced a fumble that led to the only touchdown of the game.

Who was the leading receiver in the 2026 Chargers vs Patriots playoff game?

Kayshon Boutte topped all receivers with four catches for 66 yards. Hunter Henry added three grabs for 64 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

When did the Chargers last beat the Patriots before the 2026 playoff loss?

The Chargers beat the Patriots 40–7 on December 28, 2024, at Gillette Stadium — the same venue where they would lose their playoff game.

What is Drake Maye’s career record against the Chargers?

Heading into the 2026 playoff game, Maye had a 72.8 career passer rating against Los Angeles across four games, with 925 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Final Verdict

The Chargers vs New England Patriots match player stats from these two games are a study in how quickly momentum and matchups can flip in professional football. December 2024 belonged entirely to Los Angeles — from Herbert’s surgically clean performance to McConkey’s 1,000-yard milestone to a defense that made Maye miserable. From a defensive front that made Herbert’s life a nightmare to Henry’s crucial touchdown grab, January 2026 was all New England’s.

Bookmark this breakdown and revisit it when these two teams meet again. The numbers never lie, and this rivalry has proven it always delivers something worth analyzing.