Patriots: Drake Maye -- "I didn't throw very well. Need to be better"

Drake Maye acknowledged that his individual performance left room for improvement in the Patriots’ 16–3 wild-card win over the Chargers, openly crediting New England’s defense for carrying the day. Although he threw for 268 yards with a touchdown, he also had an interception and two fumbles (one lost), and he struggled badly in the first half, completing just 40 percent of his passes and delivering a poor 34.03 QB rating. Maye said he needs to improve in areas such as accuracy, ball placement, and decision-making speed, but emphasized that his teammates lifted him when he was not at his best.

Despite the rocky start, Maye delivered the game’s biggest offensive moment late in the fourth quarter, connecting with Hunter Henry on a 28-yard touchdown over Derwin James Jr. to extend the Pats’ lead to 16–3. Coach Mike Vrabel called it an “elite” throw, and Maye was far more efficient after halftime, returning an impressive QB rating of 141.96, completing 11 of 14 passes for 173 yards and the score.

Maye also made a major impact with his legs, leading the Patriots in rushing with 66 yards on 10 carries, including a 37-yard run that set up a field goal before halftime. His scrambling ability consistently extended drives and drew praise from Chargers defenders, marking the first time a quarterback led New England in rushing during a playoff game.

The Patriots’ defense ultimately decided the outcome, holding Los Angeles to just 207 total yards and recording six sacks, tying the franchise’s second-most in a postseason game. New England won despite scoring fewer than 20 points, a rare feat in team history, and Maye joined Tom Brady as the only Patriots quarterbacks in the past 35 years to win their first career playoff start. The Pats will now host the winner of the Monday Night Football game between Pittsburgh and Houston on Sunday, January 18th, in the AFC Divisional Round.