The Chargers will travel to Gillette Stadium on Sunday night for a primetime wild-card matchup with the Patriots. This game features two elite young quarterbacks, a stingy Chargers defense and a balanced Patriots rushing attack.
Here are three key matchups that could decide the outcome of the game:
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Chargers defense vs. Patriots
New England has the sixth-best rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 128.9 yards per game. New England has had a lot of success running the ball with the help of Lamond Stevenson and rookie Tre’Vion Henderson, especially on long passes, with Stevenson and Henderson averaging 4.6 and 5.1 yards per carry, respectively. The Chargers are eighth in run defense and need to win downfield, stay disciplined against the run and make tackles in the open field.
Chargers pass rush/secondary vs. Patriots quarterback Derek Meyer
Jesse Minter has been outstanding defensively this season, ranking fifth in total defense and pass defense. But they must be at their absolute best against MVP front-runner Meyer. It all starts with the pass-rushing trio of Khalil Mack, Tuli Tupulotu and Odafi Ovie, who must consistently win games and disrupt Meyer’s rhythm in his first postseason start. The Patriots’ offensive line gave up a total of 48 sacks, ranking in the bottom 10 in the league during the regular season. At the back, look for Minter to cover up his looks to cause chaos. Meyer was strongest against zone coverage, ranking first in the NFL in EPA and fourth in passer rating against zone coverage (102.1).
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Chargers offensive line vs. Patriots defensive line
The story of the Chargers’ 2025 season has been the offensive line and how poorly it performed due to injuries up front. In order to be successful offensively, the unit must buy some time for Justin Herbert at all costs. If not, they’ll have to use his mobility and fast-shooting ability to counter pressure. Fortunately, the Patriots’ pass rush isn’t all there is, as they rank last in the NFL in sacks.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers vs. Patriots: 3 games to watch in the wild-card round
