Drake Maye Scratches Out First Playoff Win as Patriots Top Chargers, 16-3

Drake Maye earned his first career playoff victory on Sunday, guiding the New England Patriots to a 16-3 wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers. While the final score suggests a comfortable victory, the second-year quarterback knows he wasn’t at his best, and he didn’t shy away from that assessment.

Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception, while adding 66 rushing yards on 10 carries. His passer rating of 86.8 reflected a performance that was efficient but far from flawless. Early in the game, the Patriots’ offense struggled to find rhythm, failing to reach the end zone until the fourth quarter. A late third-quarter drive ended with a Maye fumble deep in Chargers territory, adding to the quarterback’s early frustrations.

Maye’s Honest Assessment

After the game, Maye was candid about his performance. “Wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure,” he told reporters. “But this defense was so fun to watch. Congrats to them. It was so fun to watch. They won the game for us. I didn’t throw very well tonight. Need to be better. We did what we had to do.”

When asked about what contributed to his struggles early on, Maye didn’t pinpoint a single issue. Instead, he emphasized the importance of his teammates stepping up. “Just got to be better, whether it’s accuracy or ball placement or little things, making decisions faster,” he said via WEEI contributor Tom Carroll. “Held onto the ball a little bit tonight. Finally got one in the end. I missed Hoop on a touchdown. Feel like I missed [DeMario Douglas] on a third down low. It wasn’t my best tonight. But that’s why you have teammates, those guys picked me up. Never lost confidence. Was still slinging it around. Kayshon [Boutte] made some big plays. Came after the ball twice on some big plays. That’s the thing about us, we spread it around, can do a lot of things.”

Maye’s self-awareness reflects a young quarterback learning the intricacies of playoff football while maintaining confidence in a team-oriented approach. His acknowledgment of mistakes, paired with credit to his supporting cast, underscores a maturity beyond his years.

Mike Vrabel’s Perspective

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel shared a similar evaluation. He didn’t shy away from critiquing his quarterback but also highlighted Maye’s resilience. “We got to take care of the football,” Vrabel said. “Thought he came through when we needed him. The tipped pass is something that was unfortunate. That turned into an interception. But the throw to Hunter [Henry] I thought when we needed him was elite.”

Vrabel’s praise came for a highlight-reel connection between Maye and tight end Hunter Henry. On a pivotal play in the fourth quarter, Maye delivered a precise 28-yard touchdown pass over Chargers safety Derwin James. Henry secured the catch just short of the goal line and then crossed into the end zone, giving New England a 16-3 lead and effectively putting the game out of reach.

Offense Relies on Team Depth

Despite Maye’s uneven start, the Patriots’ offense found ways to stay competitive thanks to the supporting cast. Kayshon Boutte made several key plays, including aggressive contested catches that helped sustain drives. DeMario Douglas and other offensive contributors also played pivotal roles, helping spread the ball and maintain pressure on the Chargers’ defense.

The Patriots’ ability to distribute the ball effectively masked some of Maye’s early misfires. As Maye noted, this approach allows the team to overcome individual struggles by leaning on collective execution.

Turning Point of the Game

The touchdown pass to Henry marked the turning point of the game. Until that moment, the Patriots had a narrow 6-3 lead at halftime, and the Chargers had managed to keep the contest within striking distance despite New England’s defensive dominance. After Maye connected with Henry, the Patriots’ confidence surged, and the Chargers were never able to mount a serious comeback.

Maye’s performance may not have been flawless, but the timing of his big plays demonstrated poise under pressure — a key factor in playoff success.

Looking Ahead to the Divisional Round

With the victory secured, the Patriots advance to the Divisional Round, where they will host the winner of Monday’s matchup between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Maye and New England have proven capable of winning in the postseason, the team will need a more consistent offensive showing to navigate the deeper, tougher playoff matchups ahead.

For Maye, the experience provides both a confidence boost and a learning opportunity. He now has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to manage playoff games, balance risk and reward, and rely on a supportive roster. As he reflected after the game, “That’s the thing about us, we spread it around, can do a lot of things.” That team-oriented mindset will be critical as the Patriots look to continue their postseason run.