The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff berth in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season, beating the New England Patriots 40-7 on Saturday.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have already gained the AFC West, so the Chargers will make the playoffs as a Wild Card group.
The Chargers began out red-hot, going up 17-0 earlier than the Patriots lastly responded.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) reacts after his landing move in opposition to the New England Patriots within the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Pictures)
Quarterback Justin Herbert hit vast receiver Derius Davis with a strike, connecting with him for a 23-yard landing. On their ensuing offensive possession, kicker Cameron Dicker hit a 27-yard discipline objective to place the Chargers up 10-0.
Following the sphere objective, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye couldn’t convert the pitch to the operating again, and the fumble was recovered by security Derwin James Jr. to present the Chargers good discipline place at midfield.
Herbert capitalized on the great discipline place and hit rookie vast receiver Ladd McConkey for a six-yard landing to go up 17-0.
Whereas the Chargers took a commanding lead, Maye left the sidelines quickly within the first quarter to be checked for a concussion.
The Patriots rookie quarterback was scrambling, attempting to transform a third-and-four alongside the sideline when Chargers defensive again Cam Hart hit Maye up excessive, the place there was helmet-to-helmet contact.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a landing move to vast receiver Ladd McConkey (15) in opposition to the New England Patriots within the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Pictures)
Maye fumbled the ball upon being hit, however the Patriots recovered it.
After the hit, Maye stayed down for a second earlier than finally getting up.
He was initially evaluated within the blue medical tent, after which was taken to the locker room, the place he was then cleared to return to play.
The lone Patriots spotlight of the sport got here when Maye obtained the Chargers to leap offside, then with strain in his face, threw a 36-yard dime to vast receiver Demario Douglas for a landing.
The landing reduce the Chargers’ result in 17-7, however these can be the one factors the Patriots would rating all day.
Herbert led the Chargers’ offense down and gave Dicker an opportunity for a discipline objective earlier than halftime.
Dicker was good from 38 yards out, and the Chargers took a 20-7 halftime lead.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) reacts after a landing catch in opposition to the New England Patriots within the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Pictures)
The Chargers stored their foot on the gasoline, popping out of the second half.
The Patriots obtained the ball first popping out of the half however went three and out.
Then Herbert led a 10-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a Ladd McConkey 40-yard landing catch, to place the Chargers up 27-7, and successfully sealed the sport within the third quarter.
Chargers operating again J.Ok. Dobbins scored a landing in his return from harm within the fourth quarter.
Herbert was sensational within the win, finishing 26-38 passing makes an attempt for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback was pulled with over ten minutes left within the fourth quarter with the sport out of attain.
McConkey handed Keenan Allen for probably the most catches for a rookie in a season in Chargers historical past, with eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball in opposition to the New England Patriots within the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Pictures)
This was the primary time the Chargers scored 40 factors in a recreation since 2021.
Maye was 12 of twenty-two, with 117 yards and one landing, with six carries for 32 yards within the loss.
The final time the Chargers had been within the playoffs was the 2022-2023 season, once they had one of many largest collapses in NFL historical past once they misplaced to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-30 after main 27-0 at one level.
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