> At a Glance
> – Drake Maye and Justin Herbert meet Sunday in a primetime wild-card clash
> – Patriots surged from 4-13 to 14-3 and the AFC’s No. 2 seed
> – Both QBs are 4-0 or 5-0 in primetime this season but still seeking a first playoff win
> – Why it matters: One young star keeps a Super Bowl run alive; the other goes home
Two of the NFL’s breakout quarterbacks collide under the Gillette Stadium lights on Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. PT, with a divisional-round ticket on the line.
The Turnaround Tale
New England’s Drake Maye flipped the script in his second season, guiding the Patriots to 13 wins in their final 14 games and an AFC East crown. First-year coach Mike Vrabel has the franchise back in the postseason after a dismal 4-13 2024 campaign.
Los Angeles brings an 11-6 record for the second straight year under Jim Harbaugh. A Week 17 home loss to Houston cost the Chargers a division title, but they enter Foxboro rested after sitting Herbert in the regular-season finale at Denver.
Playoff Résumés Still Blank
Neither quarterback has tasted postseason victory:
- Maye is making his playoff debut
- Herbert is 0-2 in prior wild-card games
Yet both shined in the spotlight this fall:
| Team | Primetime Record | Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Patriots | 4-0 | 4+ |
| Chargers | 5-0 | 5+ |
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
Kickoff: 5 p.m. PT
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
TV: NBC
Stream: Peacock, NBC.com
Pregame: “Football Night in America” at 4:30 p.m. PT
Broadcast crew: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark
Key Takeaways
- Patriots own the AFC’s No. 2 seed after a 10-game swing in the standings
- Chargers’ Herbert is still searching for his first January win in three tries
- Both clubs went unbeaten in primetime, setting up a marquee Sunday Night Football stage
- The winner advances to face either the Chiefs or Bills in the divisional round
One streak ends: either New England’s miraculous rise or Los Angeles’ primetime perfection. The other propels its quarterback into uncharted playoff territory.
