3. What about the quarterbacks?
There might not be a better quarterback matchup in the Wild Card Round than this one.
Hence why the game is in primetime.
The Chargers are led by Justin Herbert, who did not play in Week 18 but was simply masterful for the Bolts this season.
Herbert played the season without Pro Bowl tackle Rashawn Slater and more than half the season without Pro Bowl tackle Joe Alt.
Add in other injuries along the offensive line, plus a depleted running back room, and Herbert had a big hand in leading the Chargers to 11 wins for the second straight season.
Oh yeah, did we mention he played the final month of the season with a broken left hand?
“To me, it was an MVP season with all the attrition we’ve had and what he’s been able to do to lead the team to a playoff berth,” Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said last week.
He later added: “In terms of Justin and what he’s had to deal with this year, I think it’s a career-defining type of year.”
Herbert threw for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while also setting a career high with 498 rushing yards.
New England will counter with second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who is among the top candidates for the NFL MVP award.
Besides leading the Patriots to 10 more wins that they had a season ago, Maye was brilliant in 2025 as he threw for 4,397 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The 23-year-old, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, also led the NFL with a 113.2 passer rating.
Both Herbert and Maye are looking for their first-career playoff win.
