The New England Patriots moved on to the divisional round on Sunday night. Taking down the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium, the team won its playoff opener with a final score of 16-3.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live-viewing the Patriots’ wild card victory.
DT Milton Williams & ED K’Lavon Chaisson: Against a beat-up Chargers offensive line, the Patriots pass rush had the ability to take over Sunday night’s game. While it took a few series for them to heat up, the unit prevailed and ended the night pressuring Justin Herbert on nearly half of his drop backs. That effort was led by Milton Williams and K’Lavon Chaisson.
New England’s top addition this offseason got home for a pair of sacks — the second on the Chargers’ final play of the game — and worked well in line games where he also freed Anferee Jennings for another takedown. Along the edge, Chaisson recorded a pair of sacks himself and added an additional QB hit and forced fumble in the fourth quarter.
CB Christian Gonzalez & S Craig Woodson: New England’s top corner played like his All-Pro self in his playoff debut. In total, Gonzalez did not allow a reception on five targets his way — three while working against Quentin Johnston. Gonzalez also recorded a pair of pass breakups, but unfortunately was ruled out for the game with a head injury after the second. His availability will be a key storyline next week.
Elsewhere in the secondary, rookie Craig Woodson brought the physicality on defense with 11 total tackles and one for a loss. Woodson also popped at times on special teams.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson continued his end-of-year heater Sunday night as the back totaled 128 yards from scrimmage. Carrying the ball 10 times, Stevenson totaled 53 yards (5.3 average) while he struck the biggest play of the game — taking a check-down 48 yards behind a big downfield block by Kyle Williams to kickstart New England’s first field goal drive — to help him add 75 yards on three receptions.
LT Will Campbell and LG Jared Wilson: New England’s rookie left side of the offensive line had their struggles against a talented Chargers’ front. At left tackle, Campbell allowed a team-high six pressures and a pair of sacks — one resulting in a strip sack of Drake Maye.
In his first game back from a two-week absence due to a concussion, Jared Wilson also allowed two sacks and four pressures at left guard as the Chargers got home on a number of line games off the left side. While Mike Vrabel did not hesitate to insert Wilson back into the lineup this week, the team could turn back to Ben Brown next week if they believe the rookie’s issues were more than just rust in his first game back.
