FOXBOROUGH — Instant analysis from the Patriots’ 16-3 win over the Chargers:
▪ Drake Maye and the offense have been the story of the season as they racked up 14 wins and an AFC East title. But Sunday night in the wild-card round, with them finally experiencing some struggles, it was the defense that stepped up to carry the Patriots to a hard-fought victory.
“I’m just really proud of everybody,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “We turned the ball over far too many times, but what our defense was able to do early in the game, inside the red zone, really set the tone for them for the rest of the game.”
The Chargers entered with a banged-up quarterback and depleted offensive line, and couldn’t sustain any momentum against the Patriots’ much healthier defense, which had linebacker Robert Spillane, defensive tackle Milton Williams, and defensive end Harold Landry all active for the first time in seven games.
The defense made a statement in the first quarter by stopping the Chargers on fourth and goal, and only got stronger from there. It allowed just 3 points and 207 yards of offense, and left Justin Herbert battered and bruised as the Chargers (11-7) limped back to Los Angeles.
Herbert was gutsy as a runner (57 yards) but totally ineffective as a passer, finishing the game with just 159 yards and taking six sacks. The Patriots held the Chargers to 1 for 10 on third down, and kept them out of the end zone on both opportunities inside the 20, a rarity for the 30th-ranked red zone defense.
The Chargers didn’t score off two Patriots turnovers, and their running backs averaged just 2.5 yards per carry.
It was by far the Patriots’ best defensive performance of the season, and it gave Maye and the offense enough time to find their footing in the fourth quarter and put the game away.
The win was an important milestone on several fronts. It was their first playoff win in seven years, and just their second of the season against a team with a winning record. The Patriots didn’t dominate the Chargers, but the victory should quiet the talk they simply beat up on an easy schedule. It ensured another home playoff game next week, against either the Steelers or Texans on Sunday.
And the Patriots proved they have a defense that can clamp down and win games in the playoffs.
“It wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure, but this defense was so fun to watch. They won the game for us,” Maye said. “That was fun, man, to get one at home, and look forward to getting back here next week.”
▪ Leading, 9-3, entering the fourth quarter, the Patriots won the game with contributions from their most reliable players on offense. Maye, who finished with 268 passing yards and 66 rushing yards, was 11 of 14 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown in the second half, completing a handful of big throws, slipping out of sacks, and picking up a first down with a savvy option-keeper.
Hunter Henry stepped up yet again, catching a 19-yard pass on third and 13 and icing the game with a 28-yard touchdown catch. Kayshon Boutte caught a 42-yard pass down the sideline. And Rhamondre Stevenson was again Mr. Clutch, rushing for 53 yards and catching three passes for 75.
It was not a pretty performance for the offense as a whole, as it went 0 for 3 in the red zone, allowed five sacks, and committed two turnovers. But it’s an encouraging sign that the Patriots still won the game by two touchdowns, and dug deep to make a few plays in the fourth quarter.
▪ The offensive line, though, got dominated. Odafe Oweh had his way against rookie left tackle Will Campbell, finishing with three sacks and two forced fumbles. Rookie left guard Jared Wilson also allowed a sack, and the Patriots struggled to run the ball for most of the night.
They got away with it against a low-voltage Chargers offense, but the offensive line could be a major problem next week against Houston or Pittsburgh.
▪ Stevenson has shaken off his early season fumbles to become the Patriots’ most reliable offensive player. He ended the regular season with six touchdowns over his last three games, then was the engine of the offense on Sunday night, catching a 48-yard pass early in the game, and securing a 17-yard catch on a third and 6.
It’s a testament to Vrabel that he remained confident in Stevenson and stuck by his veteran running back.
▪ Another day, another phenomenal game for slot cornerback Marcus Jones. The Patriots’ most versatile player had six tackles, a pass defended, a sack, and a forced fumble. In the first quarter he made a crucial third-down tackle at the 2-yard line to save a touchdown — the Patriots completed the goal-line stand on the next play — and later had a terrific pass breakup on third down.
Size will always be an issue for the 5-foot-8-inch Jones, but pound for pound, he’s their best defender.
▪ The Patriots don’t have many elite pass rushers, but they grew stronger in the second half and put the game away with three of their six sacks in the fourth quarter. Williams and K’Lavon Chaisson had two sacks each, with Williams, playing his second game after missing five with an ankle injury, sealing the win and giving Vrabel a bloody lip while hugging him on the sideline.
“We talked to them about [being] willing to spill some blood out there, and the big dogs come out in January, and I think Milt took that to heart,” Vrabel said. “He came over and got me pretty good, but that’s what happens.”
▪ On a wild-card weekend in which coaches went crazy going for it on fourth down, Vrabel had a good feel for Sunday’s game and smartly took the points on most opportunities. The Patriots converted their only fourth-down try, but Vrabel twice opted for short field goals on fourth and 4, and settled for a field goal right before half instead of trying to push it for a touchdown.
While I’m usually in favor of coaches being aggressive and going for it, the game was a defensive battle, and there was no need to go full throttle.
Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.