The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the New England Patriots 40-7 on Saturday, clinching a playoff berth in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first year.
The Kansas City Chiefs have already won the AFC West, so the Chargers will advance to the playoffs as a wild card team.
The Chargers got off to a hot start, leading 17-0 before the Patriots finally fought back.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, 10, reacts after a touchdown pass during the third quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
Quarterback Justin Herbert hit wide receiver Delius Davis for a 23-yard touchdown. On the next offensive possession, kicker Cameron Dicker made a 27-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 10-0 lead.
After the field goal, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was unable to turn the pitch to running back and the fumble was recovered by safety Derwin James Jr., giving the Chargers good position at midfield.
Herbert took advantage of his good field position and scored a 6-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Rad McConkie for a 17-0 lead.
With the Chargers taking a commanding lead, Maye briefly left the sideline for a concussion test in the first quarter.
The Patriots' rookie quarterback was scrambling along the sideline for a third-and-four when Chargers defensive back Cam Hart hit Maye high, making helmet-to-helmet contact.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, 10, throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Rad McConkie, 15, during the third quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
Maye fumbled the ball that was hit, but the Patriots recovered the ball.
After the blow, Mei lay down for a while, then finally stood up.
He was first examined in a blue medical tent and then taken to the locker room, where he was cleared to return to play.
The Patriots' only highlight of the game came when Maye forced the Chargers to jump offside, put pressure on his face, and threw the ball 36 yards to wide receiver Demario Douglas for a touchdown.
The touchdown cut the Chargers' lead to 17-7, but it was the only points the Patriots would score on the day.
Herbert led the Chargers' offense, giving Dicker a field goal chance before halftime.
Dicker made a good run from 38 yards out to give the Chargers a 20-7 lead at halftime.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) reacts after making a touchdown catch in the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
The Chargers came out in the second half and kept their foot on the gas.
The Patriots got the ball first after leaving their own territory, but it was a three-and-out.
Herbert then led a 10-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 40-yard touchdown catch by Ladd McConkie, giving the Chargers a 27-7 lead and effectively clinching the game in the third quarter.
Chargers running back JK Dobbins returned from injury in the fourth quarter and scored a touchdown.
Herbert was sensational, completing 26-for-38 pass attempts for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback was pulled with more than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach.
McConkie passed Keenan Allen for the most catches in a season by a rookie in Chargers history with eight receptions, 94 yards and two touchdowns.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes the ball during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
It was the first time since 2021 that the Chargers scored 40 points in a game.
Maye completed 12-of-22 for 117 yards and a touchdown, with six carries for a loss of 32 yards.
The Chargers last made the playoffs in the 2022-2023 season, when they led 27-0 at one point and lost 31-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the worst loss in NFL history.
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