- - Chargers vs. Patriots score, live updates: Justin Herbert, Drake Maye face off in wild card

Yahoo Sports Staff January 12, 2026 at 1:25 AM

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This is the first time the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots will face off in the postseason since 2019, when Philip Rivers and Tom Brady were still leading these respective franchises. Now the Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 campaign and in head coach Mike Vrabel’s first year, no less. The Chargers went 4-2 in their last six games but enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has the Chargers in the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, but this time they’re looking to advance past the wild-card round, unlike last postseason. The Chargers haven’t advanced past the wild-card round since the 2018-19 postseason, and it won’t be easy to do against the fourth-best scoring defense in the NFL. Quarterback Justin Herbert is 0-2 in the playoffs and has completed just 52% of his passes. He’ll need a breakout performance for the Chargers to have a chance in New England.

The Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time in four years, and they’re viewed as a championship contender for the first time since Tom Brady exited the building following the 2019 season. Vrabel has come in and immediately turned this ship around from a team that won eight games in the previous two seasons combined to 14 in year one of his tenure. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is an MVP candidate, and the team is ahead of schedule in its rebuild.

How to watch Chargers vs. Patriots in the wild card

Chargers-Patriots start time: 8 p.m. ETLocation: Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass. TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock, NFL+

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights, and more as Justin Herbert and the Chargers visit Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the wild-card round:

Live3 updates -

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Mon, January 12, 2026 at 8:47 AM GMT+9Kate MagdziukChargers, Patriots announce wild-card inactives

With less than 90 minutes remaining until the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots kick off in the wild card, each team has announced its inactives for gameday.

Here’s a look:

Chargers inactives -

CB Isas Waxter

S Kendall Williamson

OLB Bud Dupree

OLB Kyle Kennard

OT Austin Deculus

WR Dalevon Campbell

TE Tyler Conklin

Patriots inactives -

WR Jeremiah Webb

LB Bradyn Swinsin

OT Marcus Bryant

OG Caedan Wallace

TE C.J. Dippre

NT Khyiris Tonga

QB Tommy DeVito (Emergency 3rd QB)

- Mon, January 12, 2026 at 9:15 AM GMT+9Kate MagdziukAir Corgi makes Chargers-Patriots prediction

Air Corgi weighs in on the outcome of Chargers-Patriots 🔮 pic.twitter.com/CCuJfopdTI

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 11, 2026

Mon, January 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM GMT+9Criss ParteePatriots' WR Kayshon Boutte, LB Harold Landry active for wild card matchup vs. Chargers

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, linebacker Harold Landry, and tackle Thayer Munford are all active for Sunday’s wild card game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

#Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, OLB Harold Landry and OT Thayer Munford are all ACTIVE.They had been listed as questionable. Big boost for NE.

— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) January 11, 2026

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Source: “AOL Sports”