Both quarterbacks have had outstanding seasons and will meet on a huge stage Sunday night, each looking to pick up his first victory in the NFL playoffs.
Whereas Herbert is 0-2 in Chargers postseason games, Maye is making his first postseason appearance for the New England Patriots after assembling a most valuable player-caliber season.
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Herbert hasn’t gotten as much MVP mention but has been elite, especially considering the state of his injury-riddled offensive line, which has a new configuration virtually every week.
Read more: Justin Herbert is the Chargers’ MVP. But can he win in the playoffs?
Jim Harbaugh and the Patriots’ Mike Vrabel are two of the league’s most talented coaches too, and this figures to be a balanced matchup.
The Patriots won 14 games — a whopping 10 more than the year before — but didn’t play a lot of great quarterbacks, a middler’s row that included Cam Ward, Spencer Rattler, Dillon Gabriel and a 40-year-old Joe Flacco.
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Twice the Chargers have lost playoff games at New England, falling short in the AFC championship game to end the 2007 season and a divisional game in 2018.
How the Chargers can win: The Chargers need to put the Patriots on their heels by slowing the running game, which has been New England’s key to winning lately, and force the pass. Maye’s receivers don’t have a lot of big-play potential. On defense the Patriots are solid but not overwhelming. The Chargers need to be effective on third down — need to stay in third-and-manageable — to keep drives alive and keep that Patriots defense on the field. Of course protecting Herbert is a priority and it’s a challenge with an offensive line that’s constantly being reshuffled. If the Chargers score early and often, they can take the crowd out of the game.
How the Patriots can win: New England has to stay out of obvious passing situations against an opportunistic Chargers defense. That means leaning on the running game, something the Patriots have done the last month. The Patriots need to shore up the defense against the run, although the Chargers don’t thrive on that with a banged-up Omarion Hampton and backups. If the Patriots can avoid the turnovers and establish a methodical tempo, they can inch away with field goals.
Key injuries
Chargers: WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring, out); S Kendall Williamson (ankle, out); RB Omarion Hampton (ankle, questionable); OLB Bud Dupree (hamstring, questionable); DB Elijah Molden (hamstring, questionable); OT Austin Deculus (oblique, questionable); LB Del’Shawn Phillips (hamstring, questionable), TE Tucker Fisk (ankle, questionable).
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Patriots: DT Khyiris Tonga (foot, out); OT Thayer Munford Jr. (knee, questionable); WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring, questionable); LB Harold Landry III (knee, questionable); CB Alex Austin (wrist, questionable).
How to watch and listen to Chargers vs. Patriots
The Chargers and Patriots play Sunday at 5:15 p.m. PST at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The game will be shown on NBC, Peacock and Universo (Español). In Southern California fans can listen to the game on 640 AM and 105.5 FM (Español).
Betting odds and lines for Chargers vs. Patriots
Who will win Chargers vs. Patriots?
Sam Farmer’s pick: The Patriots haven’t faced many elite quarterbacks — they went 1-1 against the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills — so Herbert will be a challenge. Still, if they can get to him behind that battered offensive line, it will be hard for the Chargers to consistently move the ball. The cold weather shouldn’t be a huge factor unless the wind starts whipping. Maye has been outstanding.
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Patriots 28, Chargers 24
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
