Playoff football returned to Gillette Stadium, and the Patriots defense reminded everyone why they were the scariest unit in the AFC all season. New England throttled the Chargers 16-3 in a game that was never close.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Patriots held Chargers to under 210 total yards and sacked Herbert six times
• The damage: Under bettors feasted; Patriots -3.5 covered with room to spare
• Why you should care: New England's first playoff win since February 2019
• The move: Watch this defense against whoever comes out of Texans-Steelers

Justin Herbert Has Entered the Chat (And Left)

Justin Herbert came into this game with a career playoff record of 0-2 and a whole lot of frustration. He left at 0-3, having been sacked six times and held under 210 passing yards.

The Patriots' defensive line lived in the Chargers' backfield. Herbert never had time to find his receivers downfield. When he did get the ball out, New England's secondary was waiting. The Chargers' only points came on a field goal—they never sniffed the end zone.

This is a defense that spent all season proving it was elite. Turns out, they weren't lying.

Drake Maye's Playoff Debut

On the other side, Drake Maye won his first career playoff game in exactly the way you'd expect—by not screwing it up. The second-year quarterback threw for 268 yards and rushed for 66 more. His only touchdown came on a 28-yard strike to Hunter Henry with 9:45 left in the fourth quarter, breaking a 9-3 deadlock.

Maye didn't need to be spectacular. The defense had this one covered. But he showed poise in a pressure spot, converting key third downs and avoiding turnovers. That's all New England needed.

The under hit comfortably—this one closed at 44.5, and the 19 combined points made it a stress-free cash for under bettors. Patriots -3.5 also covered, though it took until that fourth-quarter touchdown to officially lock it in.

Herbert's Playoff Curse Continues

Herbert is now 0-3 in his playoff career with a 56.9 passer rating in those games. The talent is undeniable—the guy has a cannon for an arm and makes throws that seem physically impossible. But January has not been kind to him.

The Chargers' season ends with a whimper after they sat key starters in Week 18 to secure their seeding. That decision looks even worse now.

What's Next

The Patriots advance to face either the Texans or Steelers in the Divisional Round. Given what we just saw from this defense, does it matter which one? Houston's running game is solid but one-dimensional. Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers-led offense has been inconsistent at best.

New England is currently +1200 to win the Super Bowl. After watching them dismantle the Chargers like that, those odds feel generous.

The Bottom Line

The Patriots are back. The defense is legit. Drake Maye didn't crack under pressure. And Justin Herbert is probably wondering what he has to do to win a playoff game.

New England just served notice to the entire AFC: we're not just happy to be here.