Then Herbert led a 10-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a Ladd McConkey 40-yard touchdown catch, to put the Chargers up 27-7, and effectively sealed the game in the third quarter.
The last time the Chargers were in the playoffs was the 2022-2023 season, when they had one of the biggest collapses in NFL history when they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-30 after leading 27-0 at one point.
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Maye fumbled the ball upon being hit, but the Patriots recovered it.
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The Chargers started out red-hot, going up 17-0 before the Patriots finally responded.
Herbert was sensational in the win, completing 26-38 passing attempts for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback was pulled with over ten minutes left in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.
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Dicker was good from 38 yards out, and the Chargers took a 20-7 halftime lead.
This was the first time the Chargers scored 40 points in a game since 2021.
The touchdown cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-7, but those would be the only points the Patriots would score all day.
Herbert led the Chargers’ offense down and gave Dicker a chance for a field goal before halftime.
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Quarterback Justin Herbert hit wide receiver Derius Davis with a strike, connecting with him for a 23-yard touchdown. On their ensuing offensive possession, kicker Cameron Dicker hit a 27-yard field goal to put the Chargers up 10-0.