Defensive Gem by Christian Gonzalez and the Patriots Defense Nets First Playoff Win since Super Bowl LIII

In some ways, the Patriots' first playoff victory since their last Super Bowl went as expected, but certainly not in others. A team that hadn't won many, if any, games at all, on the back of their defense, pitched the best outing of their entire year last night; holding Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers offense to three total points on the night, and completely teed off on the sixth-year QB in the second half.

Hard to overstate just how big the early fourth-and-goal stop was after Drake Maye threw a tip-drill interception, and from there on out, the Patriots defense was as lights-out as they'd been all year. The high blitz rates from the most recent Dolphins and Jets wins carried over into this game, and DC Zak Khur went into the second half essentially daring the Chargers and OC Greg Roman to make them pay for sending the hounds. Save for a blooper reel fumble gain for 20 plus, a Herbert scramble for 11, and a 4th&9 gain to Oronde Gadsden on that last drive, they couldn't.

Was Drake Maye perfect? Certainly not with two fumbles, the aforementioned interception, and just a 2/7 night on third downs, but he definitely got into a much better groove in the second half (11/14, 173 yards), and his late first half scramble and TD throw to Hunter Henry were game-winning plays. Nevermind the fact that Rhamondre Stevenson was big time once again for this team with 128 scrimage yards.

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Of the 90-some players who spent time on Gillette Stadium's field last night, there was not a single one who had a better game than Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. 27 coverage snaps, 5 targets, not a single catch, and two pass breakups. Absolutely lockdown stuff on a night where he was primarily sticking with Quentin Johnston in coverage. That wasn't where his best play came from, but rather the fourth-down stop at the goalline, where he was on Keenan Allen.

It's not in this clip, but many pointed out that after that, Gonzalez was frantically doing last-minute communication with Carlton Davis on the inside about how to carry out receivers out of the bunch set, with everyone simply taking whoever came in their direction. Helps that the Chargers didn't really do anything crazy out of the bunch set, but that kind of communication is exactly what you're trying to see out of a star player in that spot. Additionally, Gonzo trails just enough on Allen that if this ball isn't sailed, he's in a perfect spot to chase him back down and make a play on it. Hard to overstate how big a loss he'd be for next week; he was everything you'd hope for in this kind of game and then some.

Why You Pay (Good) Players

Fitting that the Patriots are in the position they are with everything that's happened with the Red Sox this week (Craig Breslow, huh???). What a novel concept that you pay to bring in elite talent like Milton Williams and Bob Spillane, who can come in and produce big time in the big moments, as can your value signings like K'Lavon Chaisson, and re-signee Anferenee Jennings, for that matter. The non-Spillane portion of this group put up five sacks, 13 pressures, 7 quick pressures, and a fumble off a sack. It would've been nice to have Khyiris Tonga as a part of this win as well, but it speaks to the second-half effort and aggression of this front seven that they had to even the score. If you could win meaningful games with the Jarren Durans, Lucas Giolitos, Romy Gonzalezs, and David Hamiltons of the world, everyone would do it in every sport.

Who Should Patriots Fans Want to Play Next?

Still hours away from finding out who the Patriots will host in the Divisional Round on Sunday, I'm in the camp that would rather play the Houston Texans than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Undeniably, the tougher matchup, and as much joy it would bring me to see the Steelers' season end here, who've never beaten the Patriots when it's truly mattered in my lifetime, it's straightforward why Houston would be preferable.

Of the AFC teams remaining outside of New England, no team has the combination of defensive talent, defensive scheme, quarterback, and pass catchers than Houston, and if the Patriots can beat them, and speciffically that defense, I genuinely think a Super Bowl win is on the table. If not, you probably weren't going to make it anyway, and realistically, if they were to make it that far, the Patriots would almost certainly draw at least one of Houston, Denver, or Seattle as far as elite defenses go. Nevertheless, we'll see what happens later tonight.

Final Score: New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3

Gaffney's Three Stars from Patriots-Chargers

1st Star: Christian Gonzalez (0 Catches Allowed on 5 Targets, 2 PBUs)

2nd Star: K'Lavon Chaisson (2 Sacks, 5 Pressures, Forced Fumble)

3rd Star: Milton Williams (2 Sacks, 3 Pressures)

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