> At a Glance
> – Drake Maye and Justin Herbert meet in Sunday’s AFC wild-card nightcap
> – Patriots went from 4-13 to 14-3 and the AFC’s No. 2 seed
> – Both QBs are undefeated in primetime this season (minimum four games)
> – Why it matters: First playoff win on the line for two of the league’s brightest young quarterbacks
Two second-year stars will usher in the postseason under the lights when Drake Maye and the surging New England Patriots host Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium.
The Turnaround Tale
New England flipped the script in 2025. After a dismal 4-13 record last year, first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and Maye guided the Pats to a 14-3 finish, ripping off 13 wins in 14 games to claim the AFC East crown.
Maye enters as an MVP candidate and has yet to lose on the league’s biggest regular-season stages.
Chargers’ Consistent Campaign
Los Angeles posted an 11-6 mark for the second straight season under Jim Harbaugh. The Bolts stayed in the AFC West hunt until a Week 17 home loss to Houston prompted them to rest Herbert in the regular-season finale at Denver.
Herbert is 0-2 lifetime in wild-card games, but like Maye he shined in prime-time this year.
Prime-Time Pedigree
Only four clubs avoided losses in night games (minimum four appearances) during 2025:
- Chargers (5-0)
- Patriots (4-0)
- (Two others not listed)
Sunday gives each QB a chance to carry that late-game magic into the playoffs.
How to Watch
| Game Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, Jan. 11 |
| Kickoff | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
| Stream | Peacock |
Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark have the call. Pregame coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on Football Night in America.
Key Takeaways
- Maye seeks his first playoff victory in his postseason debut
- Herbert looks to shake an 0-2 wild-card record
- Both offenses arrive hot after undefeated prime-time runs
- Winner advances to face the AFC’s top contender next week
Under the Gillette lights, one young quarterback will keep his breakout season alive while the other heads home.
