Story byJordy McElroy, Patriots WireTue, January 13, 2026 at 2:38 AM UTC·1 min readThe New England Patriots got tested by an elite Los Angeles Chargers defense on Sunday and passed with flying colors in a 16-3 wild-card playoff win. This wasn't the typical offensive onslaught we've grown accustomed to seeing from the Patriots this season. They weren't facing the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets. This was a head-to-head battle against a top-10 defense with the season on the line. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd they came out on top. Granted, it wasn't a pretty performance by any stretch of the imagination.