The victory also marked coach Jim Harbaugh's fourth trip to the postseason in his five years coaching in the NFL, adding to his three playoff appearances with the San Francisco 49ers.
Herbert completed 26 of 38 passes for 281 yards, solidifying his place as the third player in NFL history to achieve at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. He joins NFL legends Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson in this exclusive club.
Ladd McConkey was a key contributor, catching eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including scores of 6 and 40 yards. A 10-yard reception in the second quarter pushed McConkey past the 1,000 receiving yards mark for the season, making him the third Chargers rookie receiver to achieve this milestone.
JK Dobbins added to the offensive firepower with 19 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown.
The Patriots, meanwhile, extended their losing streak to six games, their second such streak this season. Their home record over the past two seasons now stands at a dismal 2-14.
New England's rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, completed 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. He became the first rookie quarterback in Patriots history to throw a touchdown pass in eight consecutive games. However, he was sacked four times and lost a fumble in the second quarter, marking his eighth straight game with at least one turnover.
The Chargers dominated the game statistically, outgaining the Patriots 428 yards to 181.
Maye briefly exited the game in the first quarter after a hit to the head. While scrambling near the sideline on third down, he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart, causing him to fumble the ball as he went out of bounds. No penalty was called on the play.
Maye was replaced by backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett for one series, which ended in a punt. After being evaluated in the locker room, Maye returned to the game in the second quarter, shortly after a Chargers field goal extended their lead to 10-0.
Upon his return, Maye scrambled for nine yards but was hit by linebacker Junior Colson while sliding, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Five plays later, Maye fumbled again after a mistimed toss, with the Chargers recovering the ball. Capitalizing on the turnover, Herbert connected with McConkey for a six-yard touchdown pass, increasing the Chargers' lead to 17-0.
