It wasn’t always pretty, but the New England Patriots defended home turf and defeated the Chargers in the wildcard round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday night, 16-3. In the cold New England air, both offenses struggled at times, but the Patriots managed to grind it out over four quarters and pull away late to advance to the divisional round, where they’ll host the Texans on Sunday afternoon.
Late in the first quarter, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels dialed up a trick play to try and take advantage of a swarming Chargers defense. New England rookie WR Efton Chism III got the ball on a reverse and tried to throw it back to QB Drake Maye, who was leaking up the sideline wide open. However, the pass sailed on Chism and fell incomplete several yards in front of Maye.
The Patriots converted on fourth down on the next play, so the miss didn’t harm New England on that drive. But it was still an unfortunate missed opportunity, especially considering the rarity of trick plays like that.
New England Patriots WR Efton Chism III on the Reaction from QB Drake Maye’s Brothers
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 11: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
On Friday, Chism spoke to the media ahead of the Patriots’ game against the Texans on Sunday. Among other things, he was asked about the failed trick play, and if he need to work on his throwing a bit more.
“Oh, man. I need to,” Chism said with a laugh. “I mean, y’all saw it. But I’m just glad Coach McDaniels trusts me in that moment. Next time I gotta throw a better ball.”
“Nah, it was just a bad throw,” Chism said on if Maye was at fault for the incompletion. “That’s all it was. Just a bad throw. But actually, Drake’s brothers gave me a little crap after the game. They were like, ‘Man, what?’ Nah, it was just a funny little moment. Like I said, just glad [McDaniels] trusts me to make the throw.”
New England’s Maye comes from an athletic family and has three brothers, two of whom also played football. His other brother, Luke Maye, was an All-American and national champion basketball player at North Carolina.
“Absolutely. It’s awesome,” Chism said on having an offensive coordinator with the Patriots who isn’t afraid to call trick plays. “And he’s one of the best to do it, and especially in this offense, he brings so much to the table and it’s so awesome to learn every week something new.”
The New England Patriots Will Need to Slow Down the Texans’ Pass Rush
Despite being favored at home against the Texans, the Patriots have a tall task in front of them. Houston’s pass rush is among the best in the league, with edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combined for 27 sacks on the year — and that’s just two of their rushers.
This is a swarming, blitzing, havoc-creating defensive front with an elite secondary behind them. If the Patriots want to advance to their first AFC Championship Game in seven seasons, they’ll need to find a way to slow it down.
Patriots Rookie Reveals Message From Drake Maye’s Brothers After Failed Trick Play