FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Chargers clinched an AFC wild-card berth in coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season with a 40-7 rout Saturday of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
They returned to the postseason after a 5-12 record in 2023 led to Harbaugh’s hiring in January.
The Chargers are 10-6 with one game to play; the Patriots are 3-13.
The Chargers’ mission was straightforward: Win or tie Saturday and they would advance to the playoffs next month. Justin Herbert got the Chargers pointed in the right direction on a raw New England afternoon, throwing for 190 yards and two touchdowns as they took a commanding 20-7 halftime lead.
Derius Davis caught a 23-yard touchdown pass for one score and Ladd McConkey caught a 6-yard pass for another, and Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 27 and 38 yards. The Chargers never seemed to be in jeopardy in the early minutes, leading 17-0 until the closing minutes of the half.
Drake Maye’s 36-yard touchdown pass to Demario Douglas injected some life into the proceedings, cutting the Chargers’ lead to 17-7 with 1:24 left in the half. Herbert then drove the Chargers to Dicker’s 38-yard field goal and a 20-7 lead with two seconds remaining in the half.
The Chargers were halfway to advancing to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. They conclude the regular season next weekend against the Raiders in Las Vegas. A victory over the Raiders could enhance their playoff seeding.
There are a number of scenarios that must be played out in the final days of the season, but the Chargers could move as high as fifth in the seedings, setting up a favorable matchup with the fourth-seeded Texans indoors in Houston. Other possibilities include wintry conditions in Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
The Chargers turned the game into a runaway in the third quarter, with Herbert throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass to McConkey and Dicker booting a 41-yard field goal for a 30-7 lead with 5:43 left in the third. Herbert completed 26 of 38 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns by game’s end.
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J.K. Dobbins returned to the Chargers’ backfield after a four-game stint on injured reserve because of a knee injury and rushed for 76 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on 19 carries. Dobbins’ touchdown and Dicker’s extra point extended the lead to 37-7 with 11:58 left in the game.
Taylor Heinicke replaced Herbert on the Chargers’ next possession.
Dicker’s 35-yard field goal with 3:47 to play accounted for the Chargers’ final score.
More to come on this story.