How does that weak schedule taste?
The Patriots won a hard-fought, heart-palpating, hide-the-children playoff game Sunday night, quite literally beating the Chargers 16-3 in the Wild Card round.
And they did it without Drake Maye being Drake Maye for most of the game.
If you'd told me Sunday afternoon that you were a time-traveler from the future and that Maye would have two turnovers and get sacked five times, I would've seen a replay of the Week 3 game against the Steelers play out in my head.
This game was that movie bullet with the Patriots name on it.
And it missed.
If decisions like resting Robert Spillane and Harold Landry III are considered in the Coach of the Year voting, put another stick next to Mike Vrabel's name. Add to that Milton Williams' recent return from IR and we got a look at what this defense can do at full strength Sunday night. It was downright scary at times. Give it up for Justin Herbert because he just survived a football game that felt more like a James Wan movie at times.
Maybe that's just what this "playoff football" is that I've been hearing so much about from pigskin pundits and bobbleheads. A James Wan movie with cheerleaders.
I can't help thinking that this game was the floor for this New England Patriots team. (Maybe that's wishful thinking but whatever.) I think this may turn out to have been the worst playoff game of Drake Maye's career, let alone the 2025 playoffs, and the kid will bounce back in a big way next Sunday. It's strange, perhaps, but I went into Sunday night ready for the clock to strike midnight. It had been a great ride, I told myself, but it was never going to make it all the way to Santa Clara. And yet, on this cold, bright New England morning I can't help but think, why not?
Why not the Patriots?
Go Pats!
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