"This matchup features two outstanding coaches in Jim Harbaugh and New England's Mike Vrabel, and two elite quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and Drake Maye. The Patriots haven't seen many elite quarterbacks this season, instead beating a ho-hum collection of passers that includes Cam Ward, Spencer Rattler, Dillon Gabriel and 40-year-old Joe Flacco. New England did beat Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes, and Buffalo star and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, knocking off the Bills in Week 5 before blowing a 21-0 lead to them in Week 15."
"That said, Herbert has yet to win a playoff game in six seasons, and he has been hit more than any quarterback in the league (witness his broken left hand). The Patriots figure to lean heavily on their solid running attack to play ball-control in the frigid cold and make it three-for-three against their AFC foes from the opposite corner of the country."
Two playoff matchups draw focus: the Chargers travel to New England where Justin Herbert and Drake Maye contrast with coaches Jim Harbaugh and Mike Vrabel. The Patriots have faced mostly ordinary quarterbacks this season but beat elite passers like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen; New England is expected to rely on a ball-control running attack in cold conditions. Herbert remains without a playoff win in six seasons and has taken heavy hits, including a broken left hand. The Rams showed high rankings but cooled off, losing at Carolina 31-28 amid turnovers and ending the season with uneven performances.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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