It’s official. Related Articles Best and worst: What we learned from Patriots’ 38-10 blowout win over Dolphins Patriots inactives: Two key players return to lineup vs. Dolphins Patriots’ 2026 regular-season opponents set, includes several high-profile matchups Callahan: 20 Patriots predictions for the 2026 NFL season 10 things we’re watching in Week 18 Patriots-Dolphins season finale The Patriots will host the Chargers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs next weekend at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC bracket with Sunday’s 38-10 win over Miami, while a backup-laden Chargers team dropped to the seventh seed after a 19-3 loss at Denver. The Patriots (14-3) will play at home for the entire AFC playoffs unless they meet the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. This is their first trip to the postseason in four years, and next weekend will feature their first home playoff game since Jan. 2020. The Chargers (11-6) are led by Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Hebert, who completed 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions this year despite a lingering hand injury and poor pass protection. Entering Sunday, when Herbert sat in favor of backup Trey Lance, Los Angeles ranked 17th in points scored and seventh in points allowed. The Chargers are making their second straight postseason run under second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has one career Super Bowl appearance from his tenure as the head coach in San Francisco. The Pats and Chargers did not…
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