How to Stream Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots: NFL Playoffs Live on Peacock
Justin Herbert and the Chargers visit Drake Maye and the Patriots in a Wildcard playoff game on Peacock.
With 18 weeks of the NFL season now complete, it’s officially time for the playoffs! Over the next three weeks, teams will battle it out to claim their spot in Super Bowl LX, taking place February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (streaming live on Peacock and airing on NBC!). Up first is the Wild Card round, which will kick off this weekend with six exciting matchups between the NFL’s best from the 2025 season, including the resurgent New England Patriots facing off against the injury-depleted Los Angeles Chargers streaming live on Peacock and airing on NBC.
The Patriots and the Chargers ended their respective seasons on different notes. New England scored 80 points in their last two matches and went 2-0 with a combined winning margin of 60 points. The Chargers, on the other hand, lost their last two games to the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos, scoring 16 points or less in both outings. It is important to note that the Chargers did rest their starters against Denver in Week 18, giving stars Justin Herbert, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James Jr. a chance to heal ahead of the postseason.
RELATED: What's New on Peacock: January 2026
When does the Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots AFC Wild Card playoff game start?
Kickoff for the Chargers vs. Patriots Wild Card game is Sunday, January 11 at 8 p.m. ET.
Where can you stream the Sunday Night Football broadcast of the Chargers vs. Patriots playoff game?
Chargers vs. Patriots will stream live on Peacock and also air on NBC, live from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusettes.
What to know about the Los Angeles Charges vs. New England Patriots Wild Card playoff game
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been humming recently, throwing for six touchdowns in his last two games. He is firmly in the MVP race, finishing the season with 4,394 passing yards, 35 total touchdowns, and just interceptions. New England will need their new franchise quarterback to maintain this level of play against a stout Chargers defense.
Coach Jim Harbaugh elected to sit out star quarterback Justin Herbert for the Chargers’ season finale against Denver, giving him some much-needed rest ahead of the playoffs. Herbert broke a bone in his left hand (his non-throwing hand) against the Las Vegas Raiders back in late November and has been playing through the injury ever since. The Chargers are 3-1 in the games Herbert has started since the injury, but he has thrown three interceptions over that span and threw for more than one touchdown only once. With star offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater both out to season-ending injuries, Herbert has been under pressure a lot this year, and has relied on his legs often to get him out of trouble. He ended the 2025 season with almost 500 rushing yards, the most ever in his career.
RELATED: All the Live Sports Streaming This Week on Peacock Jan 8-14: NFL Playoffs, NBA & More
This is Drake Maye's first ever NFL Playoff game, and he will face a very tough test against a talented Chargers defense led by up-and-coming defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The Chargers were tied for the 10th-most sacks in the league this season, and Maye was the fourth-most sacked quarterback in the NFL in 2025. Maye has played with plenty of poise this season, but the Chargers pass rush will test him in the biggest game of his career so far.
With the Chargers offensive line battling injuries, the Patriots will need to generate pressure on Herbert, who was the third-most sacked quarterback this season. But New England's defense did not have a player finishing with double-digit sacks this year, ending the season tied for the 21st-most sacks as a team. With the Chargers O-line banged up, the Patriots will need to limit Herbert's time in the pocket, because when given time, he has the arm talent and the offensive weapons to do serious damage.
