Hampton tops 100 yards as Chargers edge Patriots 27-26

Inglewood, CA - The Los Angeles Chargers built an advantage and absorbed New England’s push to secure a 27-26 victory over the Patriots in Week 12. Omarion Hampton rushed for a game-high 102 yards, and Los Angeles overcame three interceptions from Justin Herbert to defeat a New England team that entered the game 8-2.

The one-point margin did not tell the entire statistical story. Los Angeles accumulated 382 offensive yards, recorded 22 first downs and reached the red zone five times. New England finished with 274 offensive yards and 10 first downs but steadily narrowed the gap until little separated the teams on the scoreboard.

Rather than turning on one late play, the game developed around Los Angeles creating an advantage and New England applying pressure as the margin tightened. The Chargers converted both of their fourth-down attempts and went 5-for-12 on third down. The Patriots finished 3-for-12 on third down.

Herbert’s afternoon captured the uneven nature of the Chargers’ performance. He completed 24 of 35 passes for a game-high 256 yards and one touchdown, spreading the ball effectively enough to keep Los Angeles moving despite throwing three interceptions. His longest completion covered 24 yards.

"Three interceptions is too many, and that’s something I have to own," Herbert said. "But we continued to move the football and gave ourselves opportunities. Winning by one makes every possession feel important when you look back at it."

The Chargers paired Herbert’s passing production with 126 rushing yards. Hampton handled a game-high 19 carries, averaged more than five yards per attempt and broke a 25-yard run. Kimani Vidal added 26 yards on 10 attempts and scored two rushing touchdowns, while Brenen Thompson caught Herbert’s touchdown pass among his five receptions.

"I liked the way we stayed committed to giving the run game opportunities," Hampton said. "Nineteen carries lets you settle into the game, and getting past 100 feels better when it comes with a win like this."

David Njoku led all receivers with 82 yards on seven catches, giving Herbert a reliable option in the middle of a balanced passing effort. Ladd McConkey added six receptions for 71 yards and produced the game’s longest catch at 24 yards. Los Angeles finished with three touchdowns and one field goal across five red-zone trips.

That red-zone production stood in contrast to New England’s results inside the 20. The Patriots also made five trips but came away with one touchdown and three field goals. They still remained within striking distance through Drake Maye’s efficiency and a defense that repeatedly took the ball away.

Maye completed 16 of 29 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with a 93.7 passer rating. He also added 39 rushing yards on four attempts, including a 26-yard run. Rhamondre Stevenson led New England on the ground with 73 yards on 12 carries and broke the game’s longest rush, a 30-yard gain.

Romeo Doubs paced the Patriots with six receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. Will Dissly caught Maye’s other touchdown pass and finished with 37 yards on two receptions. New England totaled 116 rushing yards, but its passing game produced 98 fewer yards than Los Angeles.

"We had five trips into the red zone, and one touchdown out of those opportunities isn’t what we wanted," Maye said. "There were good stretches, but losing by one makes you think about every chance we had to get more."

New England’s secondary provided its share of disruption. Carlton Davis III intercepted Herbert twice and returned those picks for a combined 36 yards, while Christian Gonzalez added an interception with a 20-yard return. The Patriots recorded one sack, and the Chargers countered with four sacks without collecting an interception.

The turnover disparity made Los Angeles’ offensive volume especially significant. The Chargers ran for 126 yards, passed for 256 and finished with 108 more offensive yards than the Patriots. New England answered with cleaner quarterback play and three defensive takeaways, creating a statistical split that was reflected in the narrow final score.

For Los Angeles, the result moved the team beyond the .500 mark after it entered Week 12 at 5-5. New England arrived with an 8-2 record and left Inglewood with only its third loss, one point short despite Maye’s two touchdown passes and the defense’s three interceptions.

Up Next

The Chargers will take the win on the road for a Week 13 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Patriots return home looking to rebound against the Buffalo Bills.