Packers

DENVER — Third time’s the charm?

Twice in club history, the Chargers lost playoff games at New England. It was the AFC championship game in the 2007 season and a divisional game in 2018.

That’s little more than a trivia answer, though, as the two teams are entirely different now. 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.

Of course, you play who’s on your schedule in the NFL, so you don’t pick the quarterbacks you face. And the Patriots have routinely gotten the job done. It’s just that Herbert could present a significant challenge.

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.

An MRI has confirmed that Green Bay Packers star edge rusher Micah Parsons suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a non-contact play Sunday against the Denver Broncos, according to multiple media sources.

Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who was acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in August, will miss the rest of the season.

“I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated,” Parsons wrote Monday on X. “This injury is my greatest test—a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it.

“I’m deeply grateful to the Packers organization and my teammates for their unwavering support, love, and belief in me during this season. I trust His timing, His plan, and His purpose. I will rise again.”

During the third quarter of Green Bay’s 34-26 loss to the Broncos, Parsons was chasing Denver quarterback Bo Nix when he suddenly pulled up and fell down. Asked after the game about the possibility that Parsons tore an ACL, coach Matt LaFleur simply said: “It doesn’t look good. I’ll leave it at that.”

The loss dropped Green Bay (9-4-1) from the top of the NFC West to the No. 7 spot in the NFC playoff standings. The Packers have a key divisional matchup with the Chicago Bears (10-4) on Saturday.

Parsons spent his first four seasons with the Cowboys but requested a trade during a contract dispute. The Packers acquired him on Aug. 28, sending Dallas their first-round picks for 2026 and 2027 as well as veteran defensive lineman Kenny Clark.

He finishes the season with 12.5 sacks.

Parsons was the second major NFL star to tear an ACL on Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the day, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered the same injury to the same knee during a 16-13 loss to the Chargers.