Drake Maye's NFL Postseason debut results in a victory for the New England Patriots

It was a night to remember for Drake Maye and the New England Patriots for multiple reasons.

Before we even get to the game itself, it's been a while since the Patriots, formerly an annual Super Bowl contender for a stretch of 20 years, hadn't competed in a playoff game since 2021. It's been even longer since playoff football graced the field at Foxboro Stadium, as the last home playoff game for the Patriots occurred in 2019.

Now, it appears that order has been restored in New England, as Maye and the Patriots found a way to secure a 16-3 victory on Sunday night.

Maye wins his first NFL postseason game

While it wasn't an offensive slugfest by any means, Maye settled into the game nicely and made some timely throws. He finished the night completing 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown, as his 28-yard strike to Hunter Henry was ultimately the final dagger in this AFC Wild Card matchup.

Sure, Maye had two turnovers, one of which was a tipped interception, but the Patriots' defense stood up for their quarterback, forcing stops on both ensuing drives. After the interception, the Chargers drove deep into the red zone, a drive that was stopped on fourth and goal, resulting in no points.

Offense was tough to come by, but New England, led by the former UNC football star Maye, capitalized in front of the home crowd.

Now, Maye and the Patriots await the winner of Monday's contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans. The winner of that game will head to Foxboro for a Sunday clash in the AFC Divisional round.

Drake Maye has officially one playoff victory under his belt. Patriots and Tar Heels fans alike all hope that Maye not only has a few more on the way over the next few weeks, but plenty more throughout his NFL career.