The Los Angeles Chargers are resting many of their starters heading into Week 18. As a result, their Wild Card Round matchup is becoming increasingly clear.
If things head in the predictable direction, the Chargers will face off against the New England Patriots in an attempt to earn their first playoff win since 2018. With two quarterbacks playing at the absolute top of their games and a pair of organizations that are hungry to win, this matchup could prove to be absolutely electric.
CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles echoed this sentiment, ranking Chargers-Patriots second in his list of Wild Card Round matchups he'd most be excited to see.
"This would pit Drake Maye against Herbert in a battle between two of the most physically gifted, fun-to-watch quarterbacks in the NFL... [Herbert] is somehow still looking for his first playoff win, and beating Maye would be a tremendous way to do it. "Zachary Pereles
Although nothing is set in stone yet, there is ample reason for excitement to begin brewing around Los Angeles, and a matchup against New England could be a prime opportunity for the Chargers to prove themselves as a threat to be reckoned with in the AFC.
Justin Herbert vs. Drake Maye is the stuff of NFL fans' dreams
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is a serious candidate for the MVP Award, so it's fitting to start there. After a Pro Bowl rookie campaign, Maye has ascended even further, amassing 4,203 passing yards on a 71.7% completion rate while garnering 30 touchdowns to just eight interceptions.
He's lifted a shaky New England roster into genuine Super Bowl contention, and he's rapidly become one of the league's elite quarterbacks in doing so.
Herbert, meanwhile, has been one of the league's best quarterbacks this season, albeit under a dimmer spotlight than Maye has had. Herbert has posted 3,727 yards on a 66.4% completion rate, and he has amassed 26 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.
There's no question which of these two quarterbacks is the better candidate for MVP. However, in a head-to-head matchup, who's to say which player would prevail?
The intrigue goes beyond just the quarterback matchup, though. The Chargers have had one of the best defenses in the league over the back half of the season, and the dynamic Patriots offense could represent the greatest test of their strength they've faced all year.
New England's run defense has also struggled without Milton Williams. If he does not return, there could be a clear advantage that emerges for Los Angeles.
Nevertheless, the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and it's hard not to feel intrigued by the potential of Herbert and Maye facing off in a do-or-die scenario. It's why we all love the NFL playoffs.