The New England Patriots have not secured a playoff victory since their 2018 championship season, where they triumphed over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII after beating the Los Angeles Chargers en route to the title. Their last postseason win was a 23-17 Wild Card Round victory against the Baltimore Ravens. This Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET, the Patriots will host the Chargers at Gillette Stadium, marking a chance for one team to break a playoff drought. The Patriots currently hold the second seed with a 14-3 record and are riding a three-game winning streak, although all their losses this season occurred at home. Meanwhile, the Chargers, the seventh seed with an 11-6 record, finished the regular season with two losses in a row but claimed two victories in their final three away games.
After struggling through two consecutive 4-13 seasons, the Patriots bounced back quickly under new leadership in Shaw’s first year. Head coach Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker who won three Super Bowls with New England, and returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are focused on developing quarterback Drake Maye, who ranks fourth in the NFL for passing yards (4,394) and touchdown passes (31), earning him MVP consideration. The Chargers are eager for their quarterback Justin Herbert to notch his first playoff victory; Herbert, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has yet to win a postseason game, dropping close contests to Jacksonville in 2022 and Houston last year.
Sunday’s NBA lineup features eight games, including a 7 p.m. ET contest at Minneapolis’s Target Center between the San Antonio Spurs (27-11) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (25-14). The Spurs aim to avenge their 125-112 loss to Minnesota back on November 30. The NHL has four games scheduled, highlighted by the Vegas Golden Knights (20-11-12) visiting the San Jose Sharks (23-18-3) at 8 p.m. ET. Both teams enter on three-game winning streaks, though Vegas has dominated recent matchups, winning the last 10 meetings, including all three this season.
Among the three college basketball games Sunday night is a Big 12 clash between Cincinnati (8-7) and No. 25 UCF (12-2) at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, starting at 5 p.m. ET. UCF seeks to recover from an 87-76 loss to Oklahoma State that ended an 11-game winning streak. Betting odds favor the Patriots by 3.5 points over the Chargers, the Timberwolves by 2.5 points over the Spurs, Vegas favored at -155 over San Jose, and UCF favored by 3.5 points against Cincinnati.
Here’s a quick look at viewing and betting tips for Sunday, January 11:
NFL: Patriots vs. Chargers
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Foxboro, MA
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine Picks: Patriots -3.5 (-111) | Expert Prop: Hunter Henry under 44.5 receiving yards (-112)
The Patriots have dominated most close games this season, winning 12 of 14 by at least four points, while the Chargers’ last five losses were by at least four points. The SportsLine Prediction Model suggests Patriots will cover the spread in 53% of scenarios, with expert Alex Selesnik expecting Los Angeles’s strong defense to limit New England’s tight end Hunter Henry.
NBA: Spurs vs. Timberwolves
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Minneapolis
- TV: NBA League Pass
- Stream: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine Picks: Under 235.5 points (-112) | Expert Pick: Keldon Johnson 11.5+ points (-133)
Both teams rank among the NBA’s top 10 offensive squads and top 13 defensively. The prediction model expects a defensive battle with the under hitting more than 61% of the time. Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is highlighted as a key offensive contributor.
NHL: Sharks vs. Golden Knights
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: San Jose
- TV: NHL Network
- Stream: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine Picks: Sharks +128
Despite the Golden Knights’ four-game unbeaten streak, the Sharks have been hot lately, winning six of their last seven since a lopsided loss to Vegas. The model predicts a 58% chance that the Sharks will end their losing streak against Vegas on Sunday.
College Basketball: Cincinnati @ UCF
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Location: Orlando
- TV: ESPN2
- Stream: Fubo (free trial)
- SportsLine Picks: UCF -3.5 (-111) | Expert Pick: UCF -164
Cincinnati has lost five of their last seven games with several close defeats, while UCF has steadily won by four or more points in all 12 victories this season. Predictions favor UCF covering the spread 66% of the time, with expert Matt Severance confident in the Knights extending their home winning streak.
Fan Take:
This playoff game between the Patriots and Chargers marks a pivotal moment, especially as both teams look to shake off postseason frustrations and ignite their championship aspirations. For hockey fans, the Sharks vs. Golden Knights clash offers a thrilling preview of intense rivalries heating up as the NHL season progresses, highlighting the importance of momentum and resilience in the sport.
