Patriots’ wild playoff win ends with a headbutt—literally
The New England Patriots secured a 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on January 11, 2026, advancing to the AFC divisional playoffs. The win came with an unexpected moment when defensive lineman Milton Williams accidentally headbutted his own head coach, Mike Vrabel, drawing blood in the post-game chaos.
Williams played a key role in the Patriots’ defensive dominance. His biggest play came late in the fourth quarter, sacking Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on 4th and 9 to seal the win. Earlier, he delivered several hard hits that energised the team.
After the game, emotions ran high as Williams celebrated with teammates. In the excitement, he collided with Vrabel, leaving the coach with a bleeding injury. Vrabel later downplayed the incident, even showing Williams the cut while laughing it off. When asked about the headbutt, Vrabel revealed he had told Williams before the game to 'spill some blood' and that 'big dogs come out in January.' Williams joked that he was ready to headbutt everyone in the moment. The Patriots now prepare for their next playoff game, though the exact kickoff time remains unconfirmed. Their opponent will be either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Houston Texans, with the match set for next Sunday in the divisional round.
The Patriots move forward in the playoffs after a physical win marked by strong defence and an unusual post-game collision. Williams’ performance and the team’s focus will be tested again as they await their next opponent. The game time for the divisional round has yet to be announced.
