Chargers celebrate playoff berth, turnaround under Harbaugh - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In Week 14 of last season, the Los Angeles Chargers were surrounded by fans in their home stadium chanting for the firing of then-coach Brandon Staley amid a disappointing season.

A little over a year later, the Chargers saw what that felt like from the other side.

As Los Angeles steamrolled the New England Patriots 40-7 on Saturday to clinch a playoff spot, the small contingent of New England fans left in the stadium began to chant «Fire Mayo,» referring to Patriots coach Jerod Mayo. It was just the second time New England had lost by 30 or more points at home this century.

Saturday's win was the Chargers' best performance of the season and perhaps the clearest example of just how much this team has changed in a year under coach Jim Harbaugh.

«It feels good to be playing meaningful football,» safety Derwin James said. «I remember being on my couch last year just wishing and wondering, 'Man, like, what I need to do differently to be able to make sure I don't get the same feeling this year, man?' And I'm just happy, proud of the guys that put forth the effort to help us get here.»

James had one of his best games of the season, sacking Patriots quarterback Drake Maye twice to bring his season total to a career-best 5.5. The defense shut down a New England offense that had scored 21 points on one of the NFL's best teams last week in the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots' only touchdown this week came in the second quarter when Maye connected with receiver DeMario Douglas for a 36-yard score.

The Chargers' defense pressured Maye throughout the day, sacking him four times and pressuring him on 11 of his 31 dropbacks (35%).

«Our team played one of our best games defensively,» Harbaugh said.

The Chargers were