The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

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The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

2026-01-12 13:27 Last Updated At：14:01

From front-page news to powerful moments you may have missed, this gallery showcases today’s top photos chosen by Associated Press photo editors.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Click to Gallery

A fan looks at a mural on the 10th anniversary of the death of David Bowie in London, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A plane drops water to battle wildfires in Epuyen, Patagonia, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Palacios)

Mark Ruffalo, wearing a "Be Good" pin, arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Two people sit in the street with their hands up in front of Minnesota State Patrol during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the winners trophy after the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Cars drive through a forest of the Taunus region in Frankfurt, Germany, late Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A girl shows off her skills atop of a pile of snow on Red Square after heavy snowfall in Moscow, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, backdropped by the St. Basil's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A huge mound of garbage that collapsed Thursday afternoon at a waste segregation facility in Binaliw, Cebu city, central Philippines is seen on Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

A motorcyclist rides past graffiti depicting former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing trial in the United States after U.S. forces captured him, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

A family member reacts after federal immigration officers make an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

More Images

A fan looks at a mural on the 10th anniversary of the death of David Bowie in London, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A plane drops water to battle wildfires in Epuyen, Patagonia, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Palacios)

Mark Ruffalo, wearing a "Be Good" pin, arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Two people sit in the street with their hands up in front of Minnesota State Patrol during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the winners trophy after the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Cars drive through a forest of the Taunus region in Frankfurt, Germany, late Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A girl shows off her skills atop of a pile of snow on Red Square after heavy snowfall in Moscow, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, backdropped by the St. Basil's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A huge mound of garbage that collapsed Thursday afternoon at a waste segregation facility in Binaliw, Cebu city, central Philippines is seen on Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

A motorcyclist rides past graffiti depicting former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing trial in the United States after U.S. forces captured him, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

A family member reacts after federal immigration officers make an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Maye throws late TD pass and Patriots' defense roughs up Herbert, Chargers in 16-3 playoff win

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talked to his team about being prepared to bleed as New England entered its first playoff game since the 2021 season.

Then, shortly after Milton Williams sacked the Chargers' Justin Herbert on Sunday night to secure the Patriots' first playoff victory in seven years, Williams celebrated with a head-butt of Vrabel.

It knocked the first-year coach backward and bloodied his lip.

“The big dogs come out in January. I think Milt took that to heart,” Vrabel said. “He came over and got me pretty good. But that’s what happens.”

Drake Maye threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in the fourth quarter, and New England's defense roughed up Herbert as the Patriots beat Los Angeles 16-3 in an AFC wild-card playoff game.

Andy Borregales kicked three field goals for the Patriots (15-3), who hadn't won in the postseason since their Super Bowl victory to cap the 2018 season. They’ll host the winner of Monday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Houston in the divisional round.

In his playoff debut, Maye completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and ran for a team-high 66 yards.

“We made plays when we had to do it,” Maye said.

He also threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the Chargers (11-7) couldn't capitalize on those turnovers.

New England held Los Angeles to 207 yards of offense and sacked Herbert six times, with one of those resulting in a lost fumble that set up the Patriots' TD.

“It's on us, what we do. I've been saying that all season,” Williams said. “We can control the game. If we do what we need to do up front, we're going to win.”

This is the second straight season in which the Chargers have lost in the wild-card round. Herbert finished 19 of 31 for 159 yards and was his team's leading rusher with 57 yards as he fell to 0-3 in the playoffs.

Herbert was just over a month removed from surgery to repair a broken bone in his nonthrowing hand.

“There was no issue,” Herbert said. “I just have to do a better job holding on to the ball.”

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said his quarterback wasn't 100 percent.

“He’s a warrior. He just gives it everything he has, all the time,” Harbaugh said, acknowledging that Herbert was limited by his hand injury. “It’s an issue, but he doesn’t flinch, like a warrior would.”

The last time the Chargers failed to score a TD in the playoffs was their 21-12 AFC championship game loss to the Patriots during the 2007 season.

The Patriots drove into the red zone on their first possession of the third quarter, but the drive ended when Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh and De'Shawn Hand recovered for the Chargers.

After Los Angeles punted, Maye connected on a pass to Kayshon Boutte that went for 42 yards to set the Patriots up on the Chargers 27. But New England settled for a 39-yard field goal that stretched their lead to 9-3.

Early in the fourth quarter, Maye used a 16-yard pass to Boutte and a 13-yard burst by Rhamondre Stevenson to set up his precise 28-yard TD toss to Henry that put the Patriots in front 16-3.

The Chargers picked up back-to-back first downs to open their ensuing drive. But when Herbert dropped back to pass on the next play, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson strip-sacked him and fell on loose ball.

Los Angeles had one final possession, but it ended with Herbert getting sacked by Williams on fourth down.

“It’s playoff football. It’s going to get ugly. It’s going to get nasty. But you’ve got to keep going,” Williams said.

The opening quarter had lots of action, but it took until early in the second quarter for the Patriots to end a scoreless stalemate.

With New England pinned inside its own 10 after a Chargers punt, Maye had a pass intended for Austin Hooper tipped by Teair Tart and intercepted by Daiyan Henley.

Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.

The Patriots took over and got some breathing room via a 48-yard catch-and-run by Stevenson.

Thirteen plays and a fourth-down conversion later, the drive ended with Borregales' 23-yard field goal.

Patriots: CB Carlton Davis left in the first half with a toe injury but returned. ... CB Christian Gonzalez left in the second half with a head injury.

Chargers: End of season.

Patriots: Host either Houston or Pittsburgh next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

The top photos of the day by AP's photojournalists

A fan looks at a mural on the 10th anniversary of the death of David Bowie in London, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A plane drops water to battle wildfires in Epuyen, Patagonia, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Palacios)

Mark Ruffalo, wearing a "Be Good" pin, arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Two people sit in the street with their hands up in front of Minnesota State Patrol during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the winners trophy after the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Cars drive through a forest of the Taunus region in Frankfurt, Germany, late Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A girl shows off her skills atop of a pile of snow on Red Square after heavy snowfall in Moscow, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, backdropped by the St. Basil's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A huge mound of garbage that collapsed Thursday afternoon at a waste segregation facility in Binaliw, Cebu city, central Philippines is seen on Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

A motorcyclist rides past graffiti depicting former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing trial in the United States after U.S. forces captured him, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

A family member reacts after federal immigration officers make an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A fan looks at a mural on the 10th anniversary of the death of David Bowie in London, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A plane drops water to battle wildfires in Epuyen, Patagonia, Argentina, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Palacios)

Mark Ruffalo, wearing a "Be Good" pin, arrives at the 83rd Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Two people sit in the street with their hands up in front of Minnesota State Patrol during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the winners trophy after the women's final match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Cars drive through a forest of the Taunus region in Frankfurt, Germany, late Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A girl shows off her skills atop of a pile of snow on Red Square after heavy snowfall in Moscow, on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, backdropped by the St. Basil's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Rider Ricky Brabec competes during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Riyadh and Wadi Ad Dawasir, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Jan.11, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Protesters burn the Iranian national flag during a rally in support of the nationwide mass demonstrations in Iran against the government in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A huge mound of garbage that collapsed Thursday afternoon at a waste segregation facility in Binaliw, Cebu city, central Philippines is seen on Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

A motorcyclist rides past graffiti depicting former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing trial in the United States after U.S. forces captured him, in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

A family member reacts after federal immigration officers make an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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