New England Patriots
The Patriots clinched their first playoff berth since the 2021 season.
The New England Patriots are back in the playoffs.
It took a fourth-quarter comeback to ground the Ravens, but Drake Maye and a banged-up New England roster did enough in crunch time to overcome Baltimore and leave M&T Bank Stadium with a 28-24 win.
With the victory, the Patriots are back in the postseason for the first time since the 2021 season.
Here are 13 takeaways from a wild win on Sunday Night Football.
Patriots survive a wild game in Baltimore
It wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win for Mike Vrabel and Co.
In a game mired with several critical injuries — including the loss of key players like Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and New England’s TreVeyon Henderson — the Patriots did enough down the stretch to overcome an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit in a primetime matchup.
Mike Vrabel and his staff might have several gripes postgame, be it several turnovers that took points off the board or a few costly calls (and non-calls) by the officials.
But the struggles that presented themselves on Sunday night against a compromised Ravens roster weren’t enough to sink the Patriots — who overcame their first 11-point fourth-quarter deficit since Super Bowl LI against the Falcons.
New England clinches playoff berth
Sunday’s victory may not have secured New England the AFC East division title after last week’s loss to Buffalo, but it did at least punch the Patriots’ ticket to the postseason.
The Patriots also benefited from the top-seeded Broncos losing at home to the Jaguars earlier on Sunday, which means that New England and Denver are both tied with identical 12-3 records.
Denver does have the tie-breaker currently, but New England at least remains in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC with two games to go.
Maye leads the way
Despite a few costly turnovers earlier in the game, Maye delivered one of the signature sequences of his young NFL career — orchestrating the Patriots’ fourth-quarter rally on Sunday Night Football.
Maye surpassed 300 passing yards for the first time with the Patriots, completing 31 of 44 throws for 380 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He was money down the stretch for his team, going 12-for-14 for 139 yards, one touchdown and 14 rushing yards in the fourth quarter.
Maye was the star, but Stefon Diggs was right there with him as one of the key engines for New England’s offense — with the veteran finishing the win with nine catches for 138 yards.
A brutal start
As painful as last week’s loss to the Bills was, New England didn’t offer up much of a response to start Sunday’s game.
Fresh off of coughing up five-straight touchdown drives to the Bills, New England’s defense was gashed once again in Baltimore’s opening drive — with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens finding the end zone in under three minutes off of a five-play, 65-yard sequence.
After former Boston College standout Zay Flowers reeled in a pair of catches for 37 yards to push Baltimore just outside of the red zone, a reeling New England defense couldn’t corral Derrick Henry, who ran in untouched for a 21-yard touchdown.
It marked the 10th time across 15 games this year that New England’s defense has allowed an opening-drive to an opponent — tied for the most in the NFL. Of those 10 scores, seven of them have been touchdowns.
As ugly as New England’s defensive showing was out of the gate, Maye and the Patriots offense did respond by moving the ball down the field on their opening drive — headlined by a contested catch from Diggs for 25 yards.
But staring at a 3rd and 14 from Baltimore’s 19-yard line, New England’s opportunity to counter Baltimore’s TD with at least a field-goal attempt was squandered after Maye was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey at the four-yard line
It was about as ugly of a start as Vrabel’s team could have put together in such a critical road matchup.
Hawkins’ turnover gives New England a jolt
It was looking like a similar script playing out on the Ravens’ second drive on offense, with Baltimore gaining 64 yards off of nine plays while bringing the ball over to New England’s 37-yard line.
But with New England’s defense in need of a momentum-shifting play, safety Jaylinn Hawkins rose to the occasion — punching the ball loose from Henry and forcing a fumble. Fellow Cal alum Craig Woodson was able to scoop up the ball for the turnover, giving Maye and Co. a chance to atone for their poor start.
Sure enough, Maye managed to right the ship in short order — completing five of his six throws for 59 yards en route to an effective touchdown drive to knot the game up at 7-7.
Mack Hollins kept New England’s drive alive with a leaping grab over the middle — converting on a 3rd-and-13 situation for a 20-yard pickup. Maye followed that up with a 26-yard throw to Austin Hooper before dropping a throw in for Hunter Henry off play-action for a 1-yard touchdown.
After an extended stretch of disjointed execution stretching back to the Bills game, New England finally picked a good time to put together complementary football.
New England’s next offensive drive didn’t result in a touchdown, but Andy Borregales did convert on a 45-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 10-7 lead.
Lamar Jackson exits game with injury
On an injury-riddled night for both the Patriots and Ravens, no ailment loomed as large as the one that knocked Jackson out of the game in the first half.
The two-time MVP — who was hampered earlier this season with a hamstring injury — exited Sunday’s game just before halftime after suffering a back injury. Jackson suffered the ailment while scrambling for three yards from New England’s 23-yard line, with Woodson injuring the QB after he knee appeared to catch him in the ribs.
Jackson left the game before halftime and was deemed “questionable to return” by the Ravens before eventually getting ruled out in the second half.
With Jackson sidelined, Tyler Huntley took over for the rest of the game at QB — completing 9-of-10 throws for 65 yards.
Patriots squander another chance to put points up
Despite losing Jackson in the second quarter, Baltimore was still able to tie the game up at 10-10 after Tyler Loop converted on a 36-yard field goal with 1:07 left in the first half.
New England still had an opportunity to execute a double-score after deferring the football until the second half.
But after driving the ball all the way to Baltimore’s 20-yard line with 23 seconds left on the clock, Maye once again took three points off the board with a critical turnover — as Ar’Darius Washington strip-sacked him to end New England’s drive before Borregales had a chance to regain the lead.
Maye might have closed out the first half with more passing yards (178) than he accumulated in the entirety of last week’s loss to Buffalo (155). But the Patriots’ second-year QB had some brutal miscues that prevented New England from entering halftime with the lead.
Injuries pile up for New England
Jackson might have been the most consequential injury from Sunday’s sloppy showdown in Baltimore.
But New England’s depth chart was once again decimated by several stings of the injury bug, with players like Morgan Moses, TreVeyon Henderson, DeMario Douglas, Khyris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Carlton Davis, and several other Patriots all spending time in the blue medical tent.
Already playing without their starting left tackle in Will Campbell, New England’s O-line took another hit after the team’s starting right tackle in Moses missed time with a knee injury. To make matters worse, backup right tackle Thayer Munford also went down in the first half with a knee injury.
With Munford banged up, Moses did return to the game and gutted through his knee injury, but it was evident that the 34-year-old tackle was seriously hampered for the remainder of the game.
New England’s offense also took a sizable hit with the loss of Henderson, who has been playing some of his best football over the last few weeks.
The rookie running back slammed the back of his helmet on the tuft after getting taken down by Alohi Gilman in the second quarter, with the talented playmaker woozy as he tried to make his way off the field.
Henderson was eventually taken to the locker room and was downgraded to out coming out of the second half.
With Henderson sidelined, Rhamondre Stevenson earned the majority of the reps on the ground for the rest of the night.
It’s been a brutal stretch for New England on the injury front, with the Patriots already entering Sunday’s primetime bout with Milton Williams (ankle), Robert Spillane (foot), and Campbell (knee).
Costly decisions hamper New England in third quarter
Vrabel and the Patriots had several second-guesses in the third quarter that loomed large in such a tight game.
New England did briefly take a 13-10 lead after a 41-yard field goal from Borregales, but it was also a curious call by Vrabel and Co. to opt to run a play on 4th and 2 from Baltimore’s 22-yard line — especially with Baltimore entering the second half without Jackson.
Things managed to get even worse later in the third quarter, as New England opted to run a trick play on a 4th-and-10 punt from their own 44-yard line.
The play put the ball in Marte Mapu’s hands for a potential passing play, but he opted to hold onto the ball and was promptly strip-sacked — giving Baltimore the ball on New England’s 44-yard line.
Seven plays later, Baltimore took advantage of that prime field position via Henry’s second touchdown run of the evening.
Flowers, Henry burn Patriots defense
Even without Jackson under center, the Ravens offense still managed to make New England’s defense pay on their first two drives of the second half.
After Baltimore moved the ball down the field via an explosive run by Henry, a third-down conversion from DeAndre Hopkins, and a facemask penalty from Christian Elliss, it was Flowers who put the Ravens ahead — reeling off an 18-yard touchdown run to give Baltimore a 17-13 lead in the third quarter.
Baltimore’s next drive wasn’t much better for New England’s defense, with Henry continuing to shred the Patriots in the trenches en route to another TD run. That score — generated off of a favorable starting position for Baltimore after New England’s failed trick play — gave the Ravens a 24-13 lead with 12:59 left in regulation.
If New England was going to come back, it was going to require a comeback effort from Maye and New England’s offense.
Kyle Williams gives Patriots life
New England received the spark it needed shortly after Henry gave Baltimore a two-score lead.
After Maye moved the chains with a few critical throws, he uncorked a deep ball down the field to rookie Kyle Williams — who snagged a 37-yard touchdown while getting blanketed in coverage to turn a lopsided second half into a competitive bout once again.
After Maye connected with Williams deep down the field, the Patriots QB hit Stevenson in the end zone for a two-point conversion, making it a 24-21 game with 9:07 to go.
Patriots overcome brutal call, take late lead
After New England forced a Ravens punt at midfield, Maye and the offense had the ball back with 5:02 left on the clock at the 11-yard line.
After converting on a few first downs, the Patriots were burned by a brutal non-call by the officiating.
After Maye heaved a ball deep down the field, Boutte was hauled down by Humphrey as he awaited the ball — with no call for defensive pass interference assessed on the play.
Despite that brutal setback, New England didn’t lose composure, with Diggs keeping the drive by converting on a 4th-and-2 sequence with a 20-yard snag. Just a few plays later, Stevenson rumbled into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown to give New England the lead for good, 28-24.
Chaisson ends it
Baltimore still had plenty of time to try and march down the field and take the lead back, but that rally was snuffed out by K’Lavon Chaisson.
The veteran edge rusher made the game-ending play against Flowers, hustling back and strip-sacking the wide receiver after he hauled in a catch from Huntley — putting the ball back in Maye’s hands at the Ravens’ 36-yard line.
Maye and Co. then converted on a pair of first downs to officially ice the win and secure a playoff berth.
LIVE UPDATES
11:25: FINAL: Patriots beat the Ravens in a wild one on Sunday Night Football, 28-24.
New England is officially back in the playoffs.
Plenty more to come here on Boston.com.
11:19: Chaisson strip-sacks Flowers and it’s Patriots ball.
New England needs a few first downs to ice this one.
11:15: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. Rhamondre Stevenson runs one in from 21-yards.
What a nutty game.
It’s a 28-24 game with 2:07 left.
11:13: On a fourth and 2, Diggs picks up 20. What a play.
11:10: No idea how that isn’t a DPI on Humphrey on Boutte. Holy moly.
11:08: Maye gets the drive started with a 20-yard throw to Hollins.
11:04: Ravens stay on the field for 4th-and-4, but they’re whistled for a false start.
Baltimore is now punting.
10:54: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS.
What a grab by Kyle Williams — who reels in a 37-yard touchdown off a deep ball from Maye.
Stevenson reels in a catch from Maye for the 2-point conversion.
It’s 24-21 with 9:01 left.
10:45: Annnnd Baltimore converts off a rushing score from Henry.
It’s 24-13 Ravens with 12:59 left in regulation.
10:44: Toss play from Henry goes for 22 yards. Baltimore now in the red zone.
10:38: Lamar Jackson is officially OUT with that back injury.
But Ravens have a prime chance to build their lead here after that brutal fake punt.
10:36: New England attempts a trick play on 4th and 10 with a fake punt — but it gets blown up.
Ravens take over at the 45-yard line. Yikes.
10:35: Maye slow to get up after that third-down play.
10:33: Diggs to the rescue, once again. 24-yard pickup moves the chains on 3rd and 15.
10:32: Maye scrambles and appears to convert on third down, but Boutte is whistled for offensive pass interference.
10:25: Touchdown Ravens. Zay Flowers breaks through for an 18-yard run.
Even without Lamar Jackson, the Ravens take a 17-13 lead with 4:35 left in the third quarter.
10:24: After Hopkins converts on a critical third down, Elliss is whistled for a facemask. Huntley and the Ravens are moving the ball.
10:21: Now Pop Douglas is questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
10:14: New England once again can’t punch a touchdown in, as a throw from Maye on 3rd down to Stevenson can’t be reeled in.
Borregales does give New England a 13-10 lead with 7:47 left in the third quarter.
10:12: Impressive effort from Stevenson on that catch-and-run. 23 yard pickup. He’ll get the rest of these reps with Henderson sidelined.
10:07: Loop attempts a 56-yard field goal, but his attempt falls short. Still a 10-10 game.
10:06: Anfernee Jennings with a huge sack on Huntley. Barmore also generated plenty of pressure on that play.
10:05: TreVeyon Henderson has been downgraded to out.
10:04: Baltimore may not have Jackson right now, but Derrick Henry is still mighty good. He goes for 23 yards on that run.
10:03: Tyler Huntley is in at QB for Baltimore.
10:02: Drake Maye and the Patriots go 3-and-out to start the second half. A poor throw from Maye on that third-down attempt to Diggs.
9:59: No Lamar Jackson on the field coming out of halftime.
9:45: HALFTIME: Patriots and Ravens are tied, 10-10.
9:44: Not sure what Mark Andrews was doing there with that lateral.
9:43: Brutal. New England had a chance to add another field goal before halftime, but is strip-sacked. Looks like this is going to be a 10-10 game going into halftime.
9:40: Tonga now questionable to return with a foot injury. What a brutal day so far for both teams.
9:39: Morgan Moses is back in the game at right tackle. The veteran is looking to gut this one out.
9:36: Per the Ravens, Lamar Jackson has a back injury and is questionable to return.
9:36: As Lamar Jackson heads to the locker room, Tyler Loop converts on a 36-yard field goal.
10-10 game.
9:34: Woah. Huntley in at QB for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson is out of the game.
9:33: Thayer Munford is also questionable to return with a knee injury.
9:31: TreVeyon Henderson is questionable to return with a head injury.
9:29: Another third-down conversion for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
9:26: And Zay Flowers moves the chains. Not a great game from Christian Gonzalez so far.
9:26: Tonga with a critical run stuff against Henry on 2nd down.
9:21: Patriots have the lead after a 45-yard field goal from Andy Borregales.
It’s 10-7 New England, although the injury bug is stinging the Patriots once again.
9:21: Now backup right tackle Thayer Munford is down. Brutal.
9:20: Dre’Mont Jones with the sack after beating Lowe clean.
9:16: Henderson right into the blue medical tent. Didn’t look great for the rookie after hitting his helmet off the field.
9:15: Henderson is shaken up after getting slammed to the turf there.
9:12: Diggs once again delivers on 3rd down. He picks up 33 yards on a 3rd-and-3 situation. Showcasing his speed on that crosser route.
9:11: Not good for the Patriots’ O-line. Moses heading to the locker room.
9:08: Nice response from New England’s defense. Christian Barmore and Jack Gibbens dial up the pressure and Jackson’s throw on 3rd down is incomplete.
Ravens are punting.
9:02: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. Maye hits Hunter Henry in the end zone and New England is on the board.
It’s a 7-7 game.
Great complementary football, with New England converting off a drive jumpstarted by Hawkins’ turnover.
9:01: Now Maye hits Austin Hooper for a 26-yard pickup. Sick throw from Maye down the seam to Hooper.
9:00: Staring at a 3rd-and-13, Maye throws one over the middle to Hollins for 20 yards. Huge play.
8:58: DT Joshua Farmer is also questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
8:53: Patriots move the ball on a defensive hold by Humphrey. A key call with Maye throwing the ball away on a 3rd and 4.
8:51: Patriots starting right tackle Morgan Moses is questionable to return with a knee injury. Thayer Munford in at right tackle.
8:50: A huge play by New England’s defense. Hawkins forces a fumble on Derrick Henry. Patriots recover with Craig Woodson coming away with the ball. Huge play.
8:46: A strong start for former BC star Zay Flowers. 3 catches for over 50 yards in the first quarter.
8:39: A brutal start for New England gets even worse. Maye scrambles but then throws a pick to Marlon Humphrey right by the end zone. A red-zone possession wasted.
8:38: Diggs is back out there after getting his shoulder checked out.
8:36: Old friend Kyle Van Noy breaks up a third-down throw from Maye to Henry that would have been a touchdown.
New England does move the chains with a sneak up the gut on a 4th and 1.
8:35: Some trickery from the Pats leads to a 7-yard gain from Stevenson.
8:34: Good to see Diggs getting involved early. He’s getting checked in the blue medical tent after taking plenty of contact.
8:26: A poor start gets worse. Derrick Henry rumbles through for a 21-yard touchdown.
7-0 Ravens.
8:22: Not a great start for New England’s defense, with Zay Flowers breaking through on a chunk play.
8:20: Patriots win the coin toss and they defer. Ravens offense up first.
8:20: A big game is about to get underway.
7:31: Warmups are underway.
7:13: Here’s New England’s inactives:
Despite being listed as questionable, Marcus Jones, Carlton Davis, Christian Barmore, and Harold Landry are all active for the Patriots vs. the Ravens.
7:12: Sunday was already going to be a big game for the Patriots, but it becomes even more critical now that the Broncos are losing to the Jags in their own building. Patriots could still make a push for the No. 1 seed with a win tonight.
7:10: Greetings! A pretty big matchup tonight in Baltimore, to say the least:
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