Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots got back in the win column Sunday night as the bested the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 in order to clinch their first playoff spot since 2021.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live viewing in the defeat.
QB Drake Maye: It was an up-and-down first-half to start Sunday night for Maye. As he led a second quarter touchdown drive behind back-to-back downfield throws to Mack Hollins and Austin Hooper, Maye dealt with a 45 percent pressure rate which led to two turnovers (interception, fumble) while in scoring range.
When his team needed him the most, however, the sophomore quarterback turned it on in the fourth quarter as Maye led two straight touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to secure his first career fourth quarter comeback win and 300-yard passing game. In the final quarter, Maye completed 12-of-14 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown as he finished the game generating +0.30 EPA/play (80th percentile) and tallying over 400 total yards.
On the first touchdown drive, Maye methodically moved the football down the field before dropping a 37-yard touchdown in the bucket to Kyle Williams in tight coverage. He then kept the go-ahead drive alive with a perfectly placed 4th-and-2 completion to Stefon Diggs.
As Mike Vrabel said postgame, it was a “gritty” effort from the QB as Maye was under pressure on 43 percent of his drop backs and dealt with a rotating cast of personnel groups due to injuries. It was a big-time performance.
WRs Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams: Another primetime game, another 100-yard effort for Stefon Diggs who led pass catchers with nine receptions for 138 yards. Diggs feasted over the middle of the field against Baltimore and got going early with a 25-yard catch through contact on the first drive. He was then on the receiving end of the aforementioned fourth-down pass that went for 21 yards to keep the Patriots eventual go-ahead touchdown drive alive.
As for Williams, the rookie played an elevated role (28 snaps) and made his mark impressively hauling in the over-the-shoulder deep ball touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. The rookie also had a nine-yard reception earlier that drive and threw a lead block to help free Rhamondre Stevenson to find the end zone for the game-winning score. With Kayshon Boutte suffering a head injury, Williams could continue to get more opportunities down the stretch.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: After losing TreVeyon Henderson (head), it was the Stevenson show for the Patriots in the second-half. The back saw just eight carries as they aired it out, but Stevenson rumbled for 51 yards (6.1 YPA) and a 21-yard game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Stevenson then added a first-down run to help ice the game and a 23-yard catch-and-run in addition to continuing make an impact without the football in pass protection.
Injuries: The Patriots saw eight players — DeMario Douglas (hamstring), Joshua Farmer (hamstring), TreVeyon Henderson (head), Morgan Moses...
