Nothing quite like 4:30 p.m. sunsets, way-too-early holiday decorations, and the complete inability to not trek dead leaves into the house every time you open the door to remind us all that November is upon us. I have no idea where this year went.
On the plus side — and what a plus side it is — this is the first November in a while where the Patriots were still alive in the postseason hunt. Even better, this iteration of the Patriots is tied for best record in the NFL right now. It wasn’t their best game yesterday, but in other ways, it kind of was; the quarterback didn’t have a stellar day, and it was far from perfect, but New England managed to hold on over the Falcons and are now the winners of six straight.
- This is one of those games that I found very hard to get a read on coming into kickoff. I predicted a 20-13 Patriots win, but I wasn’t overly confident in it. The 2025 Falcons are one of the harder teams to figure out; they got blown out by the Panthers, but beat the Bills and 49ers. The Dolphins took them behind the woodshed, but they stomped the Vikings. Though I guess that kind of inconsistency and game-killing errors is just baked into the DNA down in Atlanta.
- This is also one of those games that you put firmly in the “escaped with a win” category, which counts just as equally as blowouts and perfect performances do. A more consistent opponent very likely takes this game, as the Falcons have the honor of generating six sacks, two takeaways, a 100+yard receiver, and holding New England to three second-half points in a losing effort. That’s 2024 Patriots-level tomfoolery.
- And that Atlanta ended up losing this one on a missed PAT from a former Patriots kicker? Ka really is a wheel.
- In terms of actual game analysis, I think my favorite thought about this game is that Drake Maye didn’t play overly well, and I’m able to say that because of the bar he keeps setting for himself week in and week out. That fumble was 100% on him in spite of the protection breakdown, and I don’t know if that INT was a bad throw or a miscommunication, but he also statistically had the best day against that Falcons defense of any QB that has faced them this season.
- Which, in my opinion, represents an absolute layup of creamy goodness for allowing the joyous irrationality and unfettered hypocrisy that is sports fandom to really spread its wings and fly. There are few things that we sports fans love more than doubling down on certain narratives and ignoring others. Cherrypicking stats that prove our point while ignoring stats that refute it. Dismissing some storylines while going all in on others. Smugly asserting that we’re right and you’re wrong. It makes it all worthwhile. So to those of you taking this...
Pats Pulpit
