Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots are set to put their five-game winning streak on the line in a Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.
In a head-to-head showcase between 2024 first-round quarterbacks, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. are trending in opposite directions to start their sophomore season. As Maye finds himself in the middle of the MVP race, Penix Jr, who missed last week with a knee injury but is set to start on Sunday, currently leads a Falcons offense that ranks 28th in football averaging 17.1 points per game.
Follow along live from Gillette Stadium down below throughout Sunday’s matchup.
Sunday, Nov. 2, 1 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster
The Patriots won the toss and deferred, putting a defense on the field that has allowed points on six of opponents first eight drives this season. New England got the fast start they were looking for behind a second-down sack by K’Lavon Chaisson to help force an opening three-and-out.
Three straight runs out of the gate gave the Patriots offense their first first-down of the afternoon before a check-down to TreVeyon Henderson and scramble by Maye moved the unit over midfield. Another dump off to Henderson saw the back pick up 19 yards to set up shop inside the red zone. New England needed just two plays to find the end zone, as Maye hit DeMario Douglas on a wheel route out of the backfield for 16 yards. [Patriots 7 : 0 Falcons]
The Falcons picked up their first first-down of the game as Penix connected with Drake London for 11 yards. A run stuff then helped New England set up a third-and-9, where Penix’s ball downfield to Bijan Robinson fell incomplete.
