Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots won a game that they looked to have in control for most of the first half by a single point. Ultimately, however, the Patriots did hold on to win their Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons to improve to 7-2 on the year.
Let’s get into our lessons learned during the 24-23 victory at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots haven’t won many games the last few years, so this might seem obvious, but it’s been a long time since they won a game quite like this. They were dominant in the first half, and then could do almost nothing at all in the second.
Drake Maye looked flustered most of the second half, threw an interception, ran into sacks, missed some open receivers, and had multiple miscommunications. Not only did the offense struggle, but the defense was getting torched at times by the Falcons, with Drake London putting on a show and finishing with three touchdowns.
But, the Patriots were able to overcome their miscues on Sunday. They might not have been on their A-game, especially in the second half, but good teams win games like this, and Mike Vrabel’s did just that on Sunday.
“They’re talented. They’re a good team, and that’s what happens when you do, and you keep teams around when you keep them in the game. Give them credit, but also give our guys credit for battling back when we had to,” Vrabel said after the game.
“We’ve won some close games, and I think that we did kind of learn a little bit about ourselves. You can make mistakes, and you have to be able to come back and finish the game.”
Patriots picked the right kicker: The Patriots had a camp battle at the kicker position between Parker Romo and Andy Borregales. The battle was as close as could be, and there were some who argued that Romo should win the job. The Patriots ultimately chose differently and picked the rookie Borregales. The seventh-round pick started the season off a little rough, missing a field goal in his first game, and two extra points in his second, but he hasn’t missed a kick since. Romo, who landed with the Falcons, but missed what would have been a game-tying extra point late in the fourth quarter on Sunday. With the Patriots on the ropes, the Falcons would have had a chance to win the game had Romo hit that kick, but he didn’t, and his ex-club would hold on to win. The way Sunday’s game ended is more evidence the Patriots made the right choice.
Progression is not linear: Drake Maye has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season, and he looked to be continuing that in the first half on Sunday. Then, at the very end of the half, he got pressure straight up in the middle, and, instead...
