The Patriots have an opportunity to increase their profitable streak to 5 video games at house Sunday after they tackle the Falcons earlier than hitting the highway once more in Week 10.
The Patriots are in a stunning place at 6-2 and atop the AFC East standings close to the halfway level within the season. They’ve strung collectively two straight blowout wins over the Titans and Browns and are presently favored by 5.5 over the Falcons.
Right here’s what we’re watching on Sunday when the Falcons come to Gillette Stadium:
• The Falcons have had one of many stingiest move defenses within the NFL this season, permitting a league-low 149.1 yards per sport. That’s to not say opposing offenses haven’t been environment friendly in opposition to the Falcons’ protection, nevertheless. The unit ranks twelfth in EPA per dropback and 14th in dropback success charge. The Falcons have one of many league’s prime cornerbacks in A.J. Terrell and a prime security in Jessie Bates. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been harmful with the deep ball this season. He may want to select his spots in opposition to the Falcons.
• Operating the ball on the 3-4 Falcons has been simpler for opposing groups. They’re permitting 126.4 yards per sport, and so they rank twenty fourth in EPA per rush and twenty ninth in rush success charge. It needs to be an enormous sport for rookie working again TreVeyon Henderson with Rhamondre Stevenson dominated out with a toe damage. Terrell Jennings, who hasn’t touched the soccer outdoors of rubbish time, also needs to be concerned, and the Patriots might want to name on observe squad assist to fill out their depth.
• Henderson is coming off of his finest NFL sport, dashing 10 occasions for 75 yards, although he did fumble and continues to be searching for a job within the passing sport. This might be a possibility for Henderson to string collectively environment friendly performances.
• The Falcons have been a Jekyll & Hyde workforce thus far this season, dropping 30-0 to the Panthers, beating the Payments and dropping 34-10 to the Dolphins. So, which workforce will present up in opposition to the Patriots? If it’s the one which misplaced to the Panthers and Dolphins, then issues may get ugly in Foxboro on Sunday. However the Patriots should be on their toes since it is a Falcons workforce who has proven the power to come back to play.
• The Falcons have some harmful playmakers in working again Bijan Robinson, vast receiver Drake London and tight finish Kyle Pitts, however they’ve been inconsistent on offense. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. missed final week’s sport in opposition to the Dolphins, however on the season, the Falcons rank simply twenty third in EPA per dropback and seventeenth in dropback success charge. Penix has a 49.1 QBR on the season, which ranks twenty second amongst certified quarterbacks.
• Robinson ranks sixth amongst certified working backs with a 78.0 PFF grade. His 4.05 yards after contact per try ranks third within the NFL. The Falcons as a complete rank simply twentieth in rush EPA, although they’re thirteenth in rush success charge. The Patriots’ protection has been extraordinarily stout in opposition to the run this season, rating second with 76 yards allowed per sport. It’s going to be powerful sledding for Robinson.
• Pitts might be an issue for the Patriots, who’ve struggled to cowl tight ends this season. Final week in opposition to the Browns, the Patriots allowed touchdowns to Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku. Pitts has 39 catches for 344 yards with a landing on the season.
• The Patriots traded away defensive finish Keion White to the 49ers this week. He was a wholesome scratch in final week’s sport, so we will assume the Patriots will proceed to make use of Anfernee Jennings rotating behind starters Harold Landry and Okay’Lavon Chaisson. Jennings was a wholesome scratch in Week 7, nevertheless. The workforce additionally has rookie Elijah Ponder and Caleb Murphy, who was claimed off waivers from the Chargers final Monday, at their disposal.
• The workforce additionally traded away Kyle Dugger to the Steelers. Dugger was inactive final week with an ankle damage, and starters Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson had been the one safeties to see defensive snaps. If the Patriots need to combine in a 3rd security, Dell Pettus appears to be like like the highest possibility. The workforce additionally elevated Richie Grant, who used to start out for the Falcons, from the observe squad final week.
• The Patriots want to determine the run early in opposition to the Falcons. They’ve proven the power to run two video games in a row now. The Patriots ought to win this one. Let’s go together with a 24-14 rating.
