FOXBORO — The Patriots have been taking part in with hearth in Sunday’s 24-23 win over the Falcons.
It initially regarded prefer it was going to be a 3rd straight blowout for the Patriots in Week 9, however they not solely let the Falcons dangle round however problem late within the fourth quarter.
It was additionally considered one of quarterback Drake Maye’s worst video games of the season. Maye threw an interception and misplaced considered one of two fumbles. It’s additionally simply as straightforward to say that the Patriots received and prolonged their profitable streak to 6 video games due to Maye’s first-half heroics. Total, he was 19-of-29 for 259 yards with two touchdowns and an interception whereas including six carries for 22 yards.
Late within the fourth quarter, the Patriots, narrowly hanging on to a 24-23 lead, have been pressured to punt to the Falcons. A defensive stand and a pressured punt gave them the ball again at their very own 18-yard line with 1:53 left within the contest.
The Patriots ran the ball twice, selecting up 5 yards and draining two Falcons timeouts. Maye closed out the sport with a 17-yard completion to tight finish Hunter Henry earlier than kneeling on the ball to clinch a 24-23 victory.
For simply the third time all season, the Patriots’ protection shut out the opposition on their opening drive. The Patriots pressured a three-and-out from the Falcons, helped by outdoors linebacker Ok’Lavon Chaisson on a second-down sack.
The Patriots masterfully marched down the sphere on a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Quarterback Drake Maye hit huge receiver DeMario Douglas, lined up within the backfield and matched up with Falcons edge defender Jalon Walker, for a 16-yard landing. The alignment had fullback Jack Westover at huge receiver and operating again TreVeyon Henderson within the slot. The Patriots break up touches and snaps between Henderson and Terrell Jennings on their opening drive.
The Patriots pressured one other punt on the Falcons’ second sequence, although they did permit one first down. Backed up at their very own 6-yard line, the Patriots then went three-and-out and punted.
The Falcons tied it up on a brief five-play, 53-yard drive that ended with QB Michael Penix Jr. hitting huge receiver Drake London for a 1-yard landing over cornerback Marcus Jones. It was a measurement mismatch with the 6-foot-4, 215-pound London lined up throughout from Jones, who’s 5-foot-8, 188 kilos.
Jennings scored his first NFL landing to place the Patriots up 14-7 on a 3-yard run. That capped off a run-heavy 12-play, 65-yard drive.
The Patriots’ protection pressured one other three-and-out on protection earlier than their offense scored rapidly on a five-play, 72-yard possession. After hitting Douglas for a 58-yard acquire, Maye threw an 11-yard landing move to Stefon Diggs to go up 21-7.
The Falcons turned the ball over on downs with 1:17 left within the half however nonetheless managed to attain and lower the Patriots’ result in 21-14.
The Patriots have been properly on their method to rising their result in three scores when Maye was strip-sacked by Falcons edge defender Jalon Walker. Fellow rookie edge James Pearce Jr. recovered it and was chased down by Patriots left sort out Will Campbell on the 6-yard line. London caught one other landing move over Jones for the rating.
Popping out of the half, the Patriots prolonged their result in 24-14. They settled for a 32-yard area purpose from rookie Andy Borregales after stalling within the purple zone to complete off a 15-play, 56-yard drive.
After forcing the Falcons to punt, Maye threw an interception on a miscommunication with tight finish Hunter Henry to Falcons security Jessie Bates.
The Falcons capitalized on the turnover by reducing the Patriots’ result in one rating on a 38-yard area purpose from Parker Romo, who spent coaching camp with the Pats.
The Patriots have been pressured to punt once more earlier than the Falcons went on a marathon 12-play, 85-yard drive that ended with London scoring his third landing of the sport. This one was over cornerback Carlton Davis. Romo missed the additional level, permitting the Patriots to maintain a 24-23 lead.
BEST
WR DeMario “Pop” Douglas: The undersized slot receiver has discovered his groove. He caught 4 passes for 100 yards with a landing.
DT Milton Williams: The Patriots’ high-priced free-agent pickup was charted with 5 complete pressures, together with a QB hit, by PFF. He pressured a key intentional grounding penalty late within the fourth quarter with a rush.
OLB Ok’Lavon Chaisson: Chaisson didn’t begin the sport, however he put a halt to the Patriots’ protection’s sluggish begins with a sack on the second play of the sport. He registered three complete pressures.
QB Drake Maye: The Falcons’ protection entered Week 9 permitting lower than 150 yards passing per sport. Maye eclipsed that mark halfway via the second quarter. It wasn’t an ideal efficiency by Maye by any means. He was intercepted one and fumbled twice, dropping a strip sack on the finish of the half. He did persistently push the Patriots down the sphere within the first half, nonetheless.
Run protection: The Patriots’ run protection did it once more, limiting Falcons operating again Bijan Robinson to 12 carries for 45 yards. They nonetheless haven’t allowed a 50-yard rusher this season.
WORST
CB Marcus Jones: The undersized slot cornerback, coming off of a three-year contract extension and AFC Defensive Participant of the Month honors, allowed two landing catches to Drake London within the purple zone.
Patriots guards: Rookie left guard Jared Wilson and proper guard Mike Onwenu have been each charged with permitting sacks, per PFF’s in-game charting.
CB Carlton Davis: Davis had a move breakup late within the fourth quarter but additionally allowed a landing to London.
WHAT WE LEARNED
• The Patriots opened the sport in a heavy defensive set with linebacker Jahlani Tavai changing Chaisson on the sting to load up in opposition to Bijan Robinson and the Falcons’ run sport.
• The Patriots used defensive sort out Khyiris Tonga as a lead blocker in a short-yardage scenario. The 335-pounder was capable of get a pleasant push.
• Fullback Jack Westover was additionally closely utilzed with beginning operating again Rhamondre Stevenson out. Westover was used as a lead blocker for Henderson and Jennings whereas additionally offering some move safety.
• Huge receiver Kayshon Boutte left the sport within the second quarter with a hamstring harm and didn’t return. Linebacker Christian Elliss left with a hamstring harm and didn’t return, and cornerback Christian Gonzalez was evaluated for a concussion within the fourth quarter.
