FOXBORO — The Patriots have a brand new signature win.
Underdogs heading right into a Week 10 matchup with the Buccaneers, the Patriots outlasted, outplayed and outshined one of many NFC’s greatest groups to extend their profitable streak to seven video games and enhance their document to 8-2 with a 28-23 win.
Credit score two Patriots rookies with the staff’s largest performs. The Patriots’ protection additionally got here up robust when it mattered most.
First, nonetheless, the Patriots survived what might have been a grave mistake by quarterback Drake Maye.
Two performs after M-V-P chants rained down from Patriots followers half-filling Raymond James Stadium, Maye appeared something however.
On third-and-goal from the Buccaneers’ 2-yard line, Maye was intercepted by security Tykee Smith when a throwaway and subject objective to present the Patriots an 8-point lead may need put the sport away.
As an alternative, the Patriots gave the Bucs the ball at their very own 20-yard line, main 21-16, giving quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers life.
The Patriots’ protection bailed out Maye with an enormous cease on fourth-and-3 from the Patriots’ 27-yard line.
Rookie operating again TreVeyon Henderson clinched the sport with a 69-yard landing run to extend the Patriots’ result in 28-16. It was his second 50-plus-yard landing run of the sport, and his third explosive play.
The Buccaneers scored yet another landing however didn’t recuperate the onside kick, giving the Patriots the win.
The Patriots’ protection seemingly mounted it’s difficulty with beginning gradual in final week’s win over the Falcons. They couldn’t cease a nosebleed on the Bucs’ opening drive Sunday. The Bucs marched 65 yards down the sector on simply six performs. Rookie huge receiver Emeka Egbuka scored on a 21-yard landing catch from quarterback Baker Mayfield. He additionally picked up 24 yards on one other reception.
The Patriots’ offense went simply 11 yards on seven performs on their opening drive. After finishing a 9-yard go to Stefon Diggs, Maye was 0-of-3 of his subsequent three passing makes an attempt, all targets to Mack Hollins.
A key go breakup by linebacker Jack Gibbens on third down slowed the Buccaneers’ offense, who was pressured to punt. Marcus Jones slipped and fell for a 1-yard acquire on the return.
It was a barely higher exhibiting for the Patriots’ offense, taking up from their very own 6-yard line, making it 33 yards on eight performs earlier than punting.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Patriots put collectively a one-play drive. That one play was a 72-yard landing, when he ran previous the Buccaneers’ protection, exhibiting off his jets.
The Bucs responded with an eight-play, 57-yard drive however needed to accept a 36-yard subject objective from Chase McLaughlin, giving them a 10-7 lead.
The Patriots made issues fascinating to cap off the primary half however ultimatley scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line on a go from Maye to Diggs. The Patriots picked up no acquire on three straight performs earlier than the last-second landing to finish the half, taking a 14-10 lead into the locker room.
Popping out of the half, the Patriots had been capable of full a double rating. After a 10-yard catch from Hollins, Henderson turned on his personal jets on a 55-yard landing run, reaching a good better velocity than Williams, to present the staff a 21-10 lead.
The 2 groups exchanged punts.
The Bucs then went on a powerful 11-play, 92-yard drive. Mayfield discovered huge receiver Tez Johnson on a 10-yard landing over Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis. Their two-point try was no good, reducing the Patriots’ result in 21-15.
The Patriots took a danger on fourth-and-5 from their ensuing drive, electing to go for it from the Buccaneers’ 45-yard line. Maye threw incomplete to Diggs, turning over the ball on downs.
The Bucs additionally had been in a state of affairs to go for it on fourth down from midfield. An offensive go interference penalty, when huge receiver Sterling Shepard picked linebacker Marte Mapu, referred to as again a conversion, forcing the Buccaneers to punt. A touchback gave the Patriots the ball again at their very own 20-yard line.
The Patriots needed to punt the ball again to the Bucs after getting inches in need of a primary down. Going for fouth-and-inches at their very own 29-yard line would have been tempting destiny.
The Patriots pressured the Bucs to punt after a three-and-out. Maye led the Patriots right down to the Bucs’ 2-yard line and threw an ill-advise go on third down, leading to an interception. It was an enormous error for Maye, since a subject objective would have given the Patriots an 8-point lead.
BEST
RB TreVeyon Henderson: This was the participant the Patriots had been anticipating after they chosen Henderson within the second spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft. He took off on a 55-yard landing run to start out the second half. General, he had 14 carries for 147 yards with two lengthy touchdowns, together with a 69-yard game-clincher.
WR Kyle Williams: Welcome to the NFL, Kyle Williams. After catching two passes on six targets for 20 yards in his first 9 video games, the rookie huge receiver caught a 72-yard landing to cap off the primary quarter.
WR Stefon Diggs: The Professional Bowl wideout had a productive efficiency, catching 5 passes for 46 yards with a powerful toe-tapping landing.
OLB Okay’Lavon Chaisson: The veteran edge defender now has a career-high 6.5 sacks on the season. He was capable of chase down Mayfield for a sack late within the first quarter.
WORST
CB Marcus Jones: The Patriots’ slot cornerback was concerned in a protection breakdown on Egbuka’s 21-yard landing catch, leaving the rookie receiver huge open. It wasn’t an important sport by any of the Patriots’ prime cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez was flagged for a defensive go interference penalty, and Carlton Davis allowed a landing to Johnson.
Particular groups: The Patriots had two holds on two punt returns, backing them up into their very own territory early within the sport.
Offensive line penalties: Proper sort out Morgan Moses and left guard Jared Wilson had been each referred to as for false begins on the identical drive late within the first half.
WHAT WE LEARNED
• The Patriots opened in a base protection with Jahlani Tavai beginning at outdoors linebacker over Okay’Lavon Chaisson. The thought was to cease the run. The Patriots’ protection couldn’t cease something on the Buccaneers’ opening drive.
• Defensive sort out Khyiris Tonga was used on offense at fullback to select up 1 yard on fourth-and-1 on the Patriots’ first offensive sequence.
• Caleb Murphy made his Patriots debut, but it surely was nonetheless Elijah Ponder and Anfernee Jennings because the staff’s prime backup edge defenders.
• The Patriots have some explosive rookies. Williams was clocked at 21.78 MPH on his 72-yard landing. Henderson one-upped him by going 22.01 MPH on his 55-yard landing run.
• The Patriots suffered a ton of minor accidents on this sport, however the majority of gamers returned. Operating again Terrell Jennings (knee) didn’t, leaving the Patriots to check their depth with D’Ernest Johnson getting snaps.
