BALTIMORE — It was an evening of firsts for quarterback Drake Maye within the Patriots’ 28-24 win over the Ravens.
Maye delivered the primary fourth-quarter comeback of his NFL profession in his first 300-yard efficiency.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but it surely ought to nonetheless function a morale-booster for the Patriots after final week’s loss to the Payments. With the win, the Patriots are formally within the playoffs for the primary time since 2021.
Trailing 24-21 with 5:02 left within the recreation, the Patriots wanted 89 yards to get inside the tip zone. Maye did it, even after a baffling non-call, when Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was tackling extensive receiver Kayshon Boutte earlier than a deep ball got here down from Maye. Maye was 6-of-8 passing on the go-ahead drive with explosive performs to extensive receivers Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs. Operating again Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 21-yard run to place the Patriots forward.
The Ravens’ comeback try was stalled on a game-clinching play when outdoors linebacker Ok’Lavon Chaisson compelled a fumble, recovered by cornerback Marcus Jones, after a completion from Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, filling in for Lamar Jackson, to extensive receiver Zay Flowers.
The Ravens drove down the sphere with ease on their opening drive, scoring on a 21-yard landing run from Derrick Henry to cap off a five-play, 65-yard possession. That was regardless of the Patriots popping out in a loaded defensive entrance to cease the run. Henry nonetheless ran thrice for 28 yards with the rating.
The Patriots received down inside their crimson zone, however went backwards on a 3-yard loss by TreVeyon Henderson and once more on a 1-yard sack when Maye ran out of bounds. His subsequent go was intercepted by Ravens cornerback Humphrey. Maye threw behind Boutte, who didn’t present a lot combat for the ball.
The Ravens appeared effectively on their strategy to one other scoring drive earlier than Patriots security Jaylinn Hawkins jarred the ball unfastened, forcing Henry to fumble. Rookie security Craig Woodson recovered for simply the fourth Patriots takeaway within the final seven video games.
Maye was capable of capitalize, orchestrating a 10-play, 68-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard landing go to tight finish Hunter Henry. The Patriots received contained in the crimson zone on back-to-back 20+ yard completions to Hollins and tight finish Austin Hooper.
The Patriots’ protection then compelled their first three-and-out of the sport. They received close to the crimson zone however had been backed as much as the Ravens’ 27-yard line earlier than settling for a 45-yard discipline aim from rookie Andy Borregales to take a 10-7 lead.
The Ravens matched that with their very own discipline aim, a 36-yarder from Tyler Loop. Jackson left the sport with a again harm on the ultimate play of the collection and didn’t return.
Maye fumbled on the Patriots’ ensuing drive simply as they had been stepping into discipline aim vary earlier than the Ravens kneeled on the ball to finish the half.
The Patriots went three-and-out to begin the second half. The Ravens then picked up one first down on a 23-yard run by Henry earlier than making an attempt a 56-yard discipline aim, which was no good.
Maye received the Patriots close to the crimson zone once more earlier than the offense sputtered. Borregales hit a 41-yard discipline aim for the Patriots to take a 13-10 lead.
It didn’t final lengthy. The Ravens scored on an 18-yard end-around landing from Flowers. Huntley led the Ravens on the six-play, 65-yard drive and was helped by a facemask penalty on Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss.
A botched handoff and ticky-tack offensive go interference penalty stalled the Patriots’ offense. They determined to name a pretend punt, with upback Marte Mapu making an attempt a go throughout his physique on fourth-and-10. Mapu fumbled. It was a questionable name, at finest.
The Ravens marched down the sphere once more to take a 24-13 lead on a speeding landing from Henry. A suspect Patriots protection appeared tough in opposition to a Ravens offense led by a backup quarterback.
Maye delivered an ideal 37-yard landing go to rookie extensive receiver Kyle Williams to chop the Ravens’ result in 24-21, assisted by a completion to Stevenson for a two-point conversion.
The Patriots’ protection stepped up, permitting only one first down earlier than forcing the Ravens to punt, organising their offense for a possible comeback.
BEST
WR Stefon Diggs: The Patriots prime receiver hadn’t gained 30 receiving yards in three straight weeks. He caught 9 passes for 138 yards.
OLB Ok’Lavon Chaisson: The veteran go rusher made a game-clinching play, punching the ball unfastened on a completion to Flowers.
QB Drake Maye: By the third quarter, Maye was trending down with two expensive turnovers. He completed extraordinarily sturdy, going 31-of-44 for 380 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
WORST
Run offense: The Patriots’ offense was fairly one-dimensional many of the recreation, averaging round two yards per carry till Stevenson’s game-winning speeding landing.
Run protection: Perhaps the run protection will get higher when defensive sort out Milton Williams and linebacker Robert Spillane return, however for now, they’ll’t cease something. Even with Huntley in and understanding the Ravens had been nonetheless going to run, the protection may hardly impede Baltimore’s progress, permitting 5.2 yards per carry.
Teaching: There have been some questionable calls by the teaching workers on this recreation. The one which stands out most: The pretend punt on fourth-and-10 in a recreation the Patriots had been trailing by 4 factors within the third quarter.
Officiating: The refs missed one of many clearest defensive go interference penalties of the season when Humphries was tackling Boutte earlier than the ball got here down. Boutte dropped the go, and the refs dropped the ball.
WHAT WE LEARNED
• The Patriots went heavy with their beginning protection with 4 defensive tackles – Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Cory Durden and Joshua Farmer – on the sphere. The Ravens handed for a primary down on their first offensive snap. After Tonga and Farmer each left the sport with accidents, the Patriots had been down to simply three defensive tackles.
• Proper sort out Morgan Moses left the sport late within the first quarter with a knee harm and was changed by Thayer Munford Jr., who was getting used as a jumbo tight finish. Ben Brown changed Munford in that function. Munford then went down with a knee harm, as effectively. Moses and Munford did each finally return.
• Rookie working again TreVeyon Henderson, who entered the sport as the favourite of offensive rookie of the yr, left the sport within the second quarter with a head harm and didn’t return.
• Total, the next gamers missed time with accidents: Henderson (head), defensive sort out Joshua Farmer (hamstring), proper sort out Morgan Moses (knee), defensive sort out Khyiris Tonga (foot), offensive sort out Thayer Munford Jr. (knee), cornerback Charles Woods (ankle) and extensive receivers DeMario Douglas (hamstring) and Boutte (head).
