Who stood out and struggled vs. Falcons

The Patriots prolonged their win streak to 6 with a win towards the Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

The sport was nearer than it wanted to be with Atlanta capitalizing on a pair of Drake Maye turnovers.

The Falcons took benefit of Drake London’s top benefit over Marcus Jones within the crimson zone twice for a pair of touchdowns, however it wasn’t sufficient to maintain up with Maye’s manufacturing. The second-year quarterback withstood six sacks and several other extra hits and unleashed a number of large throws for explosive positive aspects.

It was a quiet day for the Patriots’ operating backs with Rhamondre Stevenson out, however Terrell Jennings picked up his first NFL landing within the win. It was even quieter for Atlanta’s backs, who totatled simply X yards as New England’s protection turned in one other stellar efficiency towards the run.

Right here’s a take a look at who stood out and struggled within the shut victory.

Inventory Up

DeMario Douglas

DeMario Douglas is hitting his stride as a deep risk.

For the third time within the final 4 weeks, Douglas hauled in a catch of 40-plus yards. This week, Maye hit Douglas in stride for a 58-yarder within the second quarter. The speedy slot receiver stumbled, slashed, and juked his approach into the red-zone organising a rating.

He opened the scoring with a 17-yard catch from Maye on a wheel route. Sunday marked Douglas’s first profession 100-yard recreation. A breakout efficiency for the younger receiver.

Okay’Lavon Chaisson

Okay’Lavon Chaisson was the one Patriot with a number of tackles for loss, and was considered one of simply 4 New England gamers to hit the quarterback.

On a day when Michael Penix was principally in a position to keep away from the stress from New England’s pass-rush, Chaisson acquired into the backfield early for a sack.

He was the Patriots’ most impactful rusher right this moment, and he now has three sacks over the past three video games, bringing his whole to five.5.

Christian Gonzalez

Christian Gonzalez led the staff in tackles (7) and pass-breakups, and he almost had an interception within the fourth quarter earlier than a penalty flag wiped it out.

London hauled in a highlight-reel catch over Gonzalez, however the bulk of his scoring got here when Gonzalez was away from him.

Gonzalez wound up leaving the sport with a head damage within the fourth quarter, a regarding growth as he didn’t return for Atlanta’s last drive. However, he was impactful when he was on the market.

Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs caught three of his 4 targets and made his approach into the endzone for the second-straight week.

It wasn’t his best recreation by way of yardage, however Diggs as soon as once more confirmed that he’s a dependable goal in clutch conditions, selecting up a key conversion on Third-and-11 early within the fourth quarter.

Inventory Flat

TreVeyon Henderson

TreVeyon Henderson did some good issues on the perimeter and had what may very well be thought of an above-average recreation for him at this early level in his profession.

He confirmed some burst when the Patriots have been in a position to get him the ball with house on outdoors runs and screens.

His operating between the tackles left one thing to be desired. An honest exhibiting from the rookie, however nothing flashy.

Khyiris Tonga

The Patriots added an fascinating wrinkle early within the recreation, utilizing the 6-foot-2, 335-pound Khyiris Tonga as a short-yardage fullback on third down. Tonga stuffed the lane enthusiastically, liberating up sufficient house for the again to get the primary.

New England stuffed the run once more, permitting simply 70 yards on 16 carries. Not one of the Atlanta operating backs had a carry longer than 15 yards. The Patriots dealt with their enterprise on the inside and Tonga was part of that.

Drake Maye

Maye, for essentially the most half, was his correct and productive self. Nonetheless, a pair of expensive turnovers saved the Patriots from placing the sport away.

New England was up two touchdowns with the ball when Maye was strip-sacked simply earlier than halftime. A area aim would have given the Patriots a three-score lead. The turnover and ensuing Atlanta landing drive sliced New England’s halftime lead all the way down to seven.

Maye had the deep throw to Douglas, and he unfold the ball round to Diggs, Hunter Henry, and Austin Hooper. His statline wasn’t horrible, however his ball-security points introduced again flashbacks from final 12 months and sure elements of coaching camp.

Inventory Down

Marcus Jones

Atlanta exploited the peak mismatch between Jones (5-foot-8) and London (6-foot-4). They acquired the majority of their factors (14 out of 23) off of these performs within the crimson zone.

Jones had a wonderful month of October, inking a brand new contract extension, successful AFC defensive participant of the month, and making quite a lot of clutch performs.

However, the Falcons discovered a matchup that made his November get off to a tough begin.

All the offensive line

The Patriots gave up six sacks. Want we are saying extra? Neither the run recreation nor the pass-protection have been notably efficient on this one.

Credit score to Will Campbell for saving a landing together with his hustle on Maye’s interception, however Maye was hit early and sometimes.

Stress got here from a number of instructions. The Patriots have been in a position to overcome it, however this recreation was removed from one of the best we’ve seen this offensive line play.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the staff in 2022, Khari lined faculty soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.