Patriots Finish Strong in Ugly Win vs Falcons
It wasn’t pretty, but the Patriots’ 24-23 victory over the Falcons keeps New England tied for the NFL’s longest win streak at six games.
This game had everything: momentum swings, explosive plays, turnovers, clashes between top-tier players, even Cardi B!
The Patriots squeaked out what looked like a potential blowout at halftime, due largely to a second-half collapse from Josh McDaniels’ offense,
I wanted to harp on these things as I entered the elevator to attend head coach Mike Vrabel’s press conference, but then it dawned on me: the Patriots still won.
These are games New England would find a way to lose in recent seasons. Instead, each phase made plays when it had to and won on the back of complementary football. There’s something to be said for that, and Vrabel’s comments made it clear that this team is rising from the depths of the NFL one step at a time.
“Sure, but it’s a funny league, and we’re going to learn from winning so that we don’t have to learn from losing about taking care of the ball and complementary football and how quickly things can change,” Vrabel said. “End of the half, we take a nap, like we talked about the other day. We took a little nap and they scored and made it a one-possession game. Give them a lot of credit, but give our guys credit there for finishing and coming up big when we had to in the fourth quarter with the pressure, the intentional grounding forced them to punt, and then offensively being able to finish with the football was huge.”
Here’s the requisite bad and ugly, but most importantly for tonight, the good from the Patriots’ win against the Falcons.
The Good
DeMario Douglas
DeMario Douglas had a career day under difficult circumstances, recording his first 100-yard receiving game.
Douglas’ first catch was a beautifully-schemed play from McDaniels, who put the slot receiver at running back to create a mismatch against linebacker Jalon Walker.
Douglas’ next catch was 58-yard gain on 3rd & 7, winning a footrace across the field and slipping multiple tackles for nearly 30 yards after the catch.
Douglas also moved the chains on a contested dig target during two-minute, and he boxed out his defender along the sideline for another contested conversion to start the second half.
Douglas’ big-play ability has flashed throughout the past month, and he’s excelled as a blocker when not getting the rock. It sounds like efforts could lead to an expanded role moving forward.
“We’ve got to keep finding Pop,” Vrabel said. “You always look, and when Pop doesn’t have the ball and somebody else does, he’s turning and blocking and doing all the things that we ask him to do to protect our identity. We have to continue to find him on some of these runaways or some of these slot plays that are really good for him. I love having him on the team. He’s fun to coach. He sits right up front, and he’s always into it. Great teammate. Always happy for his success.”
Run Defense
The Patriots’ ground defense extends its historic streak, holding elite back Bijan Robinson to 48 yards and just one explosive play.
Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, and
The Falcons probably should’ve leaned on their run game more early in the game, but that’s none of the Patriots’ business. Another impressive performance from arguably the league’s best run defense.
Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson missed today’s game with a toe injury, thrusting TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings into the spotlight. While the Patriots’ backs averaged fewer than four yards each, and they combined for fewer than 100 yards, it was an encouraging performance for the inexperienced backs.
Henderson’s contact balance and patience continue to improve, even turning a potential tackle for loss into a positive gain. The rookie had a consecutive seven-yard gains on outside carries, but most of his damage came on tough runs inside against a vulnerable Falcons interior. Henderson also continues to develop as a blocker, where he was quiet in an expanded role.
Jennings went from a five-minute back to a true RB2 against the Falcons. The hard-nosed style that allowed him to thrive in those moments translated in today’s plan, with the second-year back consistently falling forward and picking up more yards than were blocked for him. Jennings’ efforts were rewarded early in the game, with
“I mean, he’s run hard,” Vrabel said of Jennings. “He’s run hard in five-minute. He’s a physical back. Those guys rotated most of the game. And TreVeyon helped us win and so did Terrell, trying to get the ball to everybody in the rotation.”
The run blocking deserves credit for opening lanes, but it was less trustworthy in the second half. The biggest lowlight was an eight-yard loss that contributed to an untimely stop in the fourth quarter.
“We had some openings I wish we would have been able to pop a few more,” Vrabel said. “But we moved them and we get on the second level and felt like it was okay. Could have been better. Really just — we get disjointed a few times. Too many seconds and longs, too many times we put ourselves in long yardage, but we converted. We were good on 3rd down, even with that. So again, the run game, and those guys will complement each other. Backs ran hard and took care of the ball, and then we had a few perimeter plays. We’ll just try to figure out what gives us the best chance each and every week to win the game.”
Hunter Henry
Hunter Henry wasn’t on the same page as his quarterback on an interception, but the veteran made crucial plays throughout today’s game.
Henry moved the chains on multiple third downs, including an impressive grab on a tightly-contested target and the catch that iced the game.
“Great timing by Drake, great catch by Hunter,” Vrabel said. “Getting a couple extra yards and staying inbounds, all the stuff that we practice in five-minute, and they’re believing in it and they’re buying into it because they see that that’s what good teams do to end the game.”
On a day where the passing game struggled, Henry stood out as one of the few bright spots despite his potential blemish.
The Bad
Pass Protection
The Patriots allowed six sacks for a second consecutive week.
Still, Mike Onwenu appeared to miss two twists today, one of which led to a strip sack, loss of possession, and eventual Falcons touchdown before halftime.
Onwenu also lost one-on-one against Ruke Orhorhoro to kill a red zone possession. He wasn’t alone in his struggles, as Will Campbell and Jared Wilson were also knocked back at times, but it was an especially dissapointing performance from a highly-paid veteran.
Pass Rush
Michael Penix Jr. had far too much time to throw on most dropbacks. He held the ball for at least three seconds on each of the Falcons’ explosive completions, contain was spotty, and the middle of the pocket was wide open on the quarterback’s explosive scramble.
Milton Williams was a force in spurts, and K’Lavon Chaisson notched an early sack, but it was a below-average performance for the group overall. Christian Barmore was uncharacteristically quiet on initial viewing, and it’s clear more juice is needed in the edge rotation. New England’s blitzes also didn’t seem to get home, especially when sending defensive backs.
The tape may show that several four-man rushes stymied by extra blocking, but this wasn’t good enough for the team’s most highly-paid unit.
The Sh*t That Gets You Beat
Red Zone Defense
Tip of the cap to London for making some incredible end zone grabs, particularly his final touchdown against Carlton Davis.
However, Marcus Jones wasn’t put in the best positions to succeed on London’s first two scores.
The Falcons’ first touchdown came on an admittedly well-designed concept that challenged Jones and Gonzalez’s inside-out coverage with motion, a stack, and switch releases.
That would’ve been easier to swallow had Jones not been locked onto London against a bunch before Atlanta’s second score of the day.
Jones told reporters postgame that adjustments were made later in the game, which could be seen when Gonzalez followed London to the slot on a third down. But allowing better teams to go 3-4 in the red zone won’t cut it, and it’s the latest example of a common trend for the defense.
“When you’re cleaning up, need to take care of the football and be better defensively in the red zone. That’s been our issue, and they made some good plays down there, but we’ve got to be better in the red zone.”
Drake Maye’s Turnover-Worthy Plays
The good news: Drake Maye’s 259 passing yards were the most Atlanta’s allowed this season, earned a passer rating over 100 for the eight straight week, and completed multiple tight-window throws while continuing to add to the rushing total.
The bad news: Maye appeared to hold the ball too often, committed too many turnover-worthy plays, and wasn’t in-sync with his receivers on too many dropbacks.
Maye’s interception can be chalked up to a simple miscommunication that led to disaster–especially given it’s a positive staple in their offense–but he took his hand off the ball while trying to evade Walker on his strip sack, then he dropped the rock after tripping over an offensive lineman.
“Yeah, I think 21-7, we really got a chance to get some more points going into halftime, Maye explained. “Free rush there, first thing I had to do, I told our quarterback coach, just got to tuck the ball to the chest, and getting in a bad habit of trying to break tackles on these guys that I don’t have a great chance of breaking a tackle on.”
Maye also missed some open receivers and into sacks against a disciplined Falcons interior.
The Patriots did enough to win today, and Maye was a big part of that. But a franchise quarterback can’t put his team in bad positions multiple times a game. Fortunately, the young star is pretty self-aware, and he knows the best remedies to a poor performance are moving on and adding to the win column.
“Yeah, first I’ve got to play better for this team down the road,” Maye said. “I think it’s tough, it’s tough in a game where you win and you can feel in that locker room that these guys know we can play better. I think it’s a good feeling to have, but also at the same time it’s tough to win in this league, so you’ve got to enjoy it. You’ve got to enjoy it. And Hunt made a big play down on the sideline, five-minute. Shoot, we didn’t want to make the defense make another stop for us again. And there’s so much things to learn from this game, and I’m just proud of this team for — it doesn’t matter if it’s 24-23 or 3-2. Proud we got the win.”
Injury Report
- Kayshon Boutte (hamstring, did not return)
- Christian Elliss (hip, did not return)
- Christian Gonzalez (head, did not return but spoke post-game)
Penalty Watch
- J.Tavai, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NE 32.
- C.Gonzalez, Illegal Contact, declined.
- K.Chaisson, Illegal Use of Hands, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 15 – No Play.
If Goff’s inconsistency was disappointing, the Lions’ misuse of Jahmyr Gibbs was downright baffling
The Detroit Lions returned from their bye week refreshed, rested, and completely unprepared. What should have been a chance to tighten their grip on the NFC North became a frustrating display of undisciplined football and squandered opportunities. The heavily favored Lions delivered one of their most uneven performances of the season, falling 27-24 to the Minnesota Vikings.
Baffling performance
The game began with promise. Detroit’s defense forced an early punt, and the offense moved efficiently downfield. From there, though, everything went off-script. The Vikings capitalized on a David Montgomery fumble, a blocked field goal, and a pair of special teams miscues to build a lead they would never relinquish. Quarterback JJ McCarthy made the Lions pay for every mistake. He threw for two touchdowns and playing mistake-free football in his return from injury.
Detroit tried to rally late, of course. Goff led a spirited fourth-quarter drive to pull within three. However, it wasn’t enough. The loss dropped the Lions to 5-3 and reignited concerns about their inconsistency against division rivals.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Detroit Lions most to blame for their brutal loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9.
Jared Goff fails to rise to the moment
For much of the past two seasons, Goff has been the Lions’ steadying force. On Sunday, though, he looked hesitant, uncomfortable, and overwhelmed. Due to the Vikings’ relentless defensive pressure, Goff never quite found his rhythm.
He completed 67 percent of his passes for 248 yards and one touchdown. Still, that efficiency masked deeper issues. Goff was sacked five times, often holding onto the ball too long or missing open receivers on critical downs. The offense converted just five of 15 third-down attempts. That was a testament to both Minnesota’s defensive aggression and Detroit’s inability to adjust.
Even worse, Goff’s internal clock seemed to vanish under pressure. Several of his sacks came on plays where he had ample time to throw but failed to trust his reads. The Vikings’ defensive front, led by Eric Wilson, exploited that indecision. They collapsed the pocket and forced Detroit into predictable passing situations.
It’s hard to pin the entire loss on Goff, though. As we’ll see later, the offensive line struggled mightily. Despite that, as the veteran leader of a playoff-caliber roster, Goff’s inability to elevate the offense when it mattered most was glaring.
Jahmyr Gibbs disappears from the game plan
If Goff’s inconsistency was disappointing, the Lions’ misuse of Jahmyr Gibbs was downright baffling. The dynamic running back was a nonfactor for most of the game.
Gibbs finished with just nine carries for 25 yards and three receptions for three yards. It was a stunningly low output for a player who can change games with one touch. Worse, his pass protection was a liability. He gave up two sacks on blitz pickups. This led to stalled drives and missed scoring chances.
The Vikings’ front seven clogged running lanes and forced Detroit into passing situations. However, Detroit’s offensive play-calling didn’t help. Rather than finding creative ways to get Gibbs into space, the Lions leaned too heavily on short checkdowns and predictable runs between the tackles.
By the fourth quarter, Montgomery was the preferred option in the backfield. That was even after his costly fumble in the first half. Gibbs’ lack of involvement in critical moments raised questions about Detroit’s offensive adaptability and game management.
Offensive line collapses under pressure
Detroit’s usually dependable offensive line turned in one of its worst performances of the year. Injuries and miscommunication plagued the group from start to finish. Minnesota took full advantage.
Left guard Christian Mahogany struggled in pass protection before leaving with an injury. He allowed four pressures and multiple hurries. Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker both appeared banged up, while guard Tate Ratledge also limped off at one point. The constant rotation up front destroyed any sense of cohesion. This left Goff under siege for much of the afternoon.
The Vikings finished with five sacks, but the number doesn’t fully capture the level of disruption they caused. Detroit’s running game never found traction, and the offense’s timing fell apart as protection broke down.
Special teams meltdown seals the loss
Detroit’s special teams also imploded in spectacular fashion.
It started early when the Vikings opened the game with a 61-yard kick return. That set up a quick touchdown that gave them momentum. Then, late in the fourth quarter, disaster struck. With a chance to tie the game, the Lions’ field goal attempt was blocked and returned deep into their own territory. That all but sealed the loss.
Those weren’t the only miscues. Poor coverage, missed assignments, and costly penalties negated any advantage Detroit might have had in the third phase of the game. These breakdowns were both surprising and inexcusable.
A humbling reminder for a team with big ambitions
For the Lions, this was a wake-up call. Every strength they’ve built their identity on disappeared in a winnable divisional game at home. The bye week was supposed to sharpen their focus; instead, it dulled their edge.
Dan Campbell’s team remains one of the NFC’s most talented. Of course, talent alone won’t fix sloppiness. Goff’s hesitance, Gibbs’ inefficiency, and the offensive line’s breakdowns combined to create a loss that will sting well beyond Week 9.
Detroit still sits in playoff position, but the path forward just got tougher. The Lions just lost their sense of invincibility. If they don’t correct these issues fast, their NFC North lead could slip away just as quickly.
