When the New England Patriots needed it most, Drake Maye stepped up with a clutch performance in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s road game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Maye led two impressive scoring drives to turn a 24-13 deficit into a 28-24 victory that clinched the Patriots’ first playoff berth since 2021.
With a 12-3 record — including a perfect 7-0 away from home — the Patriots are still in the mix for the AFC’s top seed and control their own destiny in the division title race.
What should we take away from New England’s latest hard-fought win? Our Patriots insider Phil Perry highlighted the biggest standouts and concerns from Sunday night’s matchup in his “Stock Watch” report for Week 16:
Stock Up
Drake Maye, quarterback
First come-from-behind, game-winning, fourth-quarter drive? That box has been checked. Emphatically. Maye was dynamite in the fourth quarter, throwing for 139 yards — several of those coming on passes made while absorbing hits in the pocket — and a touchdown, as he led two long-as-they-were-clutch scoring drives. — Perry
Stefon Diggs, wide receiver
This was some homecoming for the University of Maryland product. He caught nine of 10 targets for 138 yards, including an acrobatic 26-yard grab early and a quick-hitting, fourth-quarter, fourth-and-short conversion to keep his team’s hopes alive. — Perry
Kyle Williams, wide receiver
Williams had just two catches, but they went for 46 yards and a tremendous 37-yard touchdown. His fourth-quarter score required high-level concentration and what he describes as a calm-at-the-catch-point approach. With Patriots wideouts banged up, perhaps he’ll have an opportunity to see more time on the field and more opportunities to give this offense a spark. — Perry
Stock Down
Team health
Kayshon Boutte (head), DeMario Douglas (hamstring), TreVeyon Henderson (head), Khyiris Tonga (foot) and Joshua Farmer (hamstring) all had to leave the game in this one. Morgan Moses (knee) left briefly and came back to play through his ailment. This particular primetime bout really tested the depth of Mike Vrabel’s roster. — Perry
Run defense
The Patriots had issues keeping Derrick Henry in check (7.1 yards per carry), and he really wasn’t slowed until the Ravens kept him on the sideline late in the fourth quarter. The edges of the New England defense looked particularly vulnerable to Baltimore’s pulling linemen. — Perry
Special-teams trickery
Maybe one could make a case for a fake punt when the Patriots tried theirs late in the third quarter at their own 44-yard line. But the execution — with Marte Mapu drifting right and apparently looking to throw back across the field — was a mess. Baltimore capitalized seven plays later with a touchdown. — Perry