Tag: New England Patriots

Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III (19) throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills in the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Joe Milton III steps in, guides Patriots past Bills 23-16

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Joe Milton III threw for one touchdown and rushed for another in his NFL debut to guide the New England Patriots to a 23-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

New England (4-13) would have secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft had it lost.

Instead, the Patriots got an efficient performance from Milton, who hit on 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards. He got off to a roaring start, rattling off 11 straight completions to begin his professional career.

Kayshon Boutte was Milton’s favorite target, hauling in seven receptions for a career-high 117 yards and a TD.

One of the few mistakes Milton made came early in the third quarter, when the 24-year-old fumbled to give Buffalo (13-4) the ball at the New England 16. Five plays later, James Cook ran for a 1-yard touchdown that provided the Bills with a 16-14 edge with 7:56 left in the third quarter.

However, Buffalo never scored again. Joey Slye booted three field goals for the Patriots — from 41, 42 and 50 yards out — for the 20-16 final. The Bills turned the ball over on downs twice and punted twice on their final four drives.

Mitchell Trubisky threw for 101 yards and a TD on 15-for-21 passing for Buffalo, the No. 2 seed in the AFC during the upcoming playoffs. Ray Davis led the Bills’ rushing attack with 64 yards on 15 carries.

Buffalo worked its way to the Patriots’ 45 on its first drive of the game, but Trubisky failed to move the chains with a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1.

Milton then checked in under center for Drake Maye, who got the start for New England and lasted only one drive. Milton proceeded to direct a 13-play, 55-yard march that ended with his 1-yard rush to the end zone.

Trubisky made up for the turnover on downs with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Davis that made it 7-7 with 12:09 remaining in the second quarter.

Milton continued to look comfortable, putting the Patriots up 14-7 by finding a wide-open Boutte over the middle for a 48-yard score with 9:10 remaining before halftime.

Tyler Bass made a 49-yard field goal with 4:39 left in the first half to get the Bills within 14-10.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Yannick Ngakoue (55) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots releasing DE Yannick Ngakoue

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots reportedly are waiving Yannick Ngakoue on Tuesday, giving the veteran pass rusher time to latch on with a playoff team.

The Patriots claimed the former Pro Bowl selection off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 8. The Cincinnati Bengals also put in a claim at that time, but New England had priority with a worse record.

Ngakoue, 29, had nine tackles and two quarterback hits in six games with the Patriots. He had 1.5 sacks and four QB hits in five games with the Ravens this season.

A third-round pick by Jacksonville in 2016, Ngakoue has recorded 70.5 sacks, 238 tackles, 148 QB hits, 21 forced fumbles and two interceptions in 134 games with the Jaguars (2016-19), Minnesota Vikings (2020), Ravens (2020, 2024), Las Vegas Raiders (2021), Indianapolis Colts (2022), Chicago Bears (2023) and Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers (5) reacts after the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Patriots’ Jabrill Peppers arraigned on strangulation, drug charges

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested Saturday on drug possession and assault charges that include strangulation, police in Braintree, Mass., announced Monday.

Peppers was arraigned Monday in Quincy District Court on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and possession of cocaine, NBCBoston.com reported. He pleaded not guilty on all charges and posted $2,500 bail, per the report. He was ordered to not have any contact with the alleged victim.

His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 22, however he does not have to appear, per the report.

Peppers’ arrest came after an altercation at a home in Braintree, where the alleged victim was treated at the scene, according to police.

“We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating,” the Patriots said in a statement on Monday. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

Peppers did not appear in the Patriots’ 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, having already been ruled out due to a shoulder injury.

Head coach Jerod Mayo spoke with local sports radio WEEI on Monday, saying, “He called me that morning. I knew what was going on. We’ve informed the NFL what was going on and we’re still gathering information. … I don’t think anyone knows the facts or anything like that. It’s a process.”

Peppers, who turned 29 on Friday, had started all four previous games and has 23 tackles, one interception and two passes defended.

In his eighth season, Peppers has 494 career tackles with 28 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), five forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries in 97 games (83 starts).

The Cleveland Browns selected Peppers in the first round (25th overall) out of Michigan in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has played for the Browns (2017-18), New York Giants (2019-21) and Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Jul 24, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Oshane Ximines (93) walks to the practice field during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Patriots place LB Oshane Ximines (knee) on IR ahead of Jets game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots placed linebacker Oshane Ximines on injured reserve on Wednesday because of a knee injury and signed rookie defensive end Jamree Kromah from the Chicago Bears’ practice squad.

Ximines missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday and had been ruled out of the Patriots’ game Thursday night against the host New York Jets. He was injured during New England’s overtime loss in Week 2 to the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

Ximines, 27, played in both games for the Patriots this season and made one tackle. In parts of five seasons for the New York Giants (2019-23), he had 71 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 48 games (nine starts).

The Giants had selected Ximines in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Old Dominion and released him last November. The Patriots signed him as a free agent in April.

Kromah, 24, signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent out of James Madison after four seasons at Rutgers. He was released at the end of training camp on Aug. 27 and re-signed the next day to the Bears’ practice squad.

On the injury report for Thursday’s game, the Patriots (1-1) had listed Ximines out along with offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (knee), guard Sidy Sow (ankle) and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who reportedly will miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

Center David Andrews (hip), offensive lineman Mike Onwenu (wrist), defensive end Deatrich Wise (shoulder) and safety Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) are questionable for the game.

The Jets (1-1) listed linebacker Jermaine Johnson II, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn right Achilles tendon, as out, and linebacker C.J. Mosley (toe) as questionable.

–Field Level Media