Tag: Patriots

Pats LT Will Campbell (knee) expected to return to practice this week

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell is expected to return to practice this week after missing four games with a knee injury, coach Mike Vrabel said Monday.

Sunday’s Week 18 game would be the earliest Campbell is eligible to come off injured reserve. He was placed on IR on Nov. 26 with a Grade 3 MCL sprain.

Vrabel gave no indication if Campbell could play Sunday, but he has a 21-day window to return to action once activated from IR, meaning he would still be eligible to return during the playoffs even if he sits out Sunday’s game.

Campbell, 21, was the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He started the first 12 games of the season before the injury occurred in a Week 12 win at Cincinnati.

While New England (13-3) has clinched the AFC East for the first time since 2019, it still has something to play for in Sunday’s game. A win over Miami paired with a Denver loss to the Los Angeles Chargers would give the Patriots the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the first-round bye and homefield advantage through to the Super Bowl that come with it.

–Field Level Media

Drake Maye throws 5 TD passes as Patriots rout Jets

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Drake Maye completed 19 of 21 passes for 256 yards and five touchdowns to lead the visiting New England Patriots to a 42-10 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.

Maye completed his first 11 attempts and tossed TD passes to tight end Austin Hooper (2 yards), running back Rhamondre Stevenson (22 yards), wide receiver Stefon Diggs (3 yards), tight end Hunter Henry (13 yards) and wide receiver Efton Chism (10 yards). It was Chism’s first NFL touchdown.

Diggs was targeted six times and had six receptions for 101 yards.

Maye, who was pulled in the third quarter after his fifth TD pass, became the fourth Patriots quarterback to pass for at least five touchdowns in a game, joining Tom Brady, Steve Grogan and Babe Parilli.

Stevenson also scored on a 1-yard run to help the Patriots (13-3) improve their road record to 8-0. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson led the New England ground attack with 82 yards on 19 carries.

New York quarterback Brady Cook completed 18 of 32 passes for 152 yards with one interception in the loss.

Breece Hall scored New York’s only touchdown on a 59-yard run. The TD helped trim New England’s lead to 42-10 with 14:51 to play. Hall gained 111 yards on 14 carries and became the first Jet to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season since Chris Ivory in 2015.

Nick Folk added a 39-yard field goal for the Jets (3-13), who have lost four games in a row and six of their last seven.

The Patriots were up 14-0 after one quarter, 35-3 at halftime and 42-3 entering the fourth.

New England outgained New York 344-77 in the first half, when the Patriots had a 23-3 edge in first downs.

The Patriots finished the game with a 440-307 advantage in total yards, and had twice as many first downs as the Jets (28-14).

New York defensive back Qwan’tez Stiggers recorded a game-high 10 tackles.

–Field Level Media

Patriots place WR Mack Hollins (abdomen) on injured reserve

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The New England Patriots placed veteran wide receiver Mack Hollins on injured reserve Saturday to put another dent into quarterback Drake Maye’s pass-catching corps.

Hollins recorded a season-high-tying seven receptions on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, but apparently also suffered an abdomen injury that forced him to IR. Hollins, who owns 46 catches for 550 yards and two scores, must miss New England’s final two regular-season games and its first two playoff games if the Patriots advance that far.

Hollins joins five other Patriots starters on the sidelines for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. The group includes wideout Kayshon Boutte (concussion), who has collected 31 receptions for 527 yards and a team-high-tying six touchdowns.

The Patriots made three additional moves Saturday. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. was signed off the practice squad to join the 53-man roster. Defensive back Kobee Minor and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III bumped up from the practice squad to the active roster, too.

Minor and Pharms have played in two games apiece this season while Taylor has made one appearance with New England. Taylor made two appearances for the New York Jets earlier this season before being released and picked up by the Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Pats head to New York with AFC East, perfect road record within reach

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The New England Patriots will look to continue their road dominance Sunday when they visit the New York Jets in Week 17.

New England clinched a playoff berth and improved its road record to 7-0 when it beat Baltimore 28-24 last Sunday night. The Patriots, who will play the Dolphins at home next weekend, have finished the regular season unbeaten in away games twice: 2007 (8-0) and 2016 (8-0).

“We’ve got to focus on this week and going on the road to a great environment, going to New York City, play the Jets and unfinished business,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. “We want to be undefeated on the road. I think that that’s something that’s unique. I’m sure you guys will tell me how many times it’s happened before, but there you go. So, that’s something that I think is special.”

The Patriots (12-3) can clinch the AFC East title if they defeat the Jets and Buffalo either loses or ties Philadelphia on Sunday.

New England quarterback Drake Maye will enter Sunday’s matchup with the best completion percentage (70.9%) of any NFL quarterback this season. He said the Patriots’ final two games will be treated just like the first 15.

“It’s as simple as go win the division,” he said. “That’s what the goal was. It wasn’t to make the playoffs. It was to win the division, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

The offseason can’t arrive soon enough for the Jets (3-12), who will be trying to end a three-game losing streak. Jets coach Aaron Glenn said undrafted rookie Brady Cook will again be New York’s starting quarterback Sunday. Cook has passed for 527 yards and one touchdown with six interceptions in three games this season. Starting QB Justin Fields (knee) was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, ending his season.

“I think as a young quarterback it’s important to be critical of yourself,” Cook said. “These are very important reps, moments and opportunities for me.

“We need to find ways to push the ball down the field, create explosives and score the football. This game is about scoring points.”

The Jets are last in the NFL in passing yards per game (145.9) and will be facing a New England defense that ranks 11th in passing yards allowed per contest (202).

“Usually, and I know this as a (former) defensive coordinator myself, when you have a rookie quarterback in there, you’re going to do everything you can to stop the run and force him to throw,” Glenn said. “On the defensive side, we have to figure out a way to slow down this quarterback (Maye) because he’s playing at a high level.”

The Patriots beat the Jets 27-14 in the first meeting between the teams this season. After New York scored first, running back TreVeyon Henderson helped New England take a 21-7 lead with two touchdown runs and a TD catch.

Henderson played 14 snaps before leaving last Sunday’s victory over Baltimore with a head injury. He was placed in concussion protocol and was a limited participant in practice Wednesday. New England had eight players who didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice: wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion protocol), cornerback Carlos Davis III (illness), tight end CJ Dippre (illness), wide receiver Mack Hollis (abdomen), linebackers Robert Spillane (ankle) and Harold Landry III (knee), defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (foot) and guard Jared Wilson (concussion protocol).

In addition to Fields, the Jets had four players who did not practice Wednesday: linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (neck), edge rusher Will McDonald IV (knee), tight end Mason Taylor (neck) and defensive lineman Jay Tufele (foot).

–Field Level Media

Patriots sign G Ben Brown to contract extension

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New England Patriots guard Ben Brown signed a contract extension with the team, his representation announced Tuesday.

SportsTrust Advisors did not announce the terms but multiple media outlets reported it was a two-year deal worth up to $6.6 million.

Brown, 27, has played in 15 games (two starts) this season and was due to become a restricted free agent this offseason.

Brown has played in 26 games (12 starts) with the Seattle Seahawks (2023) and Patriots since entering the NFL undrafted out of Ole Miss. He began his NFL career in Cincinnati but did not play in a game for the Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Patriots score last 2 TDs in fourth to surge past Ravens

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Drake Maye completed 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns as the New England Patriots improved their road record to 7-0 by beating the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 on Sunday night.

New England (12-3) trailed 24-21 until Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 21-yard run and Andy Borregales kicked the extra point with 2:07 to play. The Patriots recovered a Baltimore fumble on the second play of the ensuing drive and ran out the clock.

Derrick Henry rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries for the Ravens (7-8).

New England’s Stefon Diggs had nine receptions for 138 yards.

The Ravens played most of the night without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who left the game because of a back injury with 1:16 remaining in the first half and did not return. Backup QB Tyler Huntley was 9-of-10 passing for 65 yards.

New England running back TreVeyon Henderson also missed the second half with a head injury.

The Ravens struck first on Henry’s 21-yard touchdown run with 12:21 left in the first quarter. It was the 10th opening-drive score the Patriots have allowed this season — tied for most in the NFL — and the seventh time they’ve given up a touchdown on their opponents’ first drive.

It was 7-7 after Maye tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Hunter Henry and Borregales kicked the PAT with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter.

Borregales put the Patriots up 10-7 on a 45-yard field goal with 5:39 left in the first half. Baltimore tied the game on Tyler Loop’s 36-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter for a 10-10 score at halftime.

Borregales kicked a 41-yard field goal to give New England a 13-10 advantage, but Zay Flowers regained the lead for the Ravens with an 18-yard TD run. The PAT put Baltimore in front 17-13 with 4:35 left in the third.

Henry’s second TD run came from 2 yards away with 12:50 to play in regulation. Loop’s PAT gave the Ravens a 24-13 advantage.

New England answered with a 37-yard TD pass from Maye to Kyle Williams, and was within 24-21 after Maye completed a pass to Stevenson for the two-point conversion with 9:01 remaining in the fourth.

–Field Level Media

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (back) departs against Patriots

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Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson departed Sunday night’s home game against the New England Patriots in the second quarter due to a back injury.

The Ravens formally ruled Jackson out late in the third quarter.

Jackson appeared to sustain the injury on Baltimore’s first play after the two-minute warning. He was running with the ball and went down awkwardly as New England safety Craig Woodson closed in to make the tackle.

Jackson remained in the game for one more play — a handoff — before exiting with 1:16 remaining.

Jackson appeared both frustrated and physically uncomfortable as cameras caught him underneath the stands walking to the Ravens’ locker room to be examined.

Tyler Huntley replaced Jackson and guided Baltimore to a third-quarter touchdown and another early in the fourth as the Ravens took a 24-13 lead.

Jackson completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards and rushed for 7 yards on two carries before his departure.

The two-time MVP has battled injuries most of this season, including to his hamstring, knee, ankle and toe, leaving the Ravens in a fight to gain a playoff berth.

New England lost rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson due to a head injury in the second quarter. He carried five times for just 3 yards.

Henderson rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns in a home loss to the Buffalo Bills last week. On Nov. 9, Henderson rushed for 147 yards and two scores in a road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

–Field Level Media

Patriots clinch playoffs with win; Ravens in must-win territory

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs when they visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

The Patriots (11-3) are coming off last Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Denver (12-2) is the only AFC team with a better record than New England, but the Broncos own the tiebreaker against the Patriots if the teams finish with the same record.

New England would clinch a playoff berth with a win. Coach Mike Vrabel was asked Wednesday if a team can benefit from a late-season loss.

“I would say that’s TBD,” Vrabel said. “I don’t know. It’s only depending on how you respond, how you prepare, how you practice and ultimately how you play. So, we’ll see. There’s a lot of good things in there and we’ll need all those things on Sunday night against this football team that’s 6-2 after their bye, and really coming off a big win last week. A dominant win.”

The Ravens (7-7) ended a two-game losing streak by beating Cincinnati 24-0 last Sunday. Baltimore, however, will likely need a strong finish to earn a playoff berth.

If the Ravens win their final three regular-season games (New England, at Green Bay and at Pittsburgh), they will win the AFC North, although there are other scenarios in which Baltimore can qualify for the playoffs.

“You just assume that you have to take care of your business,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It would be a stretch for us not to have to win out. So, we’ll plan on that and that’s what we’re going to have to try to do.”

New England is 6-0 on the road this season and will be facing a Baltimore team that’s 3-5 at home. The Ravens were without quarterback Lamar Jackson for home losses to Houston (44-10) and the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) in early October because of a hamstring injury.

“The Houston game was probably our worst home game that I can ever remember, (but) our guys were fighting their butts off — the guys that were out there playing, who were playing in the game,” Harbaugh said. “That game is what it was. The Rams game is what it was. Guys are fighting their butts off in that game, too. So, those games are history.”

New England ranks seventh among NFL teams in both scoring offense (27.3) and scoring defense (19.7). Baltimore is 14th in scoring offense (23.9) and 15th in scoring defense (22.8).

“Obviously, someone is coming into our house,” Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We have to win games. We have to put on a show for our crowd and end up getting wins like how we’re supposed to.”

Jackson (illness) is one of six Ravens who didn’t participate in practice Wednesday. Linebacker Roquan Smith (knee), linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quadriceps) linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (foot) are the others.

Five Patriots did not participate in practice Wednesday: cornerback Carlton Davis (hip), cornerback Marcus Jones (knee), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), linebacker Harold Landry (knee) and linebacker Christian Ellliss (illness). Defensive tackle Christian Barmore was listed as a limited participant on the team’s participation report, but his situation is non-injury related.

–Field Level Media

Patriots host Bills in crucial AFC East showdown

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The New England Patriots can win their first AFC East title this decade by taking down the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.

The Patriots will be seeking their 11th straight victory, a streak that includes a 23-20 triumph over the host Bills on Oct. 5.

Buffalo (9-4) has won the past five AFC East crowns but the Patriots (11-2) have improved in coach Mike Vrabel’s first season and quarterback Drake Maye’s second with the club.

Maye, an NFL MVP candidate, is ready to facilitate a changing of the guard.

“They’ve won the division for five years,’ Maye said Wednesday. “We have something that we need to go take, and know it’s going to be hard to do.”

New England went just 4-13 in Maye’s rookie season but has been a season-long surprise this year.

The Patriots lost two of their first three games before beginning their impressive winning streak. Now they are one of the hottest teams in the NFL as they eye their first season sweep of the Bills since 2019, when Tom Brady was the team’s quarterback.

Buffalo has won five of its past seven games but a loss to the Patriots will leave them unable to win the division.

“They’re one of the top teams, if not the top team in the AFC right now,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of New England. “We’ll have our work cut out for us. If you don’t take care of the ball against any team in the league, it’s going to be hard to win against a particular team this strong.”

The blossoming of Maye has been a major ingredient of New England’s success.

The 23-year-old has completed a league-best 71.5 percent of his passes and is on track to break Brady’s franchise record of 68.9 percent set in 2007. Maye has thrown for 3,412 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.

For comparison, reigning MVP Josh Allen of the Bills has passed for 3,083 yards and 22 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, while completing 70.1 percent of his throws.

“Obviously, Drake is playing at an extremely high level right now,” Allen said Wednesday. “He’s extremely fun to watch and he’s put his team in a very good position.”

Maye passed for 273 yards in the October road win over the Bills. Allen threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted once.

Maye’s improved play has led to comparisons with Allen and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel sees why there is such chatter.

“I think they’re both really good at what they do,” Vrabel said. “Josh probably has got a couple (pounds) on him and can kind of throw his shoulder in there probably a little bit more than I would want Drake to, but I think they’re both great competitors. (I have) a lot of respect for Josh and just his ability to make something out of nothing.

“I’ve enjoyed watching Drake’s growth here, but I’m not going to say one’s a certain way and one’s the other. Just a huge challenge going against a quarterback that’s under control, he’s got command and just doesn’t look panicked or rattled when you rush him. Just an excellent, obviously, MVP quarterback.”

The Bills held a walk-through on Wednesday and tight end Dawson Knox (personal) was the lone player to miss it. Star linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow), defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring/wrist), receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) and offensive lineman Spencer Brown (shoulder) were limited participants.

New England running back Terrell Jennings (concussion) sat out practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Harold Landry (knee), defensive tackle Christian Barmore (not injury related) and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (abdomen) were limited.

–Field Level Media

Playoff Picture entering Week 15: Patriots can clinch AFC East

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Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wants no part of New England playing in a “shirt and hat game” Sunday.

The first-year coach brought up in the Patriot Way under Bill Belichick is on the verge of placing New England back in the postseason for the first time since the 2021 season.

If the Patriots (11-2) beat the Buffalo Bills (9-4) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, New England would be the first team to clinch a division this season. Even in the event of a loss or tie, there are combinations of results in Week 15 that could send the Patriots to the playoffs with three more regular-season games to go. The Patriots went 4-13 last season.

“We’re just trying to play for the championship that we have available this week,” Vrabel said. “It’s a great testament to our players who have put us in this position. It’s not going to be easy. There’s a reason they’ve won this division five years in a row.”

New England and Denver are jostling for the top seed in the AFC. The Broncos (11-2) have won 10 consecutive games and face NFC frontrunner Green Bay (9-3-1) later Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET).

The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot in the AFC with a win, or the combination of a tie and losses by either the Chargers or the AFC South’s three contenders: Jacksonville, Indianapolis or Houston.

There’s only one NFC team — the Los Angeles Rams (10-3) — with a chance to secure a playoff spot on Sunday. The Rams play the Lions (8-5) in Los Angeles in a win-and-in scenario.

Here’s the complete playoff picture as it stands entering Week 15:

AFC
Division leaders
1. Denver Broncos, 11-2, 7-2 vs. AFC
2. New England Patriots, 11-2, 6-2 vs. AFC
3. Jacksonville Jaguars, 9-4l, 6-2 vs. AFC
4. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7-6, 6-3 vs. AFC

Wild-card leaders
5. Los Angeles Chargers, 9-4, 7-2 vs. AFC
6. Buffalo Bills, 9-4, 6-3 vs. AFC
7. Houston Texans, 8-5, 7-2 vs. AFC

In the hunt
Indianapolis Colts, 8-5, 6-4 vs. AFC
Baltimore Ravens, 6-7, 4-5 vs. AFC
Kansas City Chiefs, 6-7, 3-5 vs. AFC
Miami Dolphins, 6-7, 3-6 vs. AFC

NFC
Division leaders
1. Los Angeles Rams, 10-3, 5-3 vs. NFC
2. Green Bay Packers, 9-3-1, 7-2-1 vs. NFC
3. Philadelphia Eagles, 8-5, 7-3 vs. NFC
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-6, 5-4 vs. NFC

Wild-card leaders
5. Seattle Seahawks, 10-3, 6-3 vs. NFC
6. San Francisco 49ers, 9-4, 8-2 vs. NFC
7. Chicago Bears, 9-4, 6-3 vs. NFC

In the hunt
Detroit Lions, 8-5, 5-4
Carolina Panthers, 7-6, 5-3
Dallas Cowboys, 6-6-1, 3-5-1
Minnesota Vikings, 5-8, 3-5

–Field Level Media