Drake Maye might fall just short of winning NFL MVP this season. Matthew Stafford will be tough to catch. But with the New England Patriots staring down their first two-game losing streak of the season, which would have moved them back into a tie with the Buffalo Bills for first place in the AFC East, Maye made a compelling case to stay in the MVP conversation.
Maye had the first 300-yard game of his career and brought the Patriots back from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens, 28-24.
New England's defense came through with a huge play in the final two minutes, when outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson forced a fumble in the final two minutes and the Patriots recovered to all but seal the win. The Patriots clinched a playoff berth with the victory.
The Ravens fell to 7-8 with the loss, and the Pittsburgh Steelers can win the AFC North next week with a win at the Cleveland Browns or a Ravens loss at the Green Bay Packers.
TheRavens played most of the game without Lamar Jacksonbut were still in position to win it in the fourth quarter.
Then Maye took over and made sure the Patriots would keep their one-game lead in the AFC East. He had 380 yards and two touchdowns. Whether or not Maye wins an award this season, it was his MVP moment.
Lamar Jackson injured in first half
The Ravens suddenly found themselves trying to win a critical game without their two-time MVP quarterback.
Jackson caught a knee to his back when he was going down at the end of a run, and he left in the middle of a drive to the sideline. He was taken to the locker room area to be worked on, and when the Ravens came out for their first drive of the second half, it was with Tyler Huntley at quarterback. Jackson was ruled out later in the third quarter.
In a very frustrating season for the Ravens, which has included Jackson missing time due to a hamstring injury and not looking like his typical explosive self since he returned, having to beat an 11-3 team and do it with Huntley at quarterback was a daunting task.
The Ravens stayed in it. They scored first Sunday night on a Derrick Henry 21-yard touchdown run when Jackson was in the game. With Huntley in, they gave receiver Zay Flowers an end-around and he navigated his way through the Patriots' defense for an 18-yard score. That gave the Ravens a 17-13 lead.
Trying to win without Jackson wasn't what the Ravens had in mind, but they knew the stakes Sunday night. They had to find a way to win, even if it wasn't an ideal situation.
Ravens take second-half lead
Special teams gave the Ravens a big play. On fourth-and-10 the Patriots ran a fake punt. They had a direct snap to linebacker Marte Mapu, and he seemingly had an option to pass it but the Ravens were prepared for it. The pass route was covered and Mapu was swarmed quickly and hit well short of the first down.
The Ravens had good field position after that stop and leaned on Henry. He scored his second touchdown of the night on a 2-yard run to put the Ravens ahead 24-13.
The Patriots got a long touchdown after that to get back in the game. Maye lofted a 37-yard touchdown pass to rookie Kyle Williams, and a successful 2-point conversion cut Baltimore's lead to 24-21.
Jackson might have been able to close out the game after that, but with Huntley the Ravens punted it right back to New England. Maye had a fantastic second half and completed a huge fourth-and-2 pass to Stefon Diggs to keep the drive alive. Rhamondre Stevenson finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run to give the Patriots a lead with 2:07 left.
Chaisson made a big defensive play after that. Flowers made a short catch but Chaisson, an outside linebacker who is having a breakout season after not working out as a 2020 first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, chased down the play. He punched the ball out from Flowers' grasp and the Patriots recovered. That all but sealed the win.
The Patriots looked like they were in trouble Sunday night, about to take a crushing loss. They turned the tables, and now it's the Ravens who are looking at their season ending a lot sooner than they ever expected.
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Ryan Young
Patriots vs. Ravens
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Up next for the Patriots
The Patriots sit at 12-3 with two games left in the regular season.
Up Next: Week 17: at New York Jets Week 18: vs. Miami Dolphins
Ryan Young
Patriots clinch a playoff spot
The Patriots are headed to the playoffs, and are tied with the Denver Broncos for the best record in the AFC.
The Patriots have completed the 11-point comeback in the fourth quarter to stun the Ravens.
They've now officially clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2021.
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Patriots force a fumble!
Zay Flowers just didn't see K'Lavon Chaisson coming. Chaisson came in from behind and punched the ball out to force a fumble there, and the Patriots suddenly have the ball back.
Even after the missed DPI, the Patriots found their way down into the end zone. Stevenson just broke open a 21-yard run for a touchdown to put New England back on top.
The Patriots just forced a punt there, and didn't fall for a hard count on fourth down. They'll get the ball back now with about five minutes left with a chance to go win the game.
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Patriots respond with a TD!
Well, we're not done just yet.
Drake Maye just threw it in for Kyle Williams perfectly there in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. What an incredible grab by Williams for his third touchdown of the season.
Drake Maye was really slow to get up there after a big hit in the backfield on third down, but he ended up jogging off. HIs left leg looked like it was wrapped up awkwardly.
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Zay Flowers with the TD!
Zay Flowers weaved through the Patriots defense there on a reverse for an 18-yard touchdown, and the Ravens are suddenly back out in front.
Flowers has five catches for 65 yards already tonight to go with his rushing touchdown.
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DeAndre Hopkins with a wild grab
DeAndre Hopkins somehow managed to get control of this one in time to get his feet down to complete the absurd grab. Thanks to a challenge from the Ravens, the catch will stand.
A massive sack from Jennings knocked the Ravens back, and then Tyler Loop left a 56-yard field goal just short. That would have been a career long for him.
That was a huge stop for the Patriots, who will get the ball back with great field position.
Ryan Young
That was a perfect start for the Baltimore defense, forcing a three-and-out right away in the third quarter.
The Ravens will get the ball back right away here, but Tyler Huntley is coming out to lead the offense again with Lamar Jackson still hurt.
