{"id":63267,"date":"2025-11-03T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=63267"},"modified":"2025-11-02T21:52:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T02:52:20","slug":"patriots-escape-sloppy-second-half-top-falcons-24-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2025\/11\/03\/patriots-escape-sloppy-second-half-top-falcons-24-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Escape Sloppy Second Half, Top Falcons 24-23"},"content":{"rendered":"

The good news is that the Patriots are 7-2 at the halfway point of the season before heading back out on the road to face the 6-2 Tampa Bay Bucs next week at Raymond James Stadium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots were well on their way to putting the Atlanta Falcons in the rear-view mirror at the end of the first half, when they started shooting themselves in the foot and the game took on the flavor of the Pittsburgh game, where they began playing fast and loose with the football.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This time they were fortunate to escape with a 24-23 victory after Parker Romo pushed a game-tying extra point wide right. But these are first world problems when you can win over a talented but wildly inconsistent team when you don’t come close to playing your best.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maye\u2019s Second Half Was Not Good:<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is what happens when you allow an inferior team hang around and after a excellent first half, it was Drake Maye\u2019s arguably worst half of football this season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He missed open receivers, overthrew an open receiver to throw an interception and fumbled twice losing one in a sloppy performance. However, until the final minute of the first half, he gave the Patriots the cushion they would desperately require to hold on down the stretch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, Maye ended up 19-29 for 259 yards with two touchdowns and a pick for a passer rating of 102.5. He was sacked six times and many of these were absolutely preventable. He is still in the infancy of his career (something we all forget at times, especially here), and has to learn when to throw the ball away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This was especially true with the opening drive of the second half. The Patriots drove right down the field and on second and goal from the five-yard line, no one was open, and the pocket was collapsing all around him. Rather than throw it away and still have a real opportunity to go for six on third down, he held onto the ball and took a nine-yard sack.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They settled for three and wouldn\u2019t score again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a funny league, and we\u2019re going to learn from winning so that we don\u2019t have to learn from losing about taking care of the ball and complementary football and how quickly things can change,\u201d Mike Vrabel said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI gotta play better for this team, down the road\u201d Maye lamented. Protecting the football has to be more a priority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’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,” Maye added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s so many 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.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Fast Start For A Change:<\/b><\/h3>\n

For just the third time all season, the Patriots\u2019 defense shut out the opposition on their opening drive. The Patriots forced a three-and-out aided by K\u2019Lavon Chaisson on a second-down sack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the Patriots marched easily down the field on a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Maye hit wide receiver DeMario Douglas, lined up in the backfield and matched up with Falcons edge defender Jalon Walker,<\/span> for a 16-yard touchdown.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

On Atlanta\u2019s third drive which began near midfield, they marched 53 yards on just five plays and created a size mismatch with 6\u20194 Drake London catching a jump ball over 5\u20198 Marcus Jones to tie the score at seven.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots Seemingly Had the Game In Hand:<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Patriots had another impressive drive that went 65 yards in 12 plays with Terrell Jennings scoring his first NFL touchdown on a three-yard run to put the Patriots up 14-7.<\/span><\/p>\n

After another three-and-out, the Patriots\u2019 offense scored quickly on a five-play, 72-yard drive. Maye found<\/span> Douglas for a 58-yard gain<\/span><\/a>, and then threw an<\/span> 11-yard touchdown<\/span><\/a> pass to Stefon Diggs to go up 21-7.<\/span><\/p>\n

Atlanta turned the ball over on downs and the Patriots appeared to be heading for a field goal attempt at the end of the half to really put Atlanta away, especially with the Patriots receiving the second half kickoff.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s when the game turned. Maye was strip-sacked and James Pearce picked it up and ran it to the six-yard line, where the Falcons created another London-Jones size mismatch to make it 21-14. The ten-point swing was huge. Maye has to protect the ball much better there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe took a little nap and they scored and made it a one-possession game,\u201d Vrabel said. \u201cGive 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After Andy Borregales hit a 32-yard field goal to make it 24-14 after the opening possession in the third quarter. Atlanta scored on a Parker Romo field goal making it 24-17 after Maye sailed an interception to Jesse Bates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The defense then allowed a 12-play, 85-yard touchdown drive, where Christian Gonzalez dropped an easy interception and the Patriots narrowly missed another interception opportunity in the end zone. London scored his third TD of the day, but Romo pushed the ball wide right and the score remained 24-23.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After a Patriots punt, Atlanta moved close to midfield where they stalled with 2:03 to go. Raheem Morris made the decision to punt on a 4th and 20, where Atlanta only had two timeouts left. He\u2019ll be second-guessed about it, but it was a tough choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After two runs by Jennings used up Atlanta\u2019s timeouts, on third and five, Maye hit <\/span>Hunter Henry for a 12-yard pass play<\/span><\/a> that sealed the game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other observations included:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

-Demario Douglas said after the game that is uncle was shot and killed on Sunday morning and he played with a heavy heart. He and Jennings, who were high school teammates dedicated their touchdowns to him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis whole morning, my mood was different, I couldn\u2019t hold my tears\u2026 He was here with me today, 1st day in Heaven he was working.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Douglas finished with four catches for 100 yards and a score. Jennings finished with 11 carries for 35 yards and a touchdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Hunter Henry caught four passess for 51 yards, none bigger than the 12-yarder that put the game away.<\/span><\/p>\n

-TreVeyon Henderson carried 14 times for 55 yards and added four catches for 32 yards out of the backfield.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Stefon Diggs added three catches for 38 yards and a score.<\/span><\/p>\n

-The Patriots\u2019 run defense did a good job of bottling up Bijan Robinson in the running game, holding him to 46 yards on 12 carries. It was the ninth straight game where the Patriots didn\u2019t allow a 50-yard rusher. Atlanta was held to just 71 yards on the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Robinson did have eight catches for 50 yards while London had a fantastic day catching nine passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Kayshon Boutte left early with a hamstring injury, (one to watch). Linebacker Christian Elliss also left with a hamstring injury and didn\u2019t return.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Christian Gonzalez left with a head injury and was assessed for a concussion but it appears he\u2019s going to be fine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

-The game highlighted a need for the team to add a pass rusher by the trade deadline, as they were able to generate just one sack and four QB hits on Michael Penix.<\/span><\/p>\n

-The Patriots defense was excellent on third down, Atlanta was just 1-10 on third down.<\/p>\n

-Bryce Barringer had a nice day, placing two punts inside the 20 and booming a 61-yarder to force the Falcons back. He averaged 50 yards on his three punts.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, look for our positional report card after we take another look (or two) at the replay of the game and the All-22, then we\u2019ll focus on the Bucs who are coming off of a bye week.<\/span><\/p>\n

_______________<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at<\/span><\/i> stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 <\/span>PatsFans.com<\/span><\/a> Patriots No Huddle <\/span><\/i><\/a>podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Derek Havens, Mike D\u2019Abate, and I discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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