Patriots Clinch Playoff Spot

By Steve Atkinson 

Drake Maye didn’t have his best game Sunday night against the Ravens, but when it mattered most, he delivered. Not just Drake, but Stefon Diggs, who wouldn’t be here if Belichick were still coaching the Patriots, also delivered. Diggs came through with tough catches and extended plays, which helped the Patriots beat the Ravens on Sunday night. If not for him and Drake Maye, I’m not sure they would have won that game. I don’t think they would have won if Lamar Jackson had played either. Once he came out, it became easier for the Patriots.

Patriots Clinching a Playoff Spot is Huge

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That defense misses Milton Williams, and they need him back for the playoffs. He sets the tone for the rest of the defense. The offensive line wasn’t good for most of the game, and Drake had to extend some plays, but when it mattered most, the offensive line stepped up.

The Injuries weren’t A Factor when the game was on the line

Despite the injuries the team has battled, other guys stepped up as well. Here was Vrabel after the game.

Well, that’s a group effort. One, it’s on the players who go in there. Two, it’s on the training staff to work hard to evaluate guys. And then on the coaching side, just being able to figure out what packages we could still get into, and what we are able to do, and some of the things that we weren’t able to do. We lost a lot of defensive linemen. To have a guy like Anfernee Jennings – [I give him] a lot of credit going in there and playing defensive line and helping us out. I appreciate what he did and everybody else that was able to step in.”

Here was Drake Maye after the game.

So proud of this team. It took everybody. That’s what we knew coming into it. Our goal this week was to win together, and we did together. It felt good to get that one. Just props to these guys. [We] keep fighting. We had guys going down, guys coming in taking more plays than they probably have ever had, and guys getting tired from pushing through, and defense stepping up, making big plays, and forcing fumbles. We talked about things all week, and we hit some of them. Obviously, there are some things that I’d like to have back, but right now, it feels good to get a win. “Yes, that was one of the goals. We wanted to win the division, and that’s what we’re still fighting for. It was awesome to clinch the playoffs, but we want to win the division.”

The Patriots have to win the next two games, which are tomato can games with the Jets and Dolphins, to probably win the division. If the Patriots win out and the Broncos lose one or two of the next games, the Patriots get the number one seed. I say get healthy for the playoffs while trying to get the first-round bye.