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[New England Patriots]

Patriots Power Rankings: Pats under the gun to prove it in Week 15

The Week 15 power rankings reflect the dominance of New England, riding at No. 1 or 2 across major outlets—but the “prove it” chorus remains loud. Riding a 10-game win streak and sitting at 11-2 coming off the bye week, the Patriots are still a hot story. However, experts are split, praising second-year sensation QB Drake Maye while demanding proof their record will hold up against stiffer competition.

That proof will come this week, when all eyes will be on Sunday’s massive Bills-Patriots AFC East showdown—the Pats’ toughest test yet and a game that could either silence the doubters or expose the hype.

With four games remaining in the regular season it’s put-up or shut-up time for most of the AFC. If the Broncos lose a single game, they could lose the No. 1 seed and the playoff bye. The Patriots need to win out if they want a chance at either. Every team seems to have another team breathing down its neck just to earn a wildcard berth. Adding to the intrigue, are the health of already beat-up rosters and unpredictable winter weather—Sunday’s forecast at Gillette Staduim calls for 32° with possible snow. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Buffalo is favored over the home team by 1.5 points, but I predict the Patriots will beat the Bills. Mike Vrabel will have the team focused and ready to go as practice ramps up full-speed tomorrow. As always,

GO PATS!!

1st – Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): The Patriots enjoyed their bye week to get some rest late in the season before they get ready to build on their dominant breakout season with Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel before their playoff run. They will be ready to try to sweep the Bills at home. [nc]

1st – Ralph Vacchiano (FOX Sports): The Pats preserved their top spot and their 10-game winning streak through their bye week. Now they can clinch their first AFC East title since 2019 with a win at home on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. [nc]

1st – Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk): The AFC East crown is within reach. [nc]

1st – Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): They come off their bye with a big one this week against the Bills. Drake Maye’s MVP candidacy will be on full display. [nc]

2nd – NFL Nation (ESPN): Most shocking statistical ranking: Marcus Jones is second in average yards on punt returns. Jones has 87- and 94-yard punt returns for touchdowns, and his 18.8 average is just behind the Titans’ Chimere Dike (19.9). Jones entered this season, his fourth in the NFL, averaging 13.3 yards per punt return in his career, with one touchdown. “I think he’s an All-Pro player — an all-around athlete who does everything,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He brings a lot of juice.” — Mike Reiss. [-1]

2nd – Nate Davis (USA Today): They’re holding steady at No. 2 − though they lost their grip on the AFC’s No. 1 seed during their bye week. Drake Maye continues to play like the MVP runner-up, whether or not he’s actually the league’s second-best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if New England is able to complete a season sweep of the Bills and wrap up its first AFC East crown since 2019. [nc]

4th – Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports): It’s hard to believe but true: The Patriots can clinch the AFC East title with three games to go. If New England beats Buffalo on Sunday, the Patriots will have a three-game lead and own the tiebreaker due to a sweep, so the division race would be over. The Patriots are still fairly low in the advanced metrics despite their record — 14th in total DVOA, 10th in offense and 25th in defense — but this has been a wildly successful season no matter how it turns out. [nc]

4th – Eric Edholm (NFL.com): Ten straight wins, followed by a bye and a shot to end the Bills’ division run this Sunday in Foxborough. Patriots are flying high in what could be a post-Chiefs playoff field, with a chance to earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Beating Buffalo won’t be easy, especially with Josh Allen heating up and undoubtedly champing at the bit for a second crack at that Patriots defense, which will be without Milton Williams. New England also will be shorthanded on the offensive line for a bit, and the run game has had its limitations. But Drake Maye and his receivers, with some brilliant guidance from Josh McDaniels, have made it work quite well to this point. The Pats aren’t a perfect team, but they’re pretty darned compelling, and they’ll give anyone they face from here on out a great battle. Guaranteed. [nc]

5th – Conor Orr (SI): New England gets Buffalo coming off the Bengals game and, as of Monday night, the Ravens flexed into Sunday night football. I’m less and less absorbed by my New England soft schedule take, but I am very interested to see how the team handles these two weeks in particular. [-2]

7th – Diante Lee (The Ringer): Will they be the next AFC contender to hit a cold stretch? New England has enjoyed one of the league’s softest schedules and should finish this season with at least 12 wins–and potentially an MVP award for second-year QB Drake Maye. But we’re not done evaluating whether this team is serious just yet. The biggest game of New England’s season is on Sunday against the Bills, and the following week they’ll face the Ravens, who will be playing for their postseason lives. If they lose either game, questions will be swirling about whether this team is a true Super Bowl contender. [+2]

GO PATS!!

Around the AFC East:

New England Patriots (11-2) vs. Buffalo Bills (9-4)

Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

AFC Matchups:

Denver Broncos (11-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)

Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)

Houston Texans (8-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)

Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4)

Tennessee Titans (2-10) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

AVG RANK: 2.8 [-0.3]

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ngs-pats-under-the-gun-to-prove-it-in-week-15

 

[New England Patriots]

A look back at a record-breaking game in Patriots history

Since former Patriot Jacoby Brissett broke the record for completions in a game with 47 earlier this season, it got me thinking that we needed to revisit the game where the original record was set, back on November 13, 1994. And with the Patriots on a bye this week, this felt like the perfect opportunity to look back 31 years in team history.

The 3-6 Patriots, with second-year quarterback Drew Bledsoe at the helm, were facing the 7-2 Minnesota Vikings led by veteran Warren Moon. The Vikings jumped out to a 20-0 lead with less than a minute left in the second quarter. Up to that point, Bledsoe and the Patriots offense had been less effective than a Bailey Zappe deep pass. Bledsoe was only 4-for-12 for 24 yards going into the last drive of the first half. No one would have believed you if you told them that this would finish as a historic performance from Bledsoe.

Trailing by 20 points, their season was on the brink of extinction, but Bledsoe decided that the Patriots weren’t dead yet. He led them on a seven-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a field goal. Bledsoe went 4-for-5 for all 48 yards on the drive. Still, his team went into the half down 20-3, and Bledsoe’s stats were sitting at 8-for-17 for only 72 yards through.

The second half was an entirely different story. Bledsoe started things off quickly, going 4-for-5 for 54 yards on a 68-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ray Crittenden. For the next quarter and a half, both the Patriots and Vikings struggled on offense. The Vikings actually turned the ball over in their own territory, but Matt Bahr shanked a field goal to keep it a 20-10 game.

That score stayed until the Patriots took over on their own 13-yard line with just over five minutes left in the game. Bledsoe led the Patriots on a touchdown drive, going 9-for-11, and passing on every play of the drive. With just over two minutes left and now trailing by only three, they needed to stop the Vikings to get the ball back.

Following a 6-yard completion on first down, the Patriots forced an incompletion on 3rd-and-2 to make the Vikings punt back to the Patriots. Bledsoe led the Patriots down to tie the game, converting a 4th-and-10 with a 25-yard completion to Vincent Brisby. He followed up the conversion with four straight completions, but the drive would eventually stall after a pair of incompletions from the 5-yard line. They ended up settling for a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime instead.

Bledsoe finished the second half 31-for-47 for 298 yards. Let me repeat that, since I bet you misunderstood: Bledsoe threw the ball 47 times for 298 yards in the second half alone.

After completing the incredible comeback, the Patriots won the coin toss and received the ball to start overtime. At this point, the NFL still had sudden death overtime, which meant all the Patriots needed to do was score any points, and the game was over. Bledsoe continued his hot streak, going 6-for-6 for 56 yards in OT, capping the game with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Turner in the corner of the end zone.

Bledsoe, who, through 29 minutes of game play, was 4-for-12 for 24 yards, finished the game 45-for-70 for 426 yards and three touchdowns.

---

This game has a special meaning to me, because it was the second game I had ever attended. Interestingly enough, the first game I ever attended was also against Warren Moon, the year before when he played for the Oilers. Bledsoe was hurt for that one so Scot Secules was the quarterback, meaning this was the first chance I ever had to watch the first overall pick in 1993 live, and it did not disappoint.

When Matt Bahr was lining up for his field goal attempt at the end of the first half with the Patriots trailing 20-0, my dad leaned over and told me that if Bahr hit the field goal that the Patriots would win, which, of course, was completely insane, but what a way to call his shot. That’s why what the Patriots did in the second half meant so much more to me. When the late, great Kevin Turner caught that touchdown pass in the corner of my end zone, which 10-year-old me never saw, since the entire section stood up and blocked my view, I was hooked, and I’ve had a (mostly healthy) obsession with the Patriots ever since.

A thread of my favorite Patriots game of all time: Patriots vs Vikings, November 13, 1994. An absolute classic. Drew Bledsoe would finish the game with the most attempts and completions in NFL history. I was 10, and at the game with my dad. Here’s how they started the broadcast. pic.twitter.com/Cb6EoRPyJe

— Pat Lane (@plane_pats) June 21, 2020

I’m sure there are a lot of people out there in their 40s who have a similar story about Drew Bledsoe, and a lot more people in their 20s and 30s who have similar stories about Tom Brady. Now it looks like there might be a new generation of Patriots fans who will have stories just like this about Drake Maye as well, and I think that makes us the luckiest fan base in the world.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-history/115778/record-breaking-game-drew-bledsoe-nfl

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots restore running back Jashaun Corbin to practice squad after stint on injured reserve

Backfield moves were made in Foxborough on Wednesday.

The New England Patriots restored Jashaun Corbin to the practice squad from injured reserve. To make room among the 17-man group, the organization announced the placement of fellow running back Craig Reynolds on injured reserve.

Corbin, 25, signed following a workout in October and was moved to injured reserve three weeks later. Undrafted out of Texas A&M and Florida State in 2022, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound back has also been a member of the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons since then. Logging three catches and one carry through six games, his NFL career includes 15 snaps on offense and 118 snaps on special teams.

In 2024, Corbin signed with the San Antonio Brahmas. He went on to earn a spot on the All-UFL team after leading the league with 514 rushing yards in the spring. Four touchdowns were totaled to go with 138 receiving yards and 252 return yards.

Reynolds, 29, joined the practice squad at Gillette Stadium at the end of November after clearing waivers on Thanksgiving. The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Kutztown product spent the past five years with the Detroit Lions. A veteran of 60 NFL games, including a pair of starts, he has handled 469 snaps on offense and 785 snaps on special teams.

In the regular season, Reynolds stands with 658 rushing yards, 258 receiving yards and one touchdown across 179 scrimmage opportunities. His career has featured an additional visit to the end zone in the playoffs. The 2019 undrafted free agent made initial stops with the Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Falcons.

Head coach Mike Vrabel’s 11-2 contingent moves forward with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings, a recent non-participant due to a concussion, on the 53-man roster. The running back depth chart also includes three-time standard elevation D’Ernest Johnson on the practice squad.

The Buffalo Bills visit for a 1 p.m. ET AFC East kickoff on Sunday.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ce-squad-place-craig-reynolds-injured-reserve

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots links 12/11/25: ‘Uniquely unselfish’ receiving corps key to success

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Bills Week 15 Injury Report.
• Broadcast Info: How to watch/listen to Bills at Patriots.
• Roster Moves: Patriots placed RB Craig Reynolds on Practice Squad IR and activated RB Jashaun Corbin to the Practice Squad from Practice Squad IR.
• Patriots Foundation: Patriots celebrate volunteerism in 2025.
• Transcript: Mike Vrabel (Plus 13 min. video)
• Press Conferences: Drake Maye – Stefon Diggs, Khyiris Tonga, Verderian Lowe, Christian Gonzalez, K’Lavon Chaisson, Mack Hollins.
• Patriots All Access interview: Mike Vrabel talks returning to the practice field to prep for the Bills. (4 min. video)
• Film Review: Brian Hoyer breaks down the key moments in Drake Maye’s development this season. (4 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Bills preview, Vrabel presser/reaction, Locker room report. (2 hours)
• Patriots Catch-22: Evan Lazar and Alex Barth talk areas to improve, Week 14 recap, Bills preview. (2 hrs)

LOCAL LINKS

• Chris Mason points out how although the Patriots have amassed the NFL’s second-most receiving yards entering Week 15, they don’t have a pass catcher in the Top 25. Stefon Diggs explains the uniquely unselfish receiving corps in New England.
• Doug Kyed explains how Drake Maye reached Josh Allen’s level of play much sooner than expected.
• Karen Guregian suggests Drake Maye and Josh Allen could make Patriots-Bills the next great rivalry.
• Chris Mason mentions the bit of fumbling kryptonite that has popped up for Bills star RB James Cook in recent weeks, and says the Pats won’t hesitate to take advantage.
• Alex Barth reports the first injury report since bye week shows the Patriots are getting healthier.
• Andrew Callahan notes DT Khyiris Tonga participated in a second straight practice, a good sign for his chances of returning from a one-game absence with a chest injury.
• Mark Daniels writes how after years of losing seasons following Tom Brady’s departure, long-tenured Patriots players have a chance to win their first division championship
• Andrew Callahan makes the case that Sunday is about more than a division title for the Patriots. It’s about renewing a rivalry with Buffalo, the same team that replaced them atop the AFC East.
• Doug Kyed highlights Stefon Diggs on why he is happy the Pats are underdogs this week against the Bills.
• Mike D’Abate relays Drake Maye sending love to Pats fans after Pro Bowl votes show him leading all players.
• Matt Vautour says that while he feels the Patriots ‘can win’ vs. the Bills, he picks the Bills to win on Sunday. Bills 31-28. /Click for the explanations.
• Karen Guregian notes Mike Vrabel offered condolences to Patriots great Kevin Faulk over the loss of his daughter.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Ranking MVP candidates: Matthew Stafford (2) vs. Drake Maye (1).
• Jason Fitz and Caroline Fenton (Yahoo! Sports) Why the Patriots vs. Bills matchup is so important for both teams. (3 min. video)
• Cameron Filipe (Football Zebras) Week 15 referee assignments. Bills at Patriots: John Hussey. /Hussey is among the more lenient crews league-wide, ranking near the bottom in penalties per game.
• Jordan Dajani & Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 picks. Dajani: Bills win 23-21, Dubin: Bills win 24-21. /Click for commentary about Bills taking better care of the ball, how unlikely it is to think the Pats can beat the Bills twice, etc… etc…
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Week 15 NFL picks: Bills beat Patriots in AFC East battle, 30-28. ‘Josh Allen has to be Josh Allen for the Bills to win. He wasn’t the last time these teams met, which is why the Patriots won. This time will be different. Allen wins it with his usual big plays.’
• MMQB Staff (SI) NFL Week 15 picks: Patriots can clinch AFC East against Bills. 3 of 6 pick Pats.
• Iain MacMillan (SI) NFL upset predictions and picks for Week 15. No Pats.
• Anthony Gharib (ESPN) NFL Week 15 uniforms: Bucs bring back Creamsicles. Patriots: Silver helmet, Navy jersey, pants: TBA.
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) 5 playoff contenders facing most pressure: Colts, Chiefs, Eagles, Ravens, Bears.
• Douglas Clawson (CBS Sports) Super Bowl Survivor: Which two teams are left standing in one of the NFL’s most unpredictable seasons? /Interesting way of whittling down the contenders.
• Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL.com) Top 15 running backs entering final stretch of the NFL season. No Pats. No. 5. Bills’ James Cook.
• Madison Williams (SI) NFL announces highly anticipated Saturday doubleheader games for Week 17: Texans-Chargers at 4:30 and Ravens-Packers at 8:00.
• Andy Backstrom (Yahoo! Sports) NFL reportedly pushing for performance-based officiating model, as league’s collective bargaining agreement with refs nears end.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...niquely-unselfish-receiving-corps-key-success

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots rooting guide and discussion for NFL Week 15

The New England Patriots are heading into arguably their biggest game of the post-Tom Brady era, meaning our focus will be fully on their matchup with the Buffalo Bills. However, there is a lot more going on across the NFL this weekend.

With that said, let’s go through the other 15 games and find out who you should be rooting for in Week 15.

As a disclaimer, we are looking at the games through two primary lenses: New England’s chances of winning the division — which they could do by beating the Bills on Sunday — as well as earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

When looking at this week’s games and considering the point of the season we are in, we can see that only a handful of games actually have an impact in that regard. Why? Because lower-level tiebreakers such as strength of victory are schedule no longer become relevant at some point; there simply is too much football played already and we know who more important tiebreakers such as head-to-head, conference record or common games favor.

The Patriots are entering the weekend with a 48% chance of earning the No. 1 seed, an 89% chance of winning the division, and a 99+% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic.

Thursday​

8:15 p.m. ET​

Atlanta Falcons (4-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6): Go good game! The Patriots have had both teams on their schedule, yet this game has no significant impact on their playoff outlook. | Amazon

Sunday​

1 p.m. ET​

Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4): Go Browns! This has little to do with the Patriots’ outlook, but rather the NFL Draft. The Bears missing the playoffs, after all, would have a positive impact on the 2026 fourth-round draft pick that went from Chicago to Kansas City to New England. | FOX

Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9): Go Ravens! We are playing some 4D chess here, because the game itself has no impact on the Patriots’ playoff outlook. However, it could indirectly help the position of the sixth-round draft pick they received from Pittsburgh in the Kyle Dugger trade: Baltimore winning the AFC North over the Steelers would help in that regard. | CBS

Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Houston Texans (8-5): Go Texans! There are two reasons to root for a Houston win here. It would help possibly keep Kansas City out of the postseason (more on that in a second), while also potentially having a negative impact on the Jets’ draft outlook. | FOX

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4): Go Jets! Frankly, the farther New York is away from the top picks in next year’s draft, the better. A win over the Jaguars would be a positive outcome in that regard, while also creating some extra wiggle room for New England near the top of the AFC. | CBS

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7): Go Chargers! The Chiefs do not look like a particularly potent team this season, but better to be save than sorry: them not making the playoffs is the best-case outcome. That is particularly true given that the Patriots own one of their draft picks next year, a sixth-round selection stemming from the Joshua Uche trade. | CBS

Washington Commanders (3-10) at New York Giants (2-11): Go Giants! If the aforementioned Jets fail to pull off the upset against Jaguars, which seems likely, a Giants win would ensure they stay behind both of those teams in the draft order. | FOX

Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5): Go Eagles! Again, this is more about the top of the draft and a Patriots division rival not getting a clear path toward the top picks. | FOX

4:25 p.m. ET​

Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Denver Broncos (11-2): Go Packers! Now this is a game that could have a major impact on the AFC playoff picture. The Patriots need the Broncos to finish with a worse record if they want to earn the top seed in the conference, and this game present a potential opportunity for that to happen. | CBS

Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4): Go Titans! Ideally for the Patriots, the 49ers end up outside of the playoff so that the sixth-rounder they acquired from the Keion White trade is better positioned. San Francisco is the current No. 6 seed in the NFC. | FOX

Carolina Panthers (7-6) at New Orleans Saints (3-10): Go Panthers! If the Patriots want the 49ers and Bears to miss out on the playoffs in hopes of boosting their draft stock, a Carolina win would be helpful. | FOX

Detroit Lions (8-5) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3): Go Lions! The same reasoning as above, with the current No. 8 seed needing to leap-frog Chicago and San Francisco in the standings to maximize the Patriots’ draft outlook. | FOX

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3): Go Seahawks! The Colts are no longer a realistic threat for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but best not to risk anything. | CBS

8:20 p.m. ET​

Minnesota Vikings (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1): Go Cowboys! Let’s throw Dallas into the “49ers and Bears missing the playoffs to help the Patriots’ draft stock” mix as well. | NBC

Monday​

8:15 p.m. ET​

Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6): Go Dolphins! Miami qualifying for the playoffs still seems unlikely, so this outcome would not move the needle too much. It would, however, hurt the Steelers’ chances of taking the AFC North and ending up in the tournament. As mentioned above, New England stands to gain from that happening. | ESPN

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This article also serves as an open thread for this week’s games. Please head down to the comment section to discuss and share your thoughts on the games as they unfold.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-guide-nfl-week-15-how-to-watch-live-playoffs

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots links 12/12/25: Pats-Bills matchups, Keys to victory

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Bills updated Injury Report.
• Evan Lazar‘s Patriots Gameplan: 3 keys to victory in Sunday’s divisional showdown vs. the Bills. Nine weeks in the NFL is a lifetime.
• Mike Dussault gives us Three to Watch this Sunday vs. Bills: 1. In Search of Kryptonite: Josh Allen remains the ultimate dual-threat weapon.
• Press Conferences: Josh McDaniels – Jeremy Springer – Ashton Grant, Todd Downing – DeMario Douglas, Jaylinn Hawkins, Robert Spillane.
• Game Preview: Scouting the matchups between the Patriots and Bills. Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar look at the film and break it all down. (11 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered on TV: Exiting the bye week, Preparing for Josh Allen and the Bills, Kayshon Boutte 1-on-1. (22 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: NFL Week 15 picks, Bills preview, Andy Borregales interview. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Thomas Murphy posts this week’s Monster Key’s to a Pats victory over Buffalo. 1. Man Up. If there is a counter punch to the great arm Josh Allen possesses it’s Man Defense. … More!
• Steve Balestrieri dives into the Patriots-Bills matchups to see who has the edge. 1. Patriots RBs vs. Bills front seven — Edge New England; More!
• Mark Morse dives deep into the Patriots vs. Bills matchup: Roster strengths, key player performances; More.
• Jacob Rebb previews the much-anticipated Patriots and Bills Week 15 rematch; More.
• Andrew Callahan‘s Week 15 thoughts: Patriots-Bills is one of the AFC’s most anticipated games of the season; Why the Pats are underdogs, Drake Maye vs. disguise; More!
• Alex Barth’s Friday 5 Things: Can the Patriots sweep the Bills coming out of the bye?
• Karen Guregian explores whether Josh McDaniels might have a few new wrinkles for the Bills on Sunday.
• Andrew Callahan looks at the latest injury report and finds several key defenders downgraded at Thursday practices.
• Karen Guregian spotlights both coaching staffs to see who has the edge on Sunday: Mike Vrabel & Co. took Round 1 against the Bills. How will the chess match play out in Round 2?
• Doug Kyed spotlights how Drake Maye and Josh McDaniels both enjoy working together.
• Danny Jaillet passes along what Bills QB Josh Allen had to say about Drake Maye. Allen hates to admit how good Drake Maye is getting, but he’s also proud of his new division rival.
• Ethan Hurwitz reminds us that regardless of Sunday’s outcome, the 2025 Patriots season was a successful year in every aspect.
• Nick Goss looks at how Bills fans are reacting to the Patriots’ resurgence with Drake Maye
• Danny Jaillet says the announcers for Patriots-Bills are Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and J.J. Watt (analysis).
• Phil Perry‘s Patriots Mailbag: Run game solutions, Gonzalez extension questions and more.
• Jerry Thornton wishes everyone a Merry Bakemas, acknowledging Pats fans’ new tradition of paying homage to our Christmas Queen, Ann Michael Maye.
• Andrew Callahan discloses the tragic loss that LB Jahlani Tavai and his partner Kalei Mau shared in a recent social media post. /Heartbreaking.
• A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare and guest Phil Perry discuss Week 15 and all things Pats. (23 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Nate Tice (Yahoo! Sports) Key numbers for AFC’s top 4 seeds that could tell their postseason story. Patriots commentary included.
• Chris Bumbaca (USA Today) Josh Allen, Drake Maye primed for many more AFC East, MVP battles.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots, Broncos are home underdogs — despite 10-game winning streaks.
• Douglas Clawson (CBS Sports) Week 15 viewer’s guide: Top 10 things to watch, including Super Bowl contenders and Philip Rivers comeback. 3. Broncos and Patriots on 10-game winning streaks. 5. Bills trying to chase down Patriots (and MVP battle). 10. Polar vortex; More.
• Matt Verderame (SI) Key matchups, predictions for Bills-Pats and More Week 15 games. Key matchup: James Cook vs. New England’s front seven. If Buffalo can run the ball, it’ll be in terrific shape. But if the Patriots, off their bye week, can bottle up Cook once more and limit Allen, they’ll be division champion.
• Multiple Contributors (ESPN) NFL Week 15 picks, predictions, schedule, odds; More. Bills-Patriots: Bold prediction: Bills CB Christian Benford will allow fewer than 20 yards in coverage. It’s not quite the zero yards allowed (plus a pick-six and sack) that he had in his monster Week 14 game, but if he stays hot, that will go a long way toward a Bills victory. 2 of 3 pick Pats to win.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 odds, predictions, expert picks: Who gets the edge in Bills-Patriots? Can Chiefs bounce back? Pats-Bills commentary included. 2 of 7 pick Pats to win.
• Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread. 3 of 6 pick Pats to win.
• Nick Shook (NFL.com) NFL QB rankings, Week 15: Patrick Mahomes hits season low. No. 2 Drake Maye.
• Anthony Dabbundo (The Ringer) eest NFL bets for Week 15: Bye weeks are over, bringing us a packed slate full of playoff implications. Concerns about the Patriots included: Run defense, Red zone struggles.

VIEW FROM BUFFALO

• Richie Whitt (SI-Buffalo) 3 keys to Bills getting revenge on Patriots in Week 15 AFC East showdown. 1. Protect the pigskin.
• Alaina Getzenberg (ESPN) Bills have chance to interrupt Patriots’ AFC East title hopes.
• Skarekrow (Buffalo Rumblings) Analysis: Buffalo Bills can still win the AFC East in 2025
• Phoebe Schecter (BBC) What must Allen and Bills do to end Patriots’ 10-game win streak?
• Sal Maiorana (Democrat & Chronicle) Bills CB Christian Benford learned from Stefon Diggs, now he’s dominating.
• Matt Parrino (NewYorkUpstate) Bills’ defense gets bad news as red-hot cornerback suffers injury days before facing Patriots. /eh, I’m assuming Benford is playing.
• Nick Wojton (Bills Wire) Bills at Patriots: 5 storylines to watch for during lead up to Week 15. 1. AFC East implications.
• Randy Gurzi (SI-Bills) Bills vs Patriots Week 15 expert pick roundup.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...nks-12-12-25-pats-bills-matchups-keys-victory

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Bills Friday injury report: Terrell Jennings ruled out for Week 15

The New England Patriots will host the Buffalo Bills down one.

Running back Terrell Jennings has been ruled out for the AFC East rematch due to a concussion, as head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed during his final press conference of the week. And on the other side of the ball in Foxborough, defensive captain Robert Spillane moves forward as the team’s lone questionable.

Here’s the rest of the game statuses leading up to Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.

OUT​

Patriots​

• RB Terrell Jennings (concussion)

Bills​

• No players listed

Jennings remained a non-participant through three consecutive injury reports before officially being ruled out. The 2024 undrafted arrival out of Florida A&M entered the NFL’s concussion protocol against the New York Giants as the calendar turned to December. The running back depth chart will now be subject to movement behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson and reigning AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month TreVeyon Henderson. Veteran D’Ernest Johnson, a three-time standard elevation from the practice squad, is on track to join the 53-man roster. That will require a corresponding move by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.

“Yeah, D’Ernest will probably get to the game and help us,” New England’s head coach said. “We’ll have to figure some things out now, this afternoon or tomorrow, with the roster.”

QUESTIONABLE​

Patriots​

• LB Robert Spillane (foot)

Bills​

• WR Joshua Palmer (ankle)
• LB Terrel Bernard (elbow)
• CB Christian Benford (toe)

The Patriots added Spillane to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday due to a foot injury. A questionable tag followed on Friday. The off-ball linebacker had seen his workload scale back to a season-low 38 defensive downs during his latest start. He ranks atop the unit with 97 tackles while also having a hand in one sack, one forced fumble, five passes defensed and two interceptions returned for 70 yards. Only cornerback Carlton Davis III and safety Craig Woodson have logged a higher rate of snaps for New England’s defense than his 95.36 percent.

But guard Jared Wilson, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga and special teams captain Brenden Schooler are set to go without game designations after landing among the inactives prior to the bye week. The same prognosis holds for swing tackle Vederian Lowe, defensive tackle Christian Barmore as well as outside linebacker and sack leader Harold Landry III.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-out-robert-spillane-questionable-nfl-week-15

 

[New England Patriots]

6 Patriots to watch against the Bills in NFL Week 15

Despite entering Week 5 as massive underdogs, the New England Patriots managed to beat the Bills in Buffalo to carve out a major advantage in the race for the AFC East. Now, 10 weeks later, they need to repeat that feat in order to lock up the division and crown themselves champion for the first time since 2019.

For a victory in the rematch with Buffalo, however, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel will need to bring its A-game. The Bills, after all, are far from dead and stayed the course even after losing to New England earlier in the year: at 9-4, they still have a chance to win their sixth straight division title, and a victory on Sunday would help boost their chances to snatch the top spot away from the Patriots after all.

As always when going up against an opponent of that quality, a complete game is need in all three phases. That said, our eyes will be on a handful of players in particular: considering the circumstances and opponent, here are our pivotal Patriots for Sunday’s game.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson​

The Bills run defense has improved slightly over the course of the season, but it is still ranked toward the bottom of the league in efficiency categories such as yards per carry (5.1) and EPA per run (0.045). For New England and its lead running back, this presents an opportunity.

Rhamondre Stevenson has had an up-and-down year so far; he missed time with a toe injury and fumbled three times over the first five weeks of the season, but also has contributed some big plays as a runner and receiver while additionally showing some good pass protection. Considering Buffalo’s defensive weaknesses, one would expect him to be in line for a solid game. Then again, despite scoring two touchdowns, Stevenson was a relative non-factor in the first meeting between those two teams.

WR Stefon Diggs​

In his first ever trip back to Orchard Park, Diggs was the most impactful skill position player on the field. Catching 10 passes for 146 yards in Week 5, he willed the Patriots to victory over his former team. To repeat as victors in front of the Gillette Stadium crowd, a similar performance would go a long way.

A veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Diggs knows that no two games are alike. That does not mean there are no lessons to be taken away from his first meeting with the Bills in October either

“That was a long time ago,” he said this week. “A lot of things have happened throughout this season that we kind of learned from. Even that game — we learned a lot from that game and we were like, ‘Damn, if we had this back, we would have done this differently. We would have done that differently.’ But all is well ends well when you win the game. You learn a lot throughout the season that’s going to help you towards the end.

“And the landscape looks different. It’s going to be a little more colder. It’s going to be some winter weather, whatever it is. I think the biggest thing for us is packing what our coach called identity and who we are, what we like to do and that’s finishing plays and that’s being aggressive and that’s being smart.”

LG Jared Wilson​

The Patriots suffered some major losses during their win in Cincinnati in Week 12, including the entire left side of their offensive line. While tackle Will Campbell will be out another week on injured reserve due to the sprained MCL he sustained that day, guard Jared Wilson seems set to make a comeback against Buffalo.

Under normal circumstances, Wilson would slot into the left guard spot between Campbell’s replacement Vederian Lowe and center Garrett Bradbury. However, there is no telling just how quickly the third-round rookie will be up to speed again despite not carrying an injury designation into the matchup; even if he is cleared for starting action, there might be some rust to be shaken off after virtually not playing for three straight weekends both physically and in regards to his chemistry with Lowe in particular.

It helps that Buffalo will be without stalwart defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The remaining front seven — including starting tackles DaQuan Jones and Deone Walker as well as edges Joey Bosa and Greg Rousseau — will still present a challenge for the young lineman and the rest of the starting five.

DT Khyiris Tonga​

Another player who recently missed some time, Tonga is set to make his own comeback after suffering an injury against Cincinnati. The Patriots will need him to be at his best, too, given Buffalo’s willingness to run the football as well as the scramble abilities provided by quarterback Josh Allen.

“He can do everything,” Tonga said about Allen this week. “Run the ball, throw the ball, throw 60 yards across his body — he can do it all. And we know that, so it’s going to be a fun challenge.”

With fellow defensive tackle Milton Williams on IR, Tonga projects as a starter alongside Christian Barmore (who himself was a limited participant in two of three practices this week). How much action he will actually see, however, has yet to be determined: Cory Durden, Eric Gregory and Joshua Farmer provide rotational depth behind the two top options, and likely will be moved in and out of the lineup as well. That said, at his peak, Tonga and Barmore is the best pairing New England has available against Allen and company.

LB Robert Spillane​

The Bills offense presents an array of problems, and as a result no position might be under bigger pressure than linebacker. Tops among the LBs on the Patriots, of course, is team captain Robert Spillane.

Typically a 100-percenter on the defensive side of the ball — even though it remains to be seen whether his current foot injury will impact his availability — Spillane will be faced with a multitude of tasks. There is coming downhill to help stop James Cook and Buffalo’s potent run game; there is spying Josh Allen as a run threat; there is covering tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox; and there is communicating with the rest of the unit against a team using motion on 55.2% of snaps and play action on 16.5%.

K Andy Borregales​

Whether or not you believe the Patriots’ underdog status is justified, Sunday’s game projects as a highly-contested affair that could be decided by a handful of points. If so, kicker Andy Borregales will again be in the spotlight.

The sixth-round draft pick has had a solid rookie campaign so far, hitting on 23 of 26 field goals and 36 of 38 extra points. The Patriots will need him to be accurate again on Sunday, especially after he went off he mark in both of his last two appearances at Gillette Stadium: against the Jets and Giants in Weeks 11 and 13, respectively, he missed one field goal each. Like this upcoming game, those two were played in cold conditions as well.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ews/116160/players-to-watch-nfl-week-15-bills

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots sign veteran D’Ernest Johnson to 53-man roster amid series of moves

The final standard elevation is in the rearview for D’Ernest Johnson. Ahead is a spot on the 53-man roster.

Amid a series of moves, the New England Patriots promoted the running back leading up to Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

Johnson, 29, had signed to the practice squad at the end of October. From there, he reached the NFL limit in call-ups and reversions in three consecutive weeks. Those November appearances brought a combined 23 snaps between offense and special teams for the 5-foot-11, 205-pound back.

Undrafted in 2018, Johnson stands 99 games into his career. Following a tour with the Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos, the South Florida product landed with the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and went on to earn FedEx Ground Player of the Week during his stay. He made subsequent stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

Along with three starts and three touchdowns, Johnson’s time in the league includes 219 rushes for 996 yards, 53 receptions for 467 yards, as well as 33 kickoff returns for 772 yards. The vested veteran now resides in an active backfield led by starter Rhamondre Stevenson and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month TreVeyon Henderson.

“Yeah, D’Ernest will probably get to the game and help us,” head coach Mike Vrabel said during his Friday press conference. “We’ll have to figure some things out now, this afternoon or tomorrow, with the roster.”

The Patriots sent incumbent third running back Terrell Jennings, who was ruled out on the final injury report due to a concussion, to injured reserve in a corresponding move. The club also elevated defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad for Sunday.

Jennings, 24, will now miss the final four games of the regular season before being eligible to return. The 6-foot, 217-pound rusher had not practiced since entering concussion protocol in the first half against the New York Giants prior to the bye week.

A rookie minicamp tryout in 2024, Jennings has appeared in 10 games during his run in Foxborough. Signed back to the active roster from the practice squad in October, the Florida A&M alum’s career includes 115 yards and one touchdown acriss 37 touches from scrimmage. He has added three tackles on special teams this campaign while also returning two kickoffs for 59 yards.

Taylor, 23, joined New England’s practice squad in the fall after clearing waivers elsewhere in the AFC East. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive lineman went undrafted out of the University of Miami in 2024, and appeared in 16 games while a member of the New York Jets.

During his initial stint in the division, Taylor logged 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pair of batted passes through 308 snaps on defense and 14 snaps on special teams.

Sunday’s kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...r-place-terrell-jennings-ir-nfl-week-15-bills

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Bills recap: Second-half collapse results in 35-31 loss

Back from the bye and with a chance to clinch the AFC East, the New England Patriots were not able to do so as they dropped a Week 15 contest 35-31 to the Buffalo Bills.

It was New England who started hot, jumping out to a 21-0 lead behind two Drake Maye rushing touchdowns. But, the script flipped in the second half as the Bills rattled off 21 unanswered points as part of four second-half touchdowns before stopping Maye’s final drive to ultimately win the game.

Here’s everything that went down at a snowy Gillette Stadium.

Final score: Patriots 31 : 35 Bills​

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | Broadcast information | Inactives | Game day roster

First Quarter​

The Bills won the toss and deferred, putting Drake Maye and the Patriots offense on the field first. The first play from scrimmage saw a handoff to Rhamondre Stevenson and the back break free up the middle for 15 yards. Then facing a 3rd-and-7, Maye perfectly placed a fade to Kayshon Boutte down the right sideline for 30 yards to quickly have New England in Buffalo territory. Quickly getting on the ball to avoid a challenge, New England moved the chains again on the ground to set up a goal-to-go situation. One play later, Drake Maye kept a zone read and found the end zone from eight yards out. [Patriots 7 : 0 Bills]

.@DrakeMaye2 caps a first drive#ProBowlVote | #NEPats

CBS pic.twitter.com/HXOwMV35E9

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 14, 2025

A 45-yard kick return by Ray Davis started the Bills first drive on the other side of the 50-yard line. A first-down deep completion to Brandin Cooks — that would’ve found Buffalo in the red zone — was overturned out of bounds which eventually set up an opening 3rd-and-5, where Allen’s pass was over an open Dalton Kincaid forcing a punt.

New England’s next drive started backed up at their own 12-yard line. After picking up an opening first-down on the ground, the unit faced a 3rd-and-1 where a pass from Maye to Mack Hollins fell incomplete.

Buffalo’s second drive of the afternoon began with a 3rd-and-10 following a false start, which led to New England bringing pressure and bringing Allen down for a sack.

Starting at midfield, Maye shrugged off a Bills defender in the backfield to avoid a sack and broke free for a 17-yard gain. A throw-back from Maye to Stevenson back to Maye then had the QB find Mack Hollins to move things into the red zone. Then set up in a goal-to-go situation, a second-down QB draw saw Maye break through the offensive line with his legs for another rushing touchdown. [Patriots 14 : 0 Bills]

DRAKE MAYE AGAIN.

BUFvsNE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/3UfhHoGI9c

— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025

Second Quarter​

Buffalo turned the their run game to start the second quarter as they kept the ball on the ground for six straight plays to start the drive. Their first drop back resulted in a sack by Harold Landry to set up a 3rd-and-15, where a screen to Khalil Shakir picked up just seven yards.

A punt in New England territory by Buffalo led to Maye beginning his next possession at their own six-yard line. Picking up a pair of first downs behind their running backs before a run stuff set up a 2nd-and-15 — which Maye quickly overcame the next play hitting Hollins over the middle for 18 yards. The very next play, TreVeyon Henderson broke free through the line of scrimmage untouched for a 52-yard touchdown. [Patriots 21 : 0 Bills]

He is absolutely GONEEE@TreVeyonH4 | #ProBowlVote

CBS pic.twitter.com/EeAHAgCUGr

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 14, 2025

Ray Davis’ second-long kick return of the game (39 yards) plus a face mask penalty on Brenden Schooler started the Bills next drive in New England territory. A 12-yard run by James Cook picked up a first first-down before the Bills faced a 3rd-and-5 — where Dawson Knox got away from Craig Woodson in traffic for a 19-yard catch-and-run. On second-and-goal on the other side of the two-minute warning, Allen found Cook out of the backfield for a touchdown. [Patriots 21 : 7 Bills]

With 1:56 left in the half and two timeouts remaining, New England’s offense found themselves with a big drive as the Bills were set to get the ball out of halftime. In an opening 3rd-and-3, Maye found a wide open Hunter Henry downfield for 18 yards to get the drive moving with 32 seconds left. Over midfield, a scramble from Maye picked up 11 yards but was taken down in bounds to take the clock to 15 seconds. A deep shot to Hollins then fell incomplete in the end zone before a handoff to Stevenson picked up 11 yards before New England took their final timeout with two seconds left. Andy Borregales’ 36-yard field goal was then good. [Patriots 24 : 7 Bills]

Third Quarter​

Kick coverage continued to be a problem for New England as Ray Davis took the second-half kickoff 58 yards to set the Bills offense up in plus territory. An 11-yard run by Cook picked up an initial first-down before Buffalo then faced a 3rd-and-3 where Allen kept it himself for 20 yards. Inside the 10-yard line, the Bills needed just two plays to find the end zone as Knox hauled one in from Josh Allen. [Patriots 24 : 14 Bills]

New England’s first drive of the second half opened with a 3rd-and-7, where Maye from the gun could not find a receiver before brought down for a sack. Bryce Baringer then punted after the offense’s first three-and-out of the day.

Back with the ball in a 10-point game, a 16-yard completion to Josh Palmer got the Bills drive started before Allen found Jackson Hawes to moved across midfield. Back-to-back touches for James Cook and Ray Davis picked up chunk gains to get the Bills offense inside the red zone — where a 3rd-and-5 pass was thrown away but a questionable holding call on Craig Woodson gave Buffalo a fresh set of downs. With a pass to Dalton Kincaid then setting Buffalo up at the two-yard line, they eventually faced a 3rd-and-goal from the three where a handoff to Cook was just short of the goal line — but a challenge by Sean McDermott led to it being overturned to a touchdown. [Patriots 24 : 21 Bills]

A long kick return from Kyle Williams was negated due to a holding call on Marte Mapu, which led to the Patriots starting their drive at just the 19-yard line. A first-down swing pass to Rhamondre Stevenson saw the back break initial contact to pick up 16 yards. Then facing a 3rd-and-4, Maye hung in the pocket to find Stefon Diggs over the middle for a key 16-yard gain. Over midfield, a near interception fell incomplete leading to a 3rd-and-25 after a false start and holding call — where a deep shot to Mack Hollins was intercepted inside the 10-yard line.

Fourth Quarter​

Taking over at their own nine-yard line following the turnover Buffalo immediately was set-up in a 3rd-and-7, where Allen found a wide open Dalton Kincaid down the middle for 24 yards. With the offense then staying on the field on 4th-and-3 over midfield, Allen’s pass downfield was caught by Khalil Shakir over Marcus Jones for 37 yards. Facing a third-and-goal from the four, Allen appeared to scamper in with his legs until a holding penalty negated the play. Then on 3rd-and-goal from the 14, Allen bought time to his right before hitting Knox for a score. [Patriots 24 : 28 Bills]

Trailing for the first time, Drake Maye took the field down four with 10:03 left in the fourth quarter. A first-down pitch to TreVeyon Henderson appeared to be stuffed for no gain, until the rookie back reversed field and broke free for a 65-yard score — with Maye as his lead blocker — to retake the lead. [Patriots 31 : 28 Bills]

TAKE OFFFFFF TREY @TreVeyonH4 | #ProBowlVote

CBS pic.twitter.com/7GQ2XMoNWu

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 14, 2025

Back trailing, a second-down screen to Ty Johnson picked up 12 and a first-down before Buffalo faced a 3rd-and-4. From the gun, Allen’s pass to Keon Coleman fell incomplete before a late flag was thrown on Carlton Davis’ for DPI. With a new set of downs in New England territory, a pass to Shakir followed by two runs by Cook led to the Bills finding the end zone. [Patriots 31 : 35 Bills]

Again down four, Maye and Co. took the field with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. A second-down sack by Matt Milano led to a 3rd-and-12, where Maye’s pass to Hunter Henry near the sticks fell incomplete. New England was forced to punt.

Josh Allen retook the field with 5:08 remaining with a chance to ice the game. Forced into a 3rd-and-4 after a pair of runs, a screen out to Allen’s right was brought down for no gain leading to a punt.

New England’s offense took over at the 17-yard line with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Facing a 3rd-and-5 on the other side of the two-minute warning, Maye’s pass was incomplete which led to the offense staying on the field. On fourth-down, Maye escaped the pocket to his right but his passes was tipped as he went to through leading to a turnover on downs.

Buffalo took over at the Patriots 22-yard line with 1:47 on the clock. Two runs and two timeouts set-up a 3rd-and-2 just nine seconds later, where Buffalo kept it on the ground again and picked up the first-down. Josh Allen took it to victory formation.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-15-bills-final-score-live-updates-news-recap

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots links 12/15/25: Pats slapped with second half reality-check

TEAM TALK

• Post Game Notes, Patriots-Bills: Patriots set a team record averaging 9.8 yards per rush, produce season-high 246-yards rushing; Last six Patriots-Bills games decided by one possession; More.
• Mike Dussault’s Rapid Recap: Patriots can’t close out Bills, fall 35-31.
• Evan Lazar’s Game Observations: New England collapsed in the second half, plain and simple. Although it’s more fun to learn while winning, the Patriots will take the harder path by learning from a loss.
• Gamebook: Full Bills at Patriots stats.
• Post Game Quotes: Patriots and Bills.
• Post Game Pressers: Mike Vrabel – Drake Maye – TreVeyon Henderson, Stefon Diggs, Christian Gonzalez, JayLinn Hawkins, Marcus Jones, Harold Landry, Hunter Henry, K’Lavon Chaisson.

LOCAL LINKS

• Mark Daniels writes how the Patriots took their foot off the gas and Buffalo drove right over them.
• Matt Vautour explains the Bills gave the Pats a reality check, but the real story will be how New England responds.
• Karen Guregian emphasizes how this one loss won’t define the Patriots, but their response will.
• Zack Cox notes the Patriots expected the Josh Allen and Bills comeback, but just couldn’t stop it.
• Doug Kyed sorts through the Best and worst to see what we learned from Sunday. Best: TreVeyon Henderson, Drake Maye. Worst: Special teams. Just throw the whole unit in there with Brenden Schooler.
• Alex Barth shares 5 takeaways after the Patriots blow a 21-point lead to the Bills: Special teams sparks the backslide; Five consecutive touchdowns; More.
• Mark Daniels gives us 12 takeaways as the Patriots blow a big lead and lose. 1. Pats offense start fast.
• Chris Mason reports Stefon Diggs believed the biggest lesson from Sunday’s loss was easy to identify. Diggs believes the Patriots need to attack Monday’s film session with humility and then move on.
• Doug Kyed spotlights TreVeyon Henderson’s big plays that provided a silver lining in the loss.
• Andrew Callahan hears Mike Vrabel on why Robert Spillane was active but did not play a single snap.
• Mike Reiss highlights what Mike Vrabel had to say about the officiating yesterday. ‘Hard for me to understand how a team coming into the game leading [in offensive holds], and that’s how they play, didn’t have one yesterday.‘ More.
• Doug Kyed relays Drake Maye on his missed throws yesterday and how he has to do a better job.
• Jake Seymour relays the Patriots sounding off on the controversial penalties.
• Matt Vautour looks at how the Week 15 results impacted the Patriots playoff position.
• Lance Reynolds finds the fans still hopeful and riding the momentum.
• Pats Chat podcast: Doug Kyed and Michael Hurley react to the Patriots loss in Week 15. Kyed: “I think it was good for the team.“ Hurley: ”The first half wasn’t as good as the second half was bad.” More. (69 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• NFL Nation (ESPN) Week 15: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game. How did the Patriots let a 17-point halftime lead slip away, and what does it mean for the future? More.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) Week 15 takeaways: What we learned from Sunday’s games. Patriots collapse on both sides of the ball; More.
• Albert Breer (SI) Week 15 Takeaways: Bo Nix on why the Broncos ‘didn’t flinch’ in 11th straight win; Plus, Matthew Stafford’s MVP-type play, Patrick Mahomes’s injury and much more.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Cover 32: Josh Allen becoming the boogeyman of AFC playoff race; Plus game balls, biggest gaffes from Week 15.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 grades. Pats: C, Bills B-. This was a monumental collapse by a Patriots team that blew a 21-0 lead. The always accurate Drake Maye, who threw just two incompletions in the first half, went ice cold in the second half, going just 5 of 12 for 47 yards with an interception. More. /…if you can stomach it.
• Gilberto Manzano (SI) Studs and Duds Week 15: Trevor Lawrence delivers with six-touchdown rout; Plus, Joe Burrow stumbled, TreVeyon Henderson explodes; More.
• Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) Week 15 winners and losers: Bills, Bears earn key victories.
• Judy Battista (NFL.com) NFL Week 15: Seven surprises that shaped the 2025 playoff race. 3) The AFC East still may go through Buffalo.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Week 15 overreactions: Josh Allen for MVP?
• Conor Orr (SI) The Bills’ comeback win over the Patriots gave them more than just Super Bowl hopes.
• Bill Barnwell (ESPN) NFL Week 15 injury fallout: Micah Parsons, Patrick Mahomes.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-15-25-pats-slapped-second-half-reality-check

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots waive linebacker Caleb Murphy, opening roster spot for reported addition

A 53-man roster spot has opened in Foxborough to begin the week.

The New England Patriots waived linebacker Caleb Murphy on Monday, the organization announced, making room for an impending arrival.

Murphy, 26, appeared in five games after being claimed off the wire from the Los Angeles Chargers in October. The 6-foot-3, 254-pounder totaled 79 snaps on special teams over that span in a core role and recorded a pair of tackles.

Originally entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with head coach Mike Vrabel’s former Tennessee Titans in 2023, Murphy has checked into 19 career games. The two-time Division II national champion out of Grand Valley State and Ferris State has had a hand in 19 tackles and a half-sack. He’s logged 493 snaps on defense and 808 snaps on special teams.

Sunday’s 35-31 loss featured kickoff returns of 38, 45 and 58 yards by the Buffalo Bills’ Ray Davis, however, setting the stage for another move.

New England intends to sign linebacker Chad Muma off the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Monday.

Muma, 26, has appeared in 55 games since entering the league with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2022 draft at No. 77 overall. The Wyoming alum stands 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed and seven starts into his career. He has seen 722 snaps on defense and 911 snaps on special teams.

As league’s roster deadline passed in August, Muma was awarded to Indianapolis. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound linebacker made a handful of appearances during his second AFC South stop before being waived and retained on the practice squad in November.

For now, the active roster at Gillette Stadium includes 52 and the practice squad includes 16.

Patriots defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III officially reverted on Monday after serving as a standard elevation over the weekend.

Taylor, 23, debuted with five snaps on the defensive line and notched two tackles on rushes by quarterback Josh Allen. Undrafted out of the University of Miami in 2024, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Taylor joined the practice squad in October after being waived by the New York Jets. He has recorded 29 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pair of batted passes through 17 NFL games.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-murphy-adding-chad-muma-colts-practice-squad

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots links 12/16/25: Pats take constructive view: Fix what broke

TEAM TALK

• Evan Lazar’s After Further Review: Breaking down QB Drake Maye, the defense and quick-hit film notes from the loss. What did the Bills do in the second half to slow down Maye and the Patriots offense?
• Roster Moves: Patriots waived LB Caleb Murphy.
• Transcript: Mike Vrabel (Plus 13 min. video)
• Press Conferences: Garrett Bradbury – Rhamondre Stevenson.
• WEEI Patriots Monday: Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye.
• Highlights: Drake Maye smashes his accelerator on 17-yard rushing TD. (video clip)

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan‘s Film review: What Mike Vrabel’s Patriots can fix after their loss to Buffalo.
• Andrew Callahan explains that the hard lessons from Sunday’s loss bring some needed hardship for the team’s upcoming playoff run.
• Jerry Thornton posts his knee-jerk reactions from Pats-Bills. ‘It’s hard to overstate just how all-powerful the Pats were as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead.Until they weren’t. … Until the Bills put on a masterclass of making adjustments that needs to be studied by scientists, philosophers and theologians.’; More.
• Ian Logue shares five thoughts from Sunday’s game as the Patriots let a big opportunity slip away. Drake Maye went from hearing chants of “MVP” the last 10 games to likely becoming the most scrutinized player on the roster this week.
• Phil Perry looks at what we learned from Patriots-Bills: Run defense remains a real concern, No pressure on Josh Allen, Offense goes stale in second half, Kick coverage issues sting; More.
• Mark Morse sifts through the Good, Bad, and Ugly from the Week 15 loss. Offensive line needs to get credit for their run blocking, which led to 246 yards rushing, the largest amount by the team this season; More.
• Lauren Campbell highlights Mike Vrabel on how the Patriots have to ‘pick pieces back up’ after the loss.
• Jake Seymour gives us the Week 15 snap counts: Players receiving increased snaps for injuries.
• Mike D’Abate writes, at the risk of sounding melodramatic, it may be time for Drake Maye to channel his inner ‘Rocky Balboa.’
• Karen Guregian spotlights Drake Maye’s surprising speed on display when blocking for TreVeyon Henderson’s long TD run.
• Karen Guregian is curious to see if Mike Vrabel can pull another rabbit out of the hat and get the Patriots back in the win column.
• Erin Shapland notes Mike Vrabel shifted some of the blame from Sunday off the defense and spread it around.
• Alex Barth updates the Patriots’ clinching scenarios after the Bills loss. Pats can’t clinch an AFC East title in Week 16, but they can officially lock up their playoff spot. /They clinch, we unclench.
• Ethan Hurwitz mentions how rookie long snapper Julian Ashby is among top Pro Bowl vote getters.
• Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders discuss Sundays tale of two halves. (30 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Joe Smith (TouchdownWire) Drake Maye shows off blocking skills on viral TD during Patriots’ loss.
• Peter Dewey (SI) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds: TreVeyon Henderson skyrockets to favorite.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) NFL Week 16 early odds: Patriots at Ravens commentary included.
• Around the NFL (NFL.com) Playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 16 of 2025 NFL season.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL Panic Meter: Packers’ championship dreams might be done after Micah Parsons’ injury.
• Conor Orr (SI) With the coach carousel spinning, all eyes are on the Bengals. /Not the Pats, heh heh.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Chiefs’ playoff elimination and Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury puts Chiefs dynasty at a crossroads. Is it a pause or the end?

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...25-pats-take-constructive-view-fix-what-broke

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots position grades from loss to Bills in NFL Week 15

The New England Patriots entered Sunday as co-owners of the NFL’s longest win streak, but they saw it snapped by a division rivals. The Buffalo Bills, who needed a win in order to prevent the AFC East title from staying in Foxborough, were able to complete a 35-31 come-from-behind victory that dropped the Patriots to 11-3 on the year — still good enough for first place in the division, but clearly looking up in the conference now.

The game itself was a mixed bag. There were some impressive individual outings, particularly in the first half, but the ultimate taste left in the mouth was a bitter one. A look at our weekly position grades shows this as well.

Patriots position grades from NFL Week 15​

Quarterback: In the first half, Drake Maye appeared to seriously bolster his MVP case. Besides going 9-for-11 for 108 yards passing, he also scored two rushing touchdowns in an offense that started to add the quarterback run game to its arsenal. The second half, however, was an entirely different story. Maye registered no additional carries after the break, and saw his passing efficiency decrease: he went just 5-for-12 for 47 yards and an interception in the third and fourth quarters, failing to get himself and his offense into a rhythm behind off-target throws and dubious decisions. For once, the lights seemed to be a bit too bright for the second-year man. | Grade: D+

Running back: Granted, Buffalo’s run defense does not strike fear in anybody’s eyes so far this season. That being said, the same was true for New England’s ground game. And yet, the Patriots dominated proceedings in that area. When all was said and done, they had 246 yards and four touchdowns to show for on 25 carries, including two long TreVeyon Henderson scores from 52 and 65 yards out, respectively. The rookie was the star of the show, but the team also got good contributions from Rhamondre Stevenson, who averaged 8.3 yards per carry and looked as good as he had all season. The only blemish was Henderson giving up a sack. | Grade: A-

Wide receiver: Stefon Diggs willed the Patriots to victory over his ex-club in Week 5, but he was unable to make the same impact in Week 15, finishing with only three catches for 26 yards. The rest of New England’s wideouts also had a hard time producing. Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins had some chunk plays, but registered just five receptions for 71 yards between them. DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams were not even targeted on the day. The success on the ground and limited possessions did not help their cause, but New England — going against a team missing its No. 1 cornerback — also did not see anybody step up in the second half like Diggs did during the first game against the Bills. | Grade: C

Tight end: Hunter Henry had a solid outing as a blocker and did catch an 18-yard pass, but he also saw a crucial 3rd-and-12 go through this hands in the late fourth quarter with his team down four points. The other tight end-types on the roster, and we are including fullback Jack Westover here, had similar up-and-down days: neither Westover nor Austin Hooper were a factor as receivers, while the former was hit-or-miss as a lead blocker and the latter mostly solid. On the whole, it was a mostly positive day from a blocking perspective but the group was quiet in the passing game. | Grade: D+

Offensive line: Getting Jared Wilson back to man the left guard spot helped the Patriots keep Drake Maye clean for much of the day: he was sacked three times on the day — although only one was on the O-line — and faced pressure on 32.1% of his dropbacks. Considering that New England operated with a backup left tackle and a different-looking lineup for a third straight game, that was a strong outing. The same, of course, was true on the ground: Henderson and Stevenson could not have gotten the job done alone, they also received some help from the guys up front. Despite the ultimate end result, this was a “get right” game for the rushing offense. | Grade: A-

Defensive line: The Patriots played a strong game against Josh Allen in the first half, limiting him as a runner and putting consistent pressure on him through the use of line games, unbalanced pressure and blitz schemes. The D-line played a big part in that, with Harold Landry registering a sack and Christian Barmore disrupting the MVP on several occasions. And then came the second half. The Bills’ run game, which already had some positive plays in the first half, started taking over to finish with 171 yards on 34 non-kneel-down carries. The Buffalo O-line simply dominated in the second half, which also led to the pass rush failing to have much of an impact on Allen. It was ugly. | Grade: D–

Linebacker: The circumstances did the Patriots’ linebacker group no favors. Even though he was active for the game, Robert Spillane did not take the field because of the toe injury he sustained in practice leading up to the game. With Spillane out, New England was not just without its lead communicator on defense but also one of the better run-defending linebackers in the NFL. Jack Gibbens and Christian Elliss did have some good moments, including the former registering a sack, but they also missed three combined tackles and were far less successful stopping runs from getting past the second level while also having a tough go in coverage. The Patriots better get Spillane back quickly. | Grade: D

Cornerback: The Patriots went with an even split of man and zone coverage into the battle, like they did in Week 5 against Josh Allen and company. And when they rolled out their man looks, their cornerbacks played a solid game. Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis led the way, surrendering zero catches on four combined targets. Fellow CBs Marcus Jones and Charles Woods were less effective in man-to-man coverage, however, with the former giving up a much-discussed 37-yard reception on 4th-and-3. Still, cornerback play was the least of New England’s defensive worries on Sunday. | Grade: B

Safety: While Gonzalez and company mostly won their battles on the outside, the middle of the field was repeatedly open for Allen to exploit. The safety group, namely Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson, had a hard time containing Bills tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, with the pair teaming up to catch six passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Hawkins also missed a tackle, while their ability to positively help a leaky run defense also limited. | Grade: D+

Special teams: The Patriots’ special teams operation laid an egg on Sunday, and the unit’s failure to compete in the field position game proved a catalyst to the Bills’ comeback. Covering kickoffs was the main issue — Buffalo’s Ray Savis averaged 41 yards on four runbacks — but not the only problem: Marcus Jones was neutralized in the punt return game; a long Kyle Williams kick return was called back by a penalty on Marte Mapu; Brenden Schooler cost his team 15 yards on a facemask call. And even though Andy Borregalws and Bryce Baringer had solid outings, the entire body of work from the group was not up to the task. | Grade: D–

As you can clearly see, the Patriots failed to play their best football against a formidable opponent equipped to capitalize. That is precisely what transpired, resulting in a disappojting and avoidable defeat.

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How would you grade the Patriots’ performance in Week 15? Do you agree with our assessment? Please head down to the comment section to discuss.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-opinion/116524/bills-nfl-week-15-position-grades

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots links 12/17/25: Pats move on to Baltimore

TEAM TALK

• Game Preview: Patriots at Ravens. Road warriors, Series history, Tale of the tape, What to watch for.
• Roster Move: Patriots sign LB Chad Muma off the Indianapolis practice squad.
• From the NFL – Week 16 playoff scenarios.
• Vrabel X’s and O’s: Mike Vrabel breaks down film on Drake Maye & TreVeyon Henderson TDs and pressure on Josh Allen. (4 min. video) /Wait… there was pressure on Josh Allen?
• Sights and Sounds: Week 15 vs. Bills. (5 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Bills recap, necessary fixes, AFC East/playoff picture. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Ian Logue points out how the Pats struggle to score after halftime – a problem that could threaten the the team’s playoff hopes.
• Justin Leger highlights David Andrews and Brian Hoyer discussing the Patriots’ keys to victory next Sunday night vs. the Ravens.
• Steve Balestrieri issues his Week 15 Report Card: Defense should have received an M for “Manhandled”.
• Bob George shares 10 NFL thoughts from Week 15. 1) Okay, it happened. Lower your expectations everyone.
• Ethan Hurwitz tells us what Mike Vrable’s message was to the team after the game.
• Meghan Ottolini relays Drake Maye on how the Patriots will ‘practice a little better, practice a little harder’ after the loss.
• Mike D’Abate reports how Marcus Jones is looking to move forward after the loss.
• WEEI guest Tom E. Curran says ‘It was not a good game for [Drake Maye]’. “It wasn’t enough to land him in the “Downs” section of my column on Sunday, but it also wasn’t enough to help his team win their 11th-straight regular season game for the first time since the 2007 season (sigh).”
• Tom Carroll highlights Mike Vrabel taking blame for the offense stalling out, and explaining the in-game dynamic with Josh McDaniels.
• Doug Kyed‘s Patriots mailbag: Trying to explain second-half offensive struggles.
• Alex Barth‘s Patriots Mailbag: What was learned in the Bills game.
• Nick Goss ranks potential AFC Wild Card playoff opponents for the Patriots.
• Jake Seymour notes TreVeyon Henderson leads betting odds for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
• Chris Mason‘s NFL picks for Week 16: Patriots at Ravens. Patriots bounce back in Baltimore, 27-20. /Click for commentary.
• A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare talks all things Patriots with Paul Perillo. (33 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Matt Verderame (SI) Top-10-ranked rookies include a pair of RBs headed for the NFL playoffs; Plus, the Browns’ rookies are still thriving. TreVeyon Henderson included.
• Iain MacMillan (SI) Patriots vs. Ravens prediction, odds, spread, injuries, trends for NFL Week 16.
• Staff (SI) NFL straight-up Moneyline picks for every game in Week 16. 6 of 8 pick Pats to win.
• Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) NFL Week 15 winners and losers: Bills, Bears earn key victories; Packers defense in trouble?
• Ali Bhanpuri (CBS Sports) NFL playoff picture: Postseason probabilities entering Week 16.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...atriots-links-12-17-25-pats-move-on-baltimore

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Ravens Wednesday injury report: Five defensive starters sidelined

The New England Patriots turned the page to the Baltimore Ravens without five starters on the defensive side of the ball.

Linebackers Harold Landry III, Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss did not participate in Wednesday’s practice in Foxborough. Neither did cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones.

Here’s the initial injury report heading into Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. ET flexed kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE​

Patriots​

• LB Harold Landry III (knee)
• LB Robert Spillane (ankle)
• LB Christian Elliss (illness)
• CB Carlton Davis III (hip)
• CB Marcus Jones (knee)

Ravens​

• QB Lamar Jackson (illness)
• OT Ronnie Stanley (knee, ankle)
• LB Kyle Van Noy (quad)
• LB Roquan Smith (knee)
• LB Teddye Buchanan (knee)
• CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot)

Three team captains were among New England’s sidelined on Wednesday. Despite being active for last weekend’s game against the Buffalo Bills, Spillane did not play a down and has since been spotted in a walking boot due to an ankle injury. The off-ball tackle leader was previously listed as questionable because of a foot injury. Elsewhere, the AFC East rematch at Gillette Stadium saw Landry rotate in off the edges and extend his team lead to 8.5 sacks. But hip and knee injuries hit the secondary during what became a 35-31 loss. Davis returned and finished having played 45 out of 70 defensive snaps, while Jones recorded 10 tackles in addition to roaming back deep on punt returns.

LIMITED PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

• DT Christian Barmore (not injury related — other)

Ravens​

• LB Jay Higgins IV (knee — IR return)
• S Keondre Jackson (ankle)

Barmore began the week as the lone limited participant for the Patriots’ 53-man roster. That’s been the part of the schedule for the defensive tackle, whose season has featured 13 starts, 26 tackles, one sack and seven quarterback hits. A pair of Ravens also checked in as partial participants on Wednesday as a window to return from injured reserve opened.

FULL PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

• No players listed

Ravens​

• WR Rashod Bateman (ankle)
• DT C.J. Okoye (quad)

No Patriots managing ailments got the week underway in full. Yet two started in that capacity for a Ravens team that practiced without its two-time NFL MVP at quarterback because of an illness.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...jury-report-five-defensive-starters-sidelined

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots links 12/18/25: Ravens game a mental toughness road test

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Ravens Week 16 Injury Report.
• Evan Lazar‘s Patriots Gameplan: 3 keys to victory in Sunday night’s showdown vs. the Ravens. Although winning the division by beating the Bills would’ve been nice, we’ll get a gauge of the Patriots mettle coming off a difficult loss. Vrabel: ‘It’s only a loss if you don’t learn from it’. More!
• Broadcast Info: How to watch/listen to Patriot at Ravens.
• Roster Move: Patriots sign LB Amari Gainer to the practice squad.
• Transcript: Drake Maye (Plus video)
• Press Conferences: Mike Vrabel – Stefon Diggs, Christian Gonzalez, Garrett Bradbury, Mack Hollins, Morgan Moses.
• The Journey: Mack Hollins’ path from special teams stand out to NFL wide receiver. (4 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Ravens preview, Vrabel presser/reaction, locker room report.
• Patriots Catch-22: Evan Lazar and Alex Barth recap Week 15 with 3 up/down vs. Bills, areas to improve, Ravens preview. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Andrew Callahan explains how as the Pats’ defense and receiving corps struggle, the Patriots need Drake Maye to step up — now more than ever.
• Mark Daniels calls attention to the Pats defense missing 5 starters on Wednesday.
• Alex Barth is concerned about how thin the Patriots are at the linebacker position heading into Week 16.
• Tom E. Curran spends a bit of time explaining himself, then walks back his initial inference that Mike Vrabel was kicking rocks at Josh McDaniels’ play-calling vs. the Bills. He calls it “clarifying”.
• Jake Seymour hears from Mike Vrabel on the lessons the Pats are learning from the loss to the Bills.
• Sophie Weller spotlights Drake Maye sending a team-first message amid MVP conversation.
• Chris Mason relays Drake Maye on why he is thrilled Patriots-Ravens was flexed into prime time.
• Mark Daniels reports the Patriots signed Drake Maye’s former college teammate, veteran LB Amari Gainer
• Doug Kyed thought it was surprising to see Stefon Diggs take on a reduced workload vs the Bills. Diggs played just 26 of 52 offensive snaps against his former team. Here is how Diggs reacted.
• Pats Chat podcast: Doug Kyed and Michael Hurley break down some of the Patriots’ recent struggles ahead of their Week 16 matchup with the Ravens. (71 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Ben Fischer (Sports Business Journal) ‘A true, true Patriot’: Nancy Meier prepares for retirement after 52 seasons in Foxboro.
• Zachary Pereles (CBS Sports) Ranking 10 of the most important remaining games that will shape 2025 postseason: With three weeks to go, 17 teams are fighting for 12 playoff spots. Pats-Ravens included.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL Week 16 picks and score predictions. Ravens win 23-20. “I have no idea what the Ravens offense is going to look like on Sunday, because they’ve been so streaky all year, but on paper, this will be the stiffest test that New England has faced this season.” /Click for commentary.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Week 16 NFL picks. Ravens win 30-26.
• Seth Walder (ESPN) Projecting 2025 NFL standings, playoff games, Super Bowl 60. Week 16: Ravens win 19-17 – Week 17: Patriots 31, Jets 3 – Week 18: Patriots 31, Dolphins 18. Patriots finish with the No. 2 seed, face the Chargers in the Wild Card game. Super Bowl: Rams-Patriots
• Zak Koeppel (NFL.com) 2026 NFL offseason outlook: Ranking all 32 teams by projected cap space and draft capital. Patriots Cap rank: 10th. Draft rank: 25th. Average: 18th.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Dolphins QB Zach Wilson “frustrated” and “confused” about why he isn’t starting.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-18-25-ravens-game-mental-toughness-road-test

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots rooting guide and discussion for NFL Week 16

The New England Patriots will try to get back into the win column this week versus the Baltimore Ravens. Naturally, all of our attention is on that particular Sunday night matchup. That said, some of the other 15 games around the NFL this week are also worth keeping a close eye on.

With that said, welcome to this week’s Patriots rooting guide.

As a disclaimer, we are looking at games through two primary lenses: New England’s chances of winning the division — which they cannot do this week — as well as earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Naturally and given the tiebreaker situation, not every game will be equally important even if it involves common opponents or other teams in the conference or division.

The Patriots were entering the weekend with a 73% chance of winning the division, according to The Athletic, and are 99+% favorite to make the playoffs (they actually can punch their ticket on Sunday). Their odds for the No. 1 seed are not nearly as good and a mere 10% at the moment.

Thursday​

8:15 p.m. ET​

Los Angeles Rams (11-3) at Seattle Seahawks (11-3): Go good game! Given the stakes, this is one of the top Thursday night games in recent memories. And while it has no impact on the Patriots, it should be a fun watch nonetheless. | Amazon

Saturday​

5 p.m. ET​

Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10): Go good game! A no-impact game from a Patriots perspective. | FOX

8:20 p.m. ET​

Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) at Chicago Bears (10-4): Go Packers! While the game won’t change New England’s playoff outlook, it could end up impacting the draft. The Patriots, after all, own the Bears’ fourth-round pick sent to them by the Chiefs as part of an in-draft trade last year. | FOX

Sunday​

1 p.m. ET​

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) at Carolina Panthers (7-7): Go good game! Division supremacy on the line, but the Patriots do not care who will win this one. | FOX

Buffalo Bills (10-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-11): Go Browns! The Patriots won’t lock up the division this week either way, but Buffalo dropping this one would give them more wiggle room: if the Bills lose and they beat the Ravens, the Patriots would be up two games with two weeks to go. | CBS

Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1): Go Cowboys! The Chargers entering the competition for the No. 1 seed in the AFC is unlikely but not entirely impossible. This is merely based on keeping another competitor away from the race for the first-round bye in the conference. | FOX

Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) at Miami Dolphins (6-8): Go Dolphins! Miami is out of the playoffs, so all wins do over the last three weeks is further weaken the team’s draft position. | CBS

New York Jets (3-11) at New Orleans Saints (4-10): Go Jets! This is the same we talked about with the Dolphins, namely that the Jets adding some more wins down the stretch would end up hurting their draft stock. | CBS

Minnesota Vikings (6-8) at New York Giants (2-12): Go good game! This all-NFC matchup has no impact on the Patriots. | FOX

Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) at Tennessee Titans (2-12): Go Titans! The more games the Chiefs end up losing, the better for New England: they own a Kansas City sixth-rounder next year courtesy of the Joshua Uche trade. The worse their record, the better positioned the pick. | CBS

4:05 p.m. ET​

Atlanta Falcons (5-9) at Arizona Cardinals (3-11): Go good game! Nothing to see here, really. | FOX

Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Denver Broncos (12-2): Go Jaguars! This is a big one. If the Patriots want to take over the No. 1 seed in the AFC, they will need Denver to start losing some games. This one against the red hot Jaguars is a realistic candidate. | FOX

4:25 p.m. ET​

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) at Detroit Lions (8-6): Go Lions! The Steelers missing out on the playoffs would be good news for the Patriots and the sixth-round draft pick they received as part of the Kyle Dugger trade. Obviously, in an ideal scenario, Pittsburgh would still be ahead of the Ravens after Week 16, but a loss here would keep the chances intact of Baltimore eventually leap-frogging their division rivals and pushing them out of postseason contention. | CBS

Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) at Houston Texans (9-5): Go good game! Even though this is a game between two AFC teams, including one competing for a playoff spot, the game has no real impact on New England. | CBS

Monday​

8:15 p.m. ET​

San Francisco 49ers (10-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-6): Go Colts! We end the week with a focus on draft positioning. In the unlikely case the 49ers drop out of the playoff picture in the NFC, the Patriots would benefit: the conditional sixth-round pick acquired in the Keion White trade would be better positioned in that case. | ESPN

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This article also serves as an open thread for this week’s games. Please head down to the comment section to discuss and share your thoughts on the games as they unfold.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-guide-nfl-week-16-how-to-watch-live-playoffs

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots vs. Ravens Friday injury report: Robert Spillane out, four questionable

The New England Patriots will be down one defensive captain against the Baltimore Ravens.

Leading tackler Robert Spillane has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium, head coach Mike Vrabel announced during his final press conference of the week.

Defensive tackle Christian Barmore, outside linebacker Harold Landry III and cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones all move forward as questionable for the road trip.

Here’s the early game statuses ahead of the 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.

OUT​

Patriots​

• LB Robert Spillane (ankle)

Ravens​

• TBA

Spillane remained a non-participant for three consecutive practices before officially being ruled out due to an ankle injury. The inside linebacker, recently seen wearing a walking boot, had previously been questionable last week with a foot injury. Although among the actives 90 minutes prior to kickoff, he did not leave the sideline during the 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

His inaugural year in Foxborough has brought 13 starts, 97 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two interceptions.

QUESTIONABLE​

Patriots​

• DT Christian Barmore (not injury related — other)
• LB Harold Landry III (knee)
• CB Carlton Davis III (hip)
• CB Marcus Jones (knee)

Ravens​

• TBA

Barmore had been a limited participant as well as a full participant during Ravens preparations. The defensive tackle now carries a questionable game status along with three recent returnees to Patriots practice. Landry, Davis and Jones all missed back-to-back sessions before taking part in Friday’s work inside the WIN Waste Innovations Field House.

Off the edges, Landry leads New England with 10 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits. Jones, the former AFC Defensive Player of the Month, leads the way with 11 passes defensed and three interceptions, including a touchdown return. Both have been working through knee ailments. And also at cornerback, Davis remains second on the defense with 93.7 percent of the snaps after exiting and returning last Sunday with a hip issue.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...injury-report-robert-spillane-out-nfl-week-16

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots injury update: Starting duo share positive news for Week 16

The New England Patriots are not in top shape heading into their upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens. They already ruled out linebacker Robert Spillane for the contest, and furthermore have four other starting defenders listed as questionable on the injury report.

At least two of those four, however, are planning to make the trip to Baltimore. Cornerbacks Marcus Jones and Carlton Davis both told reporters in the Gillette Stadium locker room on Friday that they will take the field in Week 16.

“I’ll be out there playing,” said Jones following his return to practice.

“I want to be out there with the guys. I’m always trying to get better, so it means a lot. Our thing is always trying to be available. It’s this part in the season that everyone is going through something. We’re always trying to be out there.”

A Pro Bowl-caliber contributor this season as both a cornerback and punt returner, Jones was hobbled by a knee injury in last week’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. The issue subsequently forced him to sit out practice on Wednesday and Thursday, before a return in limited capacity on Friday.

Having him available against a Ravens offense featuring the likes of productive inside receiver Zay Flowers would be good news.

The same is true for Carlton Davis, who briefly exited Sunday’s game and subsequently was a no-show at practice the last two days as well. Davis claimed that he would be “good” following his practice debut this week and that the mentality he showed versus Buffalo — returning to the field even after missing almost a full quarter of play time — remains intact.

“It applies every week, all the time. That’s just the kind of guy I want to be for my team,” he said.

The Patriots’ starting outside cornerback opposite All-Pro Christian Gonzalez, Davis was happy to be able to return to the field even as a partial participant.

“It meant a lot for me knowing that it’s a big game,” he said. “We need to win every game just so we can compete for that No. 1 seed. It’s a big game, and it’s going to be big games from here on out. It’s like playoff games until the end of the season because we understand the position we’re in and what we’re trying to do. The road is not going to be easy, so as much as we can win, it will make that road a little bit easier.”

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...marcus-jones-carlton-davis-nfl-week-16-ravens