Maye Powers Patriots Past Ravens, Secure Playoff Spot with 28-24 Week 16 Win on Sunday Night Football
Maye and the offense would come alive after the takeaway, going 68 yards in 10 plays for their first touchdown of the game. Hunter Henry came through with one key third-down conversion catch, while Maye found Mack Hollins on 3rd-and-13 for a 20-yard gain, and then hit Austin Hooper on the next play for 26 yards. That set New England up at the Baltimore 1-yard line and they’d finish the drive off with a play action fake that Maye (5-of-6, 59 yards, TD on the drive) then lobbed to an open Henry in the end zone.
The defensive takeaway was just what the Patriots needed to get going, as the defense kept the momentum going by forcing their first three-and-out on Baltimore’s third possession. The game was tied at 7-7 early in the second quarter.
3. Injuries Mount as Pats Take Lead
The big plays kept coming for New England, with Maye hitting Diggs for 33 yards on a 3rd-and-3, but so did the injuries as the Patriots lost starting right tackle Morgan Moses to a knee injury and running back TreVeyon Henderson to a head injury during the second quarter. Then, Moses’ backup Thayer Munford went down, leaving the Patriots scrambling for answers at the tackle position.
The Patriots third drive would fizzle out in the high red zone, forcing them to settle for a 45-yard field goal from rookie Andy Borregales. It was a nine-play, 48-yard drive as New England was able to put together a third-straight sustained possession, but they only had 10 points to show for it. It was 10-7 Patriots late in the second quarter.
4. Jackson Hurt, Ravens Tie It
The Ravens rebounded after their three-and-out, putting together a strong end-of-half drive that required two third-down conversions along the way. Lamar Jackson handled the Patriots defensive blitzes, and the Ravens started to incorporate more QB runs into their attack. But the plan backfired, as Jackson went down with an apparent back injury and Tyler Huntley entered the game for the final third down, which the Patriots defense stopped.
The Ravens settled for a game-tying field goal as Jackson headed to the locker room for examination.
New England had the chance for a double score, receiving the ensuing kickoff with 1:03 left in the second quarter and they’d once again start to move the ball. Right tackle Morgan Moses returned to the lineup on the drive, and Maye got back into a rhythm, hitting Kayshon Boutte along the sideline for 16 yards, then finding Diggs for 11 more yards.
When New England came up on their first third down of the drive at the Baltimore 30-yard line, Maye rushed to the line, looking to push the pace with no huddle as the clock continued to run out on the half. But the play was disjointed, and when Maye couldn’t find anyone open it allowed just enough time for defensive back Ar’Darius Washington to knock the ball from his hands. Baltimore recovered the fumble and the half ended in a 10-10 tie. It was Maye’s second turnover of the first half, with both coming inside Ravens territory, but he completed 15-of-20 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown as well.
6. Pats Take the Lead Back
The Patriots went 3-and-out for the first time in the game on their first possession of the second half, quickly revealing that Tyler Huntley would still be in at quarterback for the Ravens. Derrick Henry ripped off a 23-yard run to get the drive started, but a K’Lavon Chaisson tackle-for-loss, then an Anfernee Jennings sack helped hold the line, forcing the Ravens to attempt a 56-yard field goal that fell short.
The Patriots took back over at their own 46-yard line as the game remained tied at 10.
