The Patriots can make it six wins in a row as they host the Falcons on Sunday. Follow live updates.
The Patriots are riding high into Week 9, winners of five straight as they host the Falcons on Sunday.
Drake Maye has been playing like an MVP candidate, completing 57 of 73 passes for 765 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception over the last three games.
That’s gone hand in hand with a New England defense that has allowed just 15.6 points per game over this five-game win streak.
The Patriots will host an up-and-down Falcons team on Sunday, with Atlanta losing back-to-back games — including a blowout loss to the disastrous Dolphins last week — since an upset win over the Bills on Oct. 13.
The Falcons are expected to have some key pieces back on the field with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and wide receiver Drake London returning from injury.
Rhamondre Stevenson is New England’s only injury of note, with the running back already ruled out for Sunday with a toe issue.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium and on CBS. We’ll have live updates, analysis, and commentary from the Globe staff throughout the afternoon. Follow along with us.
The Globe staff’s predictions — 12:45 p.m.
Nicole Yang: Patriots 28, Falcons 24. A close call, but the Patriots get the edge.
Christopher Price: Patriots 24, Falcons 13.All week long, I’ve been telling myself that I should distinguish myself by not picking a 28-3 final score, so I’m going with New England by more than a touchdown. More importantly? Robinson stays below 50 yards and the Patriots’ run defense keeps its streak alive.
The Globe staff’s players to watch — 12:30 p.m.
Here’s who our Patriots reporters are keeping an eye on.
Patriots
TreVeyon Henderson. With Rhamondre Stevenson out because of a toe injury, Henderson will be in line for the bulk of the carries. After an electric preseason, Henderson hasn’t yet flashed his dynamic play-making ability. Today is his best chance to date. — Nicole Yang
TreVeyon Henderson.This has to be his week, right? The rookie running back, who looked so impressive in the preseason, has spent the bulk of the regular season biding his time behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. But with both veterans out today, it certainly sets up as his day to shine. He had a season-high 10 carries for 75 yards last week against the Browns. He could hear his number called a lot more today against the Falcons. — Christopher Price
Falcons
Bijan Robinson. The Patriots still have yet to allow an opposing rusher to eclipse 50 yards, but Robinson is much more of a pass-catching threat than Quinshon Judkins. Over the past two games, Robinson has totaled 65 yards on the ground and 75 in the air. He could be due for a bounce-back. — Nicole Yang
Bijan Robinson. For the first time I can recall, the Patriots had three different scout team players wearing Robinson’s No. 7 in practice the week. He’s the focal point of the Atlanta offense; Mike Vrabel compared him to Marshall Faulk this week. With New England not allowing a single running back to crack the 50-yard barrier this season, today sets up to be a case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable’s object. — Christopher Price
Keegan Bradley is in the house — 12:15 p.m.
The PGA golfer and Vermont native was on the sideline before the game with his son, Logan, and the pair met up with coach Mike Vrabel.
Mike’s Way has replaced the Patriot Way — 11:55 a.m.
By Christopher L. Gasper
RIP to the Patriot Way. If that credo, more a catch-all creation of the outside world than an organizational doctrine, ever really defined doing business in Fort Foxborough, it’s now the decomposed soil on which a new era and a new manner of winning is taking root.
As a player, Mike Vrabel was upfront at the dawn of the Patriots Dynasty. As Patriots coach, Vrabel has seemingly made a point of giving this team its own identity, separate from the success of the glorious six-ring past.
The Patriots are doing it Mike’s way. Resident of the AFC East penthouse, New England (6-2) seeks its sixth straight victory Sunday when it hosts the Falcons at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots have adopted a new identity, paving the way for their newfound success. They’ve distanced themselves from the Dynasty Days.
Who’s inactive for the Patriots? — 11:30 a.m.
Not a surprises here, as Rhamondre Stevenson is New England’s major inactive. Also out: John Saunders, Caleb Murphy, Eric Gregory, and Caedan Wallace. Tommy DeVito is New England’s emergency third quarterback.
Efton Chism III is active, likely for depth at kick returner with Stevenson and Antonio Gibson on the shelf.
Injuries at running back will provide first real test of Patriots’ offensive depth — 11:15 a.m.
By Christopher Price
There are several reasons why the Patriots’ offense has enjoyed success over the first eight games, but continued good health has been at or near the top of the list.
New England’s offensive difference-makers have managed to stay mostly healthy through much of the first half of the season, something that’s played a sizable role in their 6-2 start. Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and Rhamondre Stevenson have all stayed on the field consistently, and have all made big plays in helping the Patriots emerge as a first-place team.
Their presence is notable, especially when you consider the injuries that other AFC offensive difference-makers like Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Tyreek Hill have sustained to this point in the season.
However, the loss of Antonio Gibson earlier in the year and the toe injury that will keep Stevenson sidelined for Sunday’s game will provide the first significant test of the season for New England’s offensive depth, specifically at running back.
Shaughnessy: Maye’s MVP candidacy is no joke — 11:00 a.m.
By Dan Shaughnessy
Drake Maye for MVP?
Patriots fans certainly believe. They love the Drake. They were chanting “MVP!” late in the third quarter of last Sunday’s rout of the Browns at Gillette. Days later, oddsmakers listed Maye as the third-leading candidate for MVP, trailing only two-time winner Patrick Mahomes and last year’s winner, Josh Allen.
Count me as one who doesn’t think it’s going to happen. It’s fun, and a far cry from this time last year, when Maye had three starts under his belt for a rudderless, 2-6 team bound for 4-13, and a head coach firing. The Patriots have had only one NFL MVP in their history: Tom Brady, who won the award in 2007, ’10, and ’17. Boston Patriots Gino Cappelletti and Jim Nance were AFL MVPs in 1964 and ’66, respectively.
The NFL MVP tends to be a quarterback. Peyton Manning is the league’s MVP king with five trophies, followed by Aaron Rodgers (four), and Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, Jim Brown, and Brady, who won three each. Vikings tackle Alan Page (1971) and Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor (1986) are the only defensive players to cop the award since the Associated Press made it a regular thing in 1957.
Maye’s candidacy is no joke. The award tends to go to the best player on the best team — votes by 50 media folks are cast before the beginning of the playoffs — and at this hour Maye’s team is ahead of the Bills and Chiefs.
Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected]. Emma Healy can be reached at [email protected] or on X @ByEmmaHealy. Ben Volin can be reached at [email protected]. Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social. Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected] her @nicolecyang.
