In a nail-biting contest at Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots narrowly defeated the Atlanta Falcons 24-23, extending their winning streak to six games. The outcome hinged on a missed extra point by Falcons kicker Parker Romo following a touchdown by Drake London with just over four minutes left in the game. The kick went wide right, enabling the Patriots to secure their slimmest victory of the season.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye had a challenging performance, throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns, albeit with one interception and enduring six sacks. The Falcons’ defense, spearheaded by rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., was aggressive throughout the game. Walker’s critical sack near midfield just before halftime led to a fumble that Pearce recovered, setting Atlanta up at the Patriots’ 6-yard line. Moments later, Falcons’ rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. connected with London for a 2-yard touchdown, narrowing New England’s lead to 21-14 at halftime.
Strong Performances Amidst Challenges
Penix had a solid day, completing 23 of 36 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns, all to London. This impressive feat made London the first Atlanta receiver to achieve three touchdown catches in a single game since 1991. Despite a valiant effort, Atlanta’s final drive was hampered by an intentional grounding penalty on Penix, pushing them out of field-goal range.
The Patriots managed to run out the clock effectively, with Maye completing a pivotal 17-yard pass to Hunter Henry on third down. New England’s offense, though not dominant, did enough to secure the win. Rookie receiver DeMario Douglas celebrated his first career 100-yard game, catching four passes, including a touchdown in the first quarter. Running back Terrell Jennings also made headlines with his first career rushing score.
Defensively, the Patriots exhibited a strong performance, limiting Bijan Robinson to 46 yards on 12 carries. This achievement marked an ongoing streak of not allowing any rusher to exceed 50 yards this season.
Implications for Both Teams
Despite the defeat, Atlanta’s pass rush was noteworthy. The team recorded six sacks for a second time this season, maintaining a streak of at least one sack in each of their first eight games— the longest such run since 2012. Notably, Jessie Bates III intercepted Maye in the third quarter, marking his 25th career interception. Additionally, Kyle Pitts Sr. surpassed 3,000 career receiving yards, becoming only the third tight end in franchise history to reach this milestone.
The Falcons have now lost three consecutive games, dropping their record to 3-5 and placing them third in the NFC South. This loss also extended their losing streak against the Patriots to eight games, a series that dates back to 1998. In contrast, New England improved to 7-2, reinforcing their position in the AFC playoff race. The Patriots will next face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Falcons prepare for an international matchup against Indianapolis in Berlin, seeking to halt their current slump and revive their season.
