The New England Patriots will travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens on Sunday Night Football in a game with significant playoff implications. The Patriots, currently leading the AFC East with an 11-3 record, are looking to secure a postseason berth after their 10-game winning streak ended last week against Buffalo. A win or tie against the Ravens, or a loss or tie by either the Colts or Texans, would clinch a playoff spot for New England.
The Ravens have recovered from a difficult start to their season, improving from 1-5 to 7-7. Their recent momentum is attributed in part to quarterback Lamar Jackson’s return and a key victory over Cincinnati last week.
One area of focus for the Patriots will be stopping Baltimore’s running game. Running back Derrick Henry rushed for 100 yards last week—his fifth such performance this season—and has averaged 6.3 yards per carry over his past three games. Mike Vrabel, now head coach of the Patriots and formerly Henry’s coach in Tennessee, is familiar with Henry’s abilities.
The Patriots’ run defense has struggled recently, allowing at least 100 rushing yards in each of their last five games and giving up a season-high 168 rushing yards to Buffalo. Earlier this year they ranked second in run stop win rate but have since dropped to eleventh. With defensive tackle Milton Williams still on injured reserve and linebacker Robert Spillane dealing with injury, New England may need contributions from new players on defense.
Last week’s loss highlighted inconsistencies for New England between halves; after a strong first half against Buffalo, they faltered in the second half as Josh Allen led a comeback. Facing another MVP-caliber player in Lamar Jackson this week, maintaining consistent execution throughout all four quarters will be critical for the Patriots.
Quarterback Drake Maye had protection from his offensive line last week but struggled offensively, completing just 60.9% of his passes for only 155 yards—both among his lowest marks this season. He will face a Ravens secondary featuring safety Kyle Hamilton and other experienced defenders who could challenge some of Maye’s preferred targets.
Baltimore’s defense ranks around league average statistically but has improved since its early-season struggles; since their bye week they have forced thirteen turnovers while going 6-2. The Ravens frequently use man coverage and single-high safety looks but rank low in pressure rate according to Next Gen Stats. If Maye receives solid pass protection again this week, he may find opportunities downfield if Baltimore opts for more aggressive blitzing schemes.
Both teams enter Sunday night seeking vital wins as the regular season nears its end.
