The New England Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021, and they made sure the return felt earned. Sunday night’s 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens was not just a clinching victory, it was a declaration of intent.
Trailing late, facing a hostile environment and a playoff-caliber opponent, the Patriots leaned on rookie quarterback Drake Maye to deliver their biggest win in years.
Maye erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and guided New England to a comeback that shifted the tone of the entire season. Yet even in the glow of a postseason-clinching victory, his message afterward was measured and demanding.
“That was one of the goals,” Maye said in his postgame press conference. “Win the division – that’s still kind of what we’re fighting for. It’s awesome to clinch the playoffs, but we want to win the division.”
Four years after Bill Belichick last led New England into the postseason, the franchise is back, but not content. Making the playoffs was part of the blueprint. Chasing the AFC East title is now the focus.
The urgency was evident from the opening drive. Entering Week 16, New England understood the math and the stakes. A win would lock in a playoff spot. A loss would leave uncertainty. When the moment arrived, Maye responded with the most complete performance of his young NFL career.
He finished the night with a career-high 380 passing yards and two touchdowns, numbers that only tell part of the story. More impressive was how he managed the game when it began to slip away. Down 24-13 with just over nine minutes remaining, Maye never pressed or panicked. Instead, he attacked.
A fourth quarter that changed the season
The comeback began with a strike. Maye found wide receiver Kyle Williams for a 37-yard touchdown, instantly injecting belief into the sideline. On the ensuing two-point attempt, he delivered again, hitting running back Rhamondre Stevenson to cut the deficit to three.
When New England’s defense forced a punt, the responsibility returned to Maye. Facing a crucial fourth down, he stood in against pressure and connected with Stefon Diggs for a 21-yard completion that kept the drive alive. Moments later, with 2:07 left on the clock, Stevenson burst through Baltimore’s defense for a 21-yard touchdown run, giving the Patriots their first lead of the night.
Even then, the job was not finished. With 1:34 remaining, Maye scrambled for 16 yards on a designed chaos play, converting another critical first down and effectively ending Baltimore’s chances. Kneel-downs followed, and with them, confirmation that New England’s playoff drought was over.
By the final whistle, Maye had checked off multiple milestones. His first 300-yard passing game. His first fourth-quarter comeback. A road win against a team built for January football. He stood tall in the pocket, extended plays with his legs, and delivered throws under constant pressure.
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