Patriots Archives - Digital Sports Desk https://digitalsportsdesk.com/category/patriots/ Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:03:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_0364-2-150x150.jpg Patriots Archives - Digital Sports Desk https://digitalsportsdesk.com/category/patriots/ 32 32 What’s With Drake Maye? https://digitalsportsdesk.com/patriots-maye-sacked-nine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=patriots-maye-sacked-nine Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:00:49 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10141 Maye has also been sacked nine times this season

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FOXBORO – (Wire Service Report) – Have we already seen the worst of quarterback Drake Maye this season?

Have we already seen the worst of quarterback Drake Maye this season?

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That’s the question undoubtedly on the minds of New England fans as the Patriots prepare for an AFC East matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Through three games, Maye has looked nothing like he did a year ago, when he led the Patriots (1-2) to the Super Bowl and finished as the runner-up to Matthew Stafford in voting for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. Maye has thrown one touchdown pass and has been intercepted six times.

Although he practiced on Wednesday, Maye was on New England’s injury report due to a right shoulder issue. He said the injury has not affected his play on the field.

“No, it hasn’t,” he said. “It hasn’t. And it doesn’t impact my decision-making. That’s what makes and breaks play for quarterbacks. I don’t feel like we’re struggling to move the ball. I think we’re turning the football over, doing things that are preventing us from scoring touchdowns. And I think that’s one of the biggest things for me.”

Maye has also been sacked nine times this season.

“You turn on the tape from last year, and it was dynamic,” Buffalo defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “You just have to put some pressure on him and hope that the trend continues. Great players are eventually going to come out the other side. You just hope it’s after you play them.”

The Patriots are tied for the NFL lead with eight turnovers.

“If we want to get where we need to get to, we’re going to have to go through bumps along the way,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said. “This is all a part of the journey. When we talked about preparing for the journey, the journey wasn’t always going to be 10 wins in a row, road warriors and everything else. It comes, sometimes, with turnovers, you give up touchdowns, you miss a field goal, and sometimes that’s what the journey looks like.”

Buffalo (3-0) is one of three unbeaten teams in the AFC, joining the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders, but the Bills turned the ball over five times last week in a 24-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Josh Allen was intercepted twice and lost a fumble in the win, though he ran for two touchdowns.

“I’m not concerned with Josh,” Buffalo coach Joe Brady said. “It’s so hard to play the quarterback position. You can look at Josh, for example. The questions I’m getting about Josh this week are different than the first two weeks. … It’s a week-to-week league.”

Buffalo running back James Cook III ranks third in the NFL with 346 rushing yards. The Bills are averaging 5.2 yards per carry, which is tied for second in the league.

“(The Patriots) were a great defense last year, and through three games they haven’t taken any dropoffs,” Brady said. “They’re a hard team to game-plan for. …

“We’re not the same as we were last year, they’re not the same as they were last year. It’s two teams that are just still trying to figure out who they are at this point in the season, and it’s going to be great football game.”

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (shoulder), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (foot) and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday.

New England outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder) and tight end Eli Raridon (thigh) returned to the field on Wednesday as limited participants after sitting out the Patriots’ 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen (knee), cornerback Christian Benford (toe), wide receiver Keon Coleman (ankle) and defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (illness) sat out the team’s Wednesday practice.

–Field Level Media

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NFL Previews: 1pm Games https://digitalsportsdesk.com/nfl-previews-1pm-games/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nfl-previews-1pm-games Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:29 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10115 New England won eight straight games over the Jaguars from 2003-18,

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DETROIT – (Wire Service Previews) – The Detroit Lions are at home for a match-up against the New York JETS.

New York Jets (1-1) at Detroit Lions (1-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Lions -6.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: The road team has won four consecutive games in this matchup. The Lions defeated the Jets 20-17 in the last meeting in 2022.

Aaron Glenn returns to Detroit with one of the league’s statistical leaders in defense. Glenn coached with Lions head coach Dan Campbell for eight years — four in New Orleans when they both served on Sean Payton’s coaching staff and four as his defensive coordinator with the Lions — and they know each other well. But Glenn insists he’s in the Motor City not for nostalgia but to add to Detroit’s defensive misfortune. They’re allowing more than 35 points per game so far. Lions QB Jared Goff was always quick to tip a cap to Glenn during his time as Detroit’s defensive coordinator. Now that he’s preparing to play Glenn’s defense again, he’s seeing a full team in green taking on the identity of their no-nonsense coach who believes the aggressor usually wins. The Jets haven’t turned the ball over in the first two games of the regular season for the first time in more than 50 years. Last week they had a chance to put the Packers away in regulation and failed to gain traction in overtime. The secondary, in part due to injuries, has been a nightmare for the Lions. That’s not great news with WR Garrett Wilson forming a strong rapport with QB Geno Smith. Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown are clicking, too. St. Brown has two TD catches in each of the first two games and is on pace for more than 130 receptions.

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Seattle Seahawks (2-0) at Washington Commanders (0-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Seahawks -7.5, Total 40.5
Series Rewind: Seattle has won three of the last four meetings, including a 38-14 road romp in Week 9 last season. That snapped a streak of four straight games in the series that were decided by five or fewer points.

The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are allowing only 8.5 points and 214.0 yards of offense per game, a significant challenge for a Washington offense playing without electric quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow). Seattle coach Mike Macdonald (29-10, including playoffs) can become just the sixth head coach since 1970 to win 30 of his first 40 games, joining George Seifert, Matt LaFleur, Chuck Knox, Ted Marchibroda and Steve Mariucci. After leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards in 2025, Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba currently is on pace for more than 2,300 yards. Quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. The Commanders will once again turn to Marcus Mariota, who has a winning record (2-1) in his career vs. Seattle. Washington is 2-0 in home openers under coach Dan Quinn, who will need to see improvement from a secondary that has already allowed seven touchdown passes. Veteran Stefon Diggs has three TD catches but has never found the end zone in four previous games against Seattle.

Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bills -7.5, Total 50.5
Series Rewind: The Bills have won the past two meetings after losing the previous four. Josh Allen is 2-1 against the Chargers.

The Bills lead the NFL with 77 points after beating the Texans and the Lions while the Chargers tallied just 28 in losses to the Cardinals and Raiders. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was in fine form last week by throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for two during a 41-31 home win over the Lions. Allen has passed for 582 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 92 yards and four scores. James Cook III rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown against Detroit and is fifth in the league with 192 rushing yards. Tight end Dalton Kincaid is off to a big start with 12 receptions for 225 yards and one score. Buffalo hopes star defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hip) can make it this week after sitting out against Detroit. The Chargers are looking to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2017, which came in their first season in Los Angeles after the controversial move from San Diego. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was supposed to take off under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel but the results haven’t matched that forecast. Herbert has passed for just 401 yards — 23rd in the NFL — with two touchdowns and three interceptions. His 59.3 completion rate is well off his career mark of 66.4. Ladd McConkey (eight for 117) is the lone receiver with more than 75 yards but has just nine yards after the catch. The defense has just three sacks and one takeaway, an interception by cornerback Cam Hart.

Tennessee Titans (0-2) at New York Giants (1-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Giants -2.5, Total 38.5
Series Rewind: After losing five straight meetings with Tennessee, New York has taken two of the last three. The Titans are 3-0 in the 21st century against the Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., including a 17-0 win in 2018.

First-year Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh is back at MetLife Stadium, where he coached the Jets from 2021-24. Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll also returns to East Rutherford, where he guided the Giants from 2022-25 and earned 2022 NFL Coach of the Year honors. Daboll’s replacement, John Harbaugh, opened his Big Apple tenure with a Week 1 victory against the rival Cowboys but then lost starting QB Jaxson Dart for the rest of the regular season to a knee injury in Monday’s loss to the Rams. Jameis Winston is a capable backup with a 5,000-yard season on his resume, but he has not won a start since November 2024 with the Browns. The former No. 1 overall pick could use some help from Cam Skattebo, who has gained 402 scrimmage yards and scored five rushing touchdowns in four career home games. Tennessee is looking to avoid a third straight 0-3 start after letting a win against the Eagles slip away last weekend in Nashville. Titans receiver Wan’Dale Robinson played for the Giants from 2022-25.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chiefs -10.5, Total 45.5
Series Rewind: Kansas City has won five straight games against Miami to take a 17-16 lead in the all-time series. The Dolphins last beat the Chiefs in 2011.

The Chiefs have already scored 31-plus points as many times in two games this season as they did all of last season. But after a pair of home victories over Denver and Indianapolis, Kansas City hits the road for the first time this weekend at Miami. Patrick Mahomes hasn’t missed a step in his return from injury, passing for 566 yards and five touchdowns (to five different receivers) against one interception. The Chiefs’ defense, however, is looking for improvement after giving up 24 first downs in the overtime win over the Colts. A Miami offense which is second-worst in the NFL in scoring offense (13 points per game) could be what ails that for Kansas City. Offseason acquisition Malik Willis has thrown for 417 yards, one touchdown and one interception through his first two games. He’s also been sacked nine times, while Miami’s defense is the only one in the league still looking for its first sack of the season.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bengals -3.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: The AFC North foes have split their season series each of the last two seasons, with the home teams both winning in 2025 and road teams each winning in 2024. Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 72-41.

Cincinnati is seeking its first 3-0 start since 2015. In order to get there, it’ll need to beat Pittsburgh on the road, which it has done three times in the previous five seasons. While the Bengals’ offense has been clicking with Joe Burrow getting both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins heavily involved in the passing game, the defense led the way in last week’s 20-6 win over Houston, keeping the Texans out of the end zone and limiting them to 60 rushing yards and a 29.4% success rate on third down (5-for-17). Pittsburgh is hoping to move past a 20-3 loss at New England. The Steelers’ offense completed just 2 of 12 third downs, with Aaron Rodgers limited to 187 passing yards. Pittsburgh surrendered a fourth-quarter strip-sack which was returned for a touchdown and effectively put the game to bed. Rodgers is still seeking his first completion this season on a pass that travels 20-plus yards in the air.

New England Patriots (1-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Jaguars -2.5, Total 45.5
Series Rewind: New England won eight straight games over the Jaguars from 2003-18, including the AFC championship game to end that streak. But Jacksonville has won two of the three matchups since, home games in 2018 and 2024.

New England, which was a perfect 8-0 in regular-season road games a season ago, looks to start a new road winning streak at Jacksonville after losing its first game of this season at Seattle in Week 1. The Jaguars have won five straight regular-season home games dating back to last season. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is still looking to get into gear off his second-place NFL MVP finish last season, with one touchdown to four interceptions through the first two games. New England’s defense, which is allowing a league-best 8.0 points per game, has carried the day through these early struggles. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a stellar debut (four touchdowns to four different players) but was then held under 200 yards and without a touchdown in last week’s 20-6 win at Denver. Parker Washington (181 yards) has carried over the success he found in his breakthrough 2025 campaign.

 

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The Road to Inglewood via Jacksonville https://digitalsportsdesk.com/patriots-road/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=patriots-road Fri, 25 Sep 2026 17:00:05 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10109 The New England Patriots were the best road team in the NFL last season

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JACKSONVILLE – (Wire Service Preview) – The New England Patriots were the best road team in the NFL last season, a perfect 8-0 in the regular season.

New England travels to Jacksonville on Sunday afternoon looking to start a new streak against the Jaguars. The Patriots lost at Seattle to begin the regular season.

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It won’t be easy against a Jacksonville crew going for its sixth consecutive regular-season home win dating back to last season.

“They play well at home. They’ve been getting great first-half leads,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said of Jacksonville. “They feast off turnovers. They’ve been creating turnovers and turning those into points.”

Division winners in the AFC last season, Jacksonville and New England have taken opposing paths to their respective 1-1 records.

The Jaguars opened with a convincing win over the Cleveland Browns before blowing a fourth-quarter lead in last week’s 20-13 loss at Denver.

Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass to four different receivers in the opening win, then was held under 200 passing yards with no touchdowns against the Broncos.

Jacksonville hasn’t found the same consistent offensive success as it had in Liam Coen’s first season as head coach.

The 2025 Jaguars finished sixth in the NFL in scoring offense (27.9 points per game) and 11th in total offense (337.4 yards per game). This year’s team ranks 15th in scoring (23.5 ppg) and total offense (314.0 ypg) through two games.

Wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (80 yards) and Jakobi Meyers (68) and tight end Brenton Strange (48) haven’t carried over their production which buoyed the 2025 offense.

Parker Washington, however, has built on his breakthrough 2025 campaign, following up his 847 yards and five TDs with a team-high 181 yards and a touchdown this season.

“Obviously, he’s super talented. He gets open, creates separation. He’s a really good route runner, great ball skills, can make contested catches. All those things are part of it,” Lawrence said of Washington’s success. “I trust him. Our chemistry has grown more and more over the past year of him being put in a lot of different situations and excelling and winning his 1-on-1s. All those things kind of play into that.”

New England features a lockdown cornerback in Christian Gonzalez, who has excelled since signing a record-breaking four-year, $135 million extension before the regular season began. Gonzalez locked up DK Metcalf in the Patriots’ win last week. Washington isn’t the same type of physical specimen, but has been more productive.

He’s No. 2 in the NFL in target share behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 36.7% which is why he warrants the attention of Gonzalez.

The Patriots were unable to beat the Drew Lock-led Seahawks in their opener but bounced back with a resounding 20-3 home win over Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh last week.

New England is allowing a league-best 8.0 points per game, while Drake Maye scrambles to recapture the momentum of his second-place MVP finish last season.

The third-year quarterback has one touchdown pass and four interceptions. Vrabel is trusting the process over the early results.

“Being decisive, believing in what you see,” Vrabel said of what he wants to see from Maye. “All we ask all our players to do is prepare to try to play fast and aggressively and make great decisions. So, yeah, we could always say, ‘Man, we should have let that one rip,’ or ‘We’ve got to make a better decision.’

“Ultimately, it’s his responsibility to be able to distribute the football as quickly and decisively as possible in the places that it’s supposed to go.”

Meyers (thumb), running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip), offensive linemen Robert Hainsey (elbow/groin) and Cole Van Lanen (knee) as well as defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (back) were all limited in Jacksonville’s practice on Thursday. Cornerback Christian Braswell (knee) pracaticed in full one day after being limited.

A pair of New England linebackers in Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder) and Quintayvious Hutchins (knee), along with safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) and tight end Eli Raridon (thigh) didn’t practice Thursday, while starting right tackle Morgan Moses (foot) was limited.

Jacksonville has won the last two times it hosted New England, most recently in 2024, but the Patriots hold a 12-3 edge in the all-time series, including postseason play.

–Field Level Media

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Defense! … Defense! https://digitalsportsdesk.com/defense-defense/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=defense-defense Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:30:12 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10091 TreVeyon Henderson (16 carries, 76 yards) scored New England’s other touchdown on a 39-yard run

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England linebacker Elijah Ponder had a sack and also returned a fumble 19 yards for a touchdown to help the Patriots defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 Sunday in Massachusetts.

Ponder’s touchdown came after defensive tackle Christian Barmore stripped the ball from Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The TD plus the Andy Borregales point-after kick gave the Patriots a 20-3 lead with 13:37 to play.

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TreVeyon Henderson (16 carries, 76 yards) scored New England’s other touchdown on a 39-yard run. The Patriots (1-1) also received two field goals from Borregales (30 and 45 yards).

Drake Maye completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards. He was intercepted once. Romeo Doubs had three receptions for 96 yards, and tight end Hunter Henry caught three passes for 40 yards.

Pittsburgh (1-1) was limited to 235 yards of offense (3.5 yards per play) and was 2 of 12 on third down. The Steelers’ offense has produced one touchdown in eight quarters this season.

Rodgers was 23 of 39 for 187 yards and was intercepted once. Germie Bernard was Pittsburgh’s leading receiver with four catches for 35 yards.

Linebacker Christian Elliss led New England with 12 tackles (seven solo). He recorded one of New England’s four sacks.

New England opened the scoring on Henderson’s 39-yard touchdown run with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter. It was a four-play, 49-yard scoring drive.

Borregales made a 30-yard field goal with 14:14 left in the first half that extended the lead to 10-0, and Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell kicked a 56-yard field goal on the first half’s final play to make it 10-3 at halftime.

The Patriots had a 13-3 lead after Borregales made a 45-yard field goal with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

New England rushed for 136 yards in the win.

–Field Level Media

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NFL: Week Two Previews; 1pm Games https://digitalsportsdesk.com/nfl-week-two-previews-1pm-games/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nfl-week-two-previews-1pm-games Sun, 20 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10081 Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only 43 out of 422 teams (10.1%) that started 0-2 managed to rebound and secure a postseason berth

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Previews by Field Level Media) – Week Two of the 2026 NFL season might be a bit early to declare a “must win” situation, but according to historical data tracked since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only 43 out of 422 teams (10.1%) that started 0-2 managed to rebound and secure a postseason berth. Since 2020 (14-Team Bracket Expansion): The odds jump slightly to 12.2% due to the added wild card spot and the 17-game schedule.

For the New England Patriots, overcoming an 0-2 start this year would be a grueling task due to their upcoming schedule. Following the Steelers game, New England faces a difficult stretch:

  • Week 3: At the Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Week 4: At the Buffalo Bills (who are already off to a dominant 2-0 start).

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at New England Patriots (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -4.5, total 41.5
Series History: The Steelers lead 16-15; the Patriots have won three of the last four.

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The Steelers let their defense do the dirty work in Week 1. LBs T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith combined for four sacks, Watt had a pick-6 and the Falcons leaned almost entirely on RB Bijan Robinson for offense. The Patriots welcome back RB TreVeyon Henderson after he sat out Week 1 with an ankle injury. He brings a valuable speed and big-play threat, and QB Drake Maye could use a crutch after his three-INT opener at Seattle. Maye also lost No. 1 WR A.J. Brown (ankle) in the loss and Romeo Doubs didn’t make a great first impression with costly drops. Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers (221 yards, one passing TD), back in Mike McCarthy’s scheme, worked from the middle of the field to the sideline last week.

Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Panthers -2.5, total 43.5
Series History: The Falcons lead the all-time series (37-25), but the Panthers have won four of the past five.

Carolina’s offense exploded for 478 yards in Week 1 behind Bryce Young’s 361 yards and three touchdowns passing, but turnovers and defensive breakdowns doomed the Panthers in a 59-37 loss to the Bears. Young has historically played well against Atlanta. WRs Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker and RB Chuba Hubbard give them multiple explosive options. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson has to be salivating after the Panthers allowed 291 rushing yards to the Bears. However, Atlanta didn’t make a call at quarterback. It’s likely Cooper Rush will make another start with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) possibly planning to return Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Robinson, who posted 173 scrimmage yards in Week 1, has four consecutive games against Carolina with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. Atlanta struggled offensively in its loss to Pittsburgh, managing just 13 points and 238 total yards. Rush was particularly ineffective on third down, converting only 16.7% to first downs. Za’Darius Smith’s two sacks and a strong secondary featuring A.J. Terrell and rookie Xavier Watts helped the Falcons stick around.

New Orleans Saints (0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -8.5, total 46.5
Series History: The Ravens have won four of the past five meetings.

The Saints went for two and the upset victory of Detroit in overtime in a one-point loss, but their offense came away looking like a winner. QB Tyler Shough’s 410-yard, three-touchdown performance generated plenty of excitement around the young quarterback. WR Chris Olave had 182 receiving yards and New Orleans held up reasonably well in pass protection but did allow five sacks. Still, Shough was able to take consistent shots downfield. The Ravens overwhelmed Indianapolis in Week 1, generating turnovers and consistent pressure on Daniel Jones. Baltimore also put on an offensive show at Indy. QB Lamar Jackson appeared to have quickly mastered new play-caller Declan Doyle’s scheme. Jackson threw for 324 yards and added a rushing touchdown, while Derrick Henry delivered a vintage performance with 144 rushing yards and three scores. Where Jackson will go with the ball on pass plays will depend on whether WR Zay Flowers (hamstring) is back in the lineup. Flowers posted a career-high 150 yards in Week 1 without playing a snap in the second half.

Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Chicago Bears (1-0)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Bears -4.5, total 47.5
Series History: In the 2020s, the Vikings are 9-3 in this matchup. They swept the season series in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Rain and wind could become a factor Sunday as the Vikings venture outside the dome for a second consecutive division matchup. Minnesota opened the season with a 39-22 win over Green Bay despite losing Kyler Murray (concussion) in the first half. Carson Wentz led the rally with four consecutive TD drives in the second half. Wentz had three touchdown passes and leaned heavily on WR Justin Jefferson, who finished with 92 yards and two scores. The Vikings did allow nearly 400 passing yards as they lived and died with the blitz, firing five-plus defenders into the pocket on more than 65 percent of their snaps. There will be a risk-reward balance at Chicago. The Bears put up 59 points with a dominant ground game producing six touchdowns. QB Caleb Williams said he’s looking forward to the cat-and-mouse game with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Williams had 269 yards and two touchdowns through the air and added two rushing TDs. D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 224 rushing yards. The Bears did not throw a perfect game defensively at Carolina and getting pressure on Wentz will be of significant importance.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) at Houston Texans (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -2.5, total 45.5
Series History: The Texans have won four of the past five meetings.

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Joe Burrow completed 71% of his passes and the Bengals generated 351 total yards against the Buccaneers, but they had their defense — and three forced fumbles — to thank for coming out on top. The Bengals had four sacks and four takeaways. They shift their focus to C.J. Stroud, who won’t have No. 1 WR Nico Collins (hamstring) available. Stroud threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 while RB David Montgomery carried the offense with three TDs. The Texans can get to Burrow, but the issue last week was communication in the back seven. Houston was hammered by Josh Allen and the Bills for 409 total yards. With Collins out, the Bengals can tip the scales in their favor by handling Montgomery.

Green Bay Packers (0-1) at New York Jets (1-0)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Packers -3.5, total 44.5
Series History: The Packers have won three of the past four meetings.

There could be changes afoot on the Packers’ offensive line. QB Jordan Love threw for 387 yards in a loss to the Vikings but felt pressure consistently. It might be too soon for major changes on defense, but coordinator Jonathon Gannon admitted this week Green Bay won’t win games surrendering 39 points. WR Christian Watson looked the part as Love’s go-to guy. He worked in the slot often, where his size and speed make him a nightmare for most defenses. Watson finished with 147 yards and two touchdowns. Second-year pro Matthew Golden added 95 receiving yards. The Packers are still searching for a rotation they can trust at running back with Josh Jacobs on the exempt list. The Jets opened their season with a convincing 23-10 win over Tennessee, highlighted by a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive play. Geno Smith was aggressive and efficient, completing nearly 80% of his passes. RB Breece Hall likely has Gannon concerned after he dominated with 118 total yards.

Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Buccaneers -8.5, total 41.5
Series History: The Browns won the last meeting between these teams and hold a 7-4 advantage all-time.

Baker Mayfield gets a chance to show the Browns what they’re missing after choosing Deshaun Watson over the former No. 1 pick in 2022. Mayfield, who bounced from Carolina to the Rams and then signed with the Buccaneers, said in the offseason this was a game he circled on his calendar. Watson kept the starting job after the Browns fell behind 31-0 at Jacksonville and lost 34-10. Rookie WR Denzel Boston caught a 59-yard touchdown in garbage time, the only highlight in a miserable offensive outing. The Browns struggled to protect Watson, who was sacked five times, lost a fumble and was intercepted. The Buccaneers lost three fumbles, and the costly mistakes tipped the scales in a Week 1 shootout loss to Cincinnati. Mayfield completed 82% of his passes and added a rushing touchdown. RB Bucky Irving contributed 93 scrimmage yards, and WR Emeka Egbuka (five catches, 63 yards) showed strong chemistry with Mayfield. The Browns had little choice but to abandon the running game and Quinshon Judkins. To keep this one tight, they’ll need to generate longer drives and keep the vengeful Mayfield on the sideline.

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -7, total 39.5
Series History: The Eagles lead the all-time series 8-5.

He heard some boos and then generated the opposite in the opener, but Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns against the Commanders. RB Saquon Barkley rushed for 83 yards and TE Dallas Goedert delivered two touchdowns as the Eagles kept Washington’s defense guessing. The Titans have a few riddles of their own to solve. They lost to the Jets in Week 1 and managed only 195 total yards. Cam Ward averaged only 4.4 yards per pass attempt which clogged lanes near the line of scrimmage in Brian Daboll’s first game as offensive coordinator. On the defensive side, Titans LB Anthony Hill was exceptional, posting 16 tackles and two pass breakups. Ward will be responsible for creating big plays to keep pace with Philadelphia. If the Titans can slow Barkley and force Hurts to throw early and often, Tennessee can keep it tight.

 

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Patriots, Maye Face Tough Pitt D https://digitalsportsdesk.com/patriots-maye-face-tough-pitt-d/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=patriots-maye-face-tough-pitt-d Sun, 20 Sep 2026 09:50:20 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10069 Drake Maye will be seeking a bounce-back performance

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England QB Drake Maye will be seeking a bounce-back performance when the Patriots face the Pittsburgh Steelers  in Massachusetts today.

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Maye was intercepted three times in the fourth quarter of New England’s 13-10 loss to Seattle in Week 1. The Patriots were in field goal range when Josh Jobe picked off a Maye pass in the end zone with 21 seconds to play.

“The decisions a quarterback makes have a lot to do with wins and losses,” Maye said. “I know that and respect that and realize what I need to do to help the team win. … I’m looking forward to getting back out there and having another chance. Another week.”

Maye, the runner-up to Matthew Stafford as the NFL MVP last season, completed 23 of 33 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

“I think there’s a difference between being reckless and being aggressive,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said. “We want to be aggressive. That’s how we want to play, but we also have to make great decisions when there’s a look or something that maybe would take a play away.”

The Patriots will be without wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a high ankle sprain in the third quarter against Seattle. Brown, who caught three passes for 26 yards against the Seahawks, is expected to miss six weeks.

Running back TreVeyon Henderson, who did not play against Seattle because of an ankle injury, was a full participant in practice Wednesday. Tackle Dametrious Crownover (knee) and cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck) did not practice, while offensive lineman Ben Brown (knee), linebacker Dre’Mont Jones (foot) and linebacker Robert Spillane (knee) were limited participants.

Mike McCarthy won his first game as Pittsburgh’s head coach when the Steelers opened the season with a 20-13 win over Atlanta.

T.J. Watt delivered the game’s key play, intercepting a Cooper Rush pass early in the fourth quarter and returning it 35 yards for a touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 20-10 lead. Watt, who also recorded two sacks in the victory, was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“Not only did he make the play, but the ability to get up and finish, it was incredible,” McCarthy said. “It was a great finish by the whole defense, and the momentum swing that came with that, that was obviously huge. That was clearly the biggest play in the game.”

Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth, but the Pittsburgh offense struggled for most of the game. The Steelers failed to convert on 10 of their 13 third-down opportunities and were held to 58 yards on the ground. Jaylen Warren led the team in rushing with 46 yards on 10 carries.

“We’re going to trust our menu of offense, and we’re going to line up and try to attack their defense the way we feel gives us the best chance to be successful,” McCarthy said. “Nothing’s changed with how we feel about throwing the ball short, long, intermediate, all that. It’s important to have all those components of your pass game.”

Pittsburgh offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (ankle) and tight end Darnell Washington (personal reasons) did not practice Wednesday, while receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) was limited.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (not injury related/conditioning) continues to work his way back onto the field and was also a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. Porter was inactive against Atlanta and is still dealing with a back injury that kept him sidelined through training camp and the preseason.

–Field Level Media

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A.J. Brown Out Four+ Weeks https://digitalsportsdesk.com/a-j-brown-out-four-weeks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-j-brown-out-four-weeks Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:00:04 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10031 Brown walked off the field with the injury to his right ankle

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire service Report) – The New England Patriots will put wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve because of a high-ankle sprain sustained in a season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to multiple media reports.

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Brown walked off the field with the injury to his right ankle on New England’s opening possession of the second half in the Patriots’ 13-10 road loss on Wednesday. An MRI confirmed the high-ankle sprain.

He must miss at least four games before the Patriots can activate him. The earliest Brown could return would be New England’s Week 6.

The injury occurred when Brown was targeted by a third-down pass from Drake Maye, but Seahawks nickel cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett deflected the pass to force a punt. Pritchett’s knee landed on the outside of Brown’s ankle, which twisted inward as he went to the ground.

Brown removed his right cleat and entered the blue medical tent on the sideline as the Patriots added a field goal to go ahead 10-0 in the third quarter.

 

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Seahawks Rally to Defeat Patriots, 17-10 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/seahawks-rally-to-defeat-patriots-17-10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seahawks-rally-to-defeat-patriots-17-10 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:01:15 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10022 Maye finished 23 of 33 for 178 yards, one touchdown and the three picks.

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SEATTLE – (Wire Service Report) – Josh Jobe intercepted Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the end zone with 21 seconds remaining as the Seahawks beat New England 13-10 in a Super Bowl rematch Wednesday night.

Seattle picked off Maye on New England’s final three possessions to overcome a 10-0 deficit and the early exit of starting quarterback Sam Darnold.

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Well within the field-goal range of Andy Borregales, who connected on a 50-yarder earlier in the game, the Patriots went for the win in the final minute rather than taking the game to overtime. New England converted on fourth down twice on the final drive. Maye hit wide receiver Mack Hollins for 11 yards on fourth-and-9 on the first play after the two-minute warning to move the chains, after the QB ran for 5 yards on fourth-and-2 earlier in the possession.

His third-and-5 toss was underthrown, and Jobe was in front of Hollins one step into the end zone.

Backup quarterback Drew Lock helped save the day for Seattle. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

The Seahawks turned the tide in the fourth quarter with three interceptions and three sacks of Maye, who was rarely pressured in the first half. His first gamble of the game early in the fourth quarter was a deep pass intended for Romeo Doubs that was tipped in the air and intercepted by Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett.

Seattle turned the first takeaway of the game into points when Lock hooked up with Smith-Njigba on a short fourth-down completion. A play-fake froze the Patriots’ defense, and Lock fired to Smith-Njigba for a short gain, and the receiver turned upfield to open turf to do the rest for a game-tying 45-yard touchdown with 11:28 to play.

On the ensuing possession, Maye tried to go deep over the middle, but safety Julian Love leapt in front of wide receiver DeMario Douglas for another pick. The play came after Doubs dropped a pass for what would have been a clear first down on a crossing route.

The Seahawks drove inside the New England 5, but two incompletions and a delay-of-game penalty led to Seattle settling for a chip-shot field goal from Jason Myers with just under six minutes left in the game.

The Patriots lost wide receiver A.J. Brown to a right ankle injury early on their first drive in the third quarter.

Five plays into their title defense, Seattle had its script shredded. Darnold left the game with a hip injury after being dragged down for a sack by Dre’Mont Jones and didn’t return.

Seahawks first-time play-caller Brian Fleury was caught in the whirlwind with Lock, who played 38 total snaps last season, pushed into the primetime spotlight. Fleury was hired after Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

With the Seahawks trailing 10-0 and 5:30 left in the third quarter, Lock floated a pass down the right sideline to Cooper Kupp for the longest gain of the game to that point, a 24-yarder. Kupp adjusted to the underthrown pass and hauled it in with his right arm. Three plays later, Lock zipped a quick slant pass to his left and found Kupp for an apparent 7-yard TD, but it was negated by an illegal shift.

The Seahawks settled for a 30-yard field goal by Myers and trailed 10-3 with 3:13 left in the third quarter.

Maye finished 23 of 33 for 178 yards, one touchdown and the three picks.

–Field Level Media

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Henderson to Sit for Pats’ Opener https://digitalsportsdesk.com/henderson-to-sit-for-pats-opener/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=henderson-to-sit-for-pats-opener Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:47 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10011 The Patriots had already ruled out offensive lineman Ben Brown

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SEATTLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots ruled out running back TreVeyon Henderson for the NFL season opener Wednesday against the host Seattle Seahawks.

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Henderson did not practice all week due to a lingering ankle injury he suffered Aug. 24, when he slipped on a run play during practice.

Henderson, 23, led the Patriots in his rookie season with 911 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. He had six attempts for 19 yards and added three catches for 26 yards in New England’s 29-13 loss to Seattle in Super Bowl LX, but now won’t be available for the rematch.

That will mean more work for Rhamondre Stevenson as the Patriots’ lead ball-carrier. Stevenson enters his sixth season in the league, all with the Patriots, after gaining 603 rushing yards and scoring nine touchdowns (seven rushing, two receiving) last year.

The Patriots had already ruled out offensive lineman Ben Brown (knee), who did not make the trip west. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore (knee) is cleared to play.

On the other side, the Seahawks ruled out safety Ty Okada (hamstring) and deemed fellow safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle) questionable. Wide receiver Tory Horton (hamstring) is also questionable. Offensive lineman Josh Jones (knee) carries no game designation.

Emmanwori was limited on the Seahawks’ practice report all three days this week. Tuesday’s was an estimation, as the defending champs only held a walkthrough.

Emmanwori, 22, had a standout first season in the NFL and was runner-up for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. He had 81 tackles (nine for loss), 2.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups and one interception.

He played through multiple ankle sprains during the season, including a low sprain suffered days before the Super Bowl, and had an arthroscopic procedure during the offseason.

–Field Level Media

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Patriots’ Gonzalez NFL’s Top $ Corner https://digitalsportsdesk.com/patriots-make-gonzalez-nfls-top-corner/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=patriots-make-gonzalez-nfls-top-corner Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:54 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=10008 The Gonzalez deal comes two days before the Patriots and the Seahawks will clash in a season-openi

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Completing protracted negotiations, the New England Patriots agreed to a contract extension that makes Christian Gonzalez the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, multiple media outlets reported late Monday night.

The four-year, $135 million extension reportedly includes $102 million in guaranteed money.

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The pact moves Gonzalez ahead of the Seattle Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon, who agreed in mid-August to a four-year, $132 million extension with $101 million guaranteed.

The Gonzalez deal comes two days before the Patriots and the Seahawks will clash in a season-opening Super Bowl rematch at Seattle.

Gonzalez, 24, missed two weeks of training camp action in August due to a leg injury, but he has been back at full strength for two weeks.

A 2023 first-round draft pick out of Oregon, Gonzalez played just four games for New England that year due to a right shoulder injury. He returned the following year to log two interceptions, 11 passes defensed, one fumble recovery and 59 tackles in 16 games, all starts.

Last year, Gonzalez recorded 10 passes defensed and 69 tackles in 14 games, all starts. During the Patriots’ postseason run that ended in a Super Bowl defeat, he registered one interception, one sack, one forced fumble, seven passes defensed and 19 tackles in four games.

–Field Level Media

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