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Patriots

Pats in Playoffs and “Digg It”

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BALTIMORE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England quarterback Drake Maye completed 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots improved their road record to 7-0 by beating the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 on Sunday night. In doing so, New England clinched a spot in the NFL’s AFC Playoffs.

New England (12-3) trailed 24-21 until Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 21-yard run and Andy Borregales kicked the extra point with 2:07 to play. The Patriots recovered a Baltimore fumble on the second play of the ensuing drive and ran out the clock.

Derrick Henry rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries for the Ravens (7-8).

New England’s Stefon Diggs had nine receptions for 138 yards.

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The Ravens played most of the night without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who left the game because of a back injury with 1:16 remaining in the first half and did not return. Backup QB Tyler Huntley was 9-of-10 passing for 65 yards.

New England running back TreVeyon Henderson also missed the second half with a head injury.

The Ravens struck first on Henry’s 21-yard touchdown run with 12:21 left in the first quarter. It was the 10th opening-drive score the Patriots have allowed this season — tied for most in the NFL — and the seventh time they’ve given up a touchdown on their opponents’ first drive.

It was 7-7 after Maye tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Hunter Henry and Borregales kicked the PAT with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter.

Borregales put the Patriots up 10-7 on a 45-yard field goal with 5:39 left in the first half. Baltimore tied the game on Tyler Loop’s 36-yard field goal with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter for 10-10 at halftime.

Borregales kicked a 41-yard field goal to give New England a 13-10 advantage, but Zay Flowers regained the lead for the Ravens with an 18-yard TD run. The PAT put Baltimore in front 17-13 with 4:35 left in the third.

Henry’s second TD run came from 2 yards away with 12:50 to play in regulation. Loop’s PAT gave the Ravens a 24-13 advantage.

New England answered with a 37-yard TD pass from Maye to Kyle Williams, and was within 24-21 after Maye completed a pass to Stevenson for the two-point conversion with 9:01 remaining in the fourth.

–Field Level Media

NFL SNF: Patriots at Ravens

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New England Patriots (11-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -3, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: The teams have split the past eight meetings after the Patriots won seven of the first eight (including playoffs).

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The Patriots are 6-0 on the road this season and stand one game behind the Denver Broncos in the battle for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. New England will know when it takes the field Sunday night whether it can clinch a playoff spot with a win. Results involving the Indianapolis Colts (vs. San Francisco 49ers) and Houston Texans (vs. Las Vegas Raiders) are in play. Drake Maye passed for a season-low 155 yards in last week’s 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The setback ended a 10-game winning streak. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 148 yards — one more than his previous high — and two touchdowns. Baltimore is two games behind the Texans in the wild-card chase so its best bet to reach the playoffs is overtaking the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. Baltimore is one game behind but will play at Pittsburgh in the final week of the season. The Ravens halted a two-game losing streak with a strong 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals last week. The Bengals had clobbered Baltimore 17 days earlier. Derrick Henry rushed for 100 yards on just 11 carries and ranks fifth in the NFL with 1,125 yards. Linebacker Roquan Smith racked up 14 tackles and leads the squad with 114.

–Field Level Media

Pats Try to Avoid Back-to-Back Losses

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BALTIMORE – (Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs when they visit the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

The Patriots (11-3) are coming off last Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Denver (12-2) is the only AFC team with a better record than New England, but the Broncos own the tiebreaker against the Patriots if the teams finish with the same record.

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New England would clinch a playoff berth with a win. Coach Mike Vrabel was asked Wednesday if a team can benefit from a late-season loss.

“I would say that’s TBD,” Vrabel said. “I don’t know. It’s only depending on how you respond, how you prepare, how you practice and ultimately how you play. So, we’ll see. There’s a lot of good things in there and we’ll need all those things on Sunday night against this football team that’s 6-2 after their bye, and really coming off a big win last week. A dominant win.”

The Ravens (7-7) ended a two-game losing streak by beating Cincinnati 24-0 last Sunday. Baltimore, however, will likely need a strong finish to earn a playoff berth.

If the Ravens win their final three regular-season games (New England, at Green Bay and at Pittsburgh), they will win the AFC North, although there are other scenarios in which Baltimore can qualify for the playoffs.

“You just assume that you have to take care of your business,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It would be a stretch for us not to have to win out. So, we’ll plan on that and that’s what we’re going to have to try to do.”

New England is 6-0 on the road this season and will be facing a Baltimore team that’s 3-5 at home. The Ravens were without quarterback Lamar Jackson for home losses to Houston (44-10) and the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) in early October because of a hamstring injury.

“The Houston game was probably our worst home game that I can ever remember, (but) our guys were fighting their butts off — the guys that were out there playing, who were playing in the game,” Harbaugh said. “That game is what it was. The Rams game is what it was. Guys are fighting their butts off in that game, too. So, those games are history.”

New England ranks seventh among NFL teams in both scoring offense (27.3) and scoring defense (19.7). Baltimore is 14th in scoring offense (23.9) and 15th in scoring defense (22.8).

“Obviously, someone is coming into our house,” Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum said. “We have to win games. We have to put on a show for our crowd and end up getting wins like how we’re supposed to.”

Jackson (illness) is one of six Ravens who didn’t participate in practice Wednesday. Linebacker Roquan Smith (knee), linebacker Kyle Van Noy (quadriceps) linebacker Teddye Buchanan (knee), tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle) and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (foot) are the others.

Five Patriots did not participate in practice Wednesday: cornerback Carlton Davis (hip), cornerback Marcus Jones (knee), linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle), linebacker Harold Landry (knee) and linebacker Christian Ellliss (illness). Defensive tackle Christian Barmore was listed as a limited participant on the team’s participation report, but his situation is non-injury related.

–Field Level Media

Sophomore Hijinx

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Drake Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, and Marcus Jones returned a punt for a score as the New England Patriots extended their winning streak to 10 games by beating the New York Giants 33-15 on Monday night in Massachusetts.

Kicker Andy Borregales added four field goals for the Patriots (11-2).

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New England tight end Hunter Henry caught four passes for a team-high 73 yards. The Patriots had a 395-239 advantage in total offense.

New York quarterback Jaxson Dart returned from a concussion and completed 17 of 24 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown. Devin Singletary led the Giants’ rushing attack with 67 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

New York (2-11) has lost its last seven games.

The Patriots jumped out to a 17-0 lead after one quarter and led 30-7 at halftime. It remained 30-7 entering the fourth.

After Borregales opened the scoring by kicking a 22-yard field goal on New England’s opening drive, Jones returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown that helped stretch the lead to 10-0.

Maye’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, plus a Borregales PAT, gave New England a 17-0 advantage with one minute remaining in the first quarter.

The Giants scored on a 30-yard pass from Dart to Darius Slayton with 12:46 left in the second quarter, but New England answered when Maye connected with Kyle Williams for a 33-yard touch.

Borregales extended New England’s lead to 27-7 by making a 30-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining in the first half, and he made it 30-7 with a 28-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Singletary scored on a 22-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was 30-15 after Dart completed a pass to Slayton for the two-point conversion.

Borregales finalized the scoring on a 23-yard field goal with 2:14 to play.

–Field Level Media

Patriots: Nine Game Win Streak vs NYG

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FOXBORO – (Wire Service Preview) – The New England Patriots haven’t dealt with a tremendous amount of adversity this season, but they’ll be dealing with some when they face the New York Giants on Monday night in Massachusetts. New England (10-2) enters the matchup on a nine-game winning streak, but its offense will be without starting left tackle Will Campbell and starting left guard Jared Wilson.

Campbell, the fourth pick in the 2025 draft, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after he reportedly sustained an MCL sprain last Sunday in the 26-20 victory over Cincinnati. He will miss at least the next four games. Wilson (ankle) will not play Sunday, New England coach Mike Vrabel told reporters Wednesday.

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New England quarterback Drake Maye has been sacked 37 times this season — third most in the NFL — and Vrabel said New York’s defensive line presents plenty of challenges.

“I think 57 of the 66 quarterback hits come from those guys up front,” he said. “Three edge guys with (Brian) Burns, (Kayvon) Thibodeaux, (Abdul) Carter. Obviously what Big Dex (Dexter Lawrence II) can do inside and (Roy) Robertson-Harris. So, those guys are certainly impactful players that have to be accounted for every play. They rotate them through there pretty good, and so there’s a lot of juice there. There’s a lot of disruption.”

Through the first 12 games of this season, Maye leads the NFL with 3,130 passing yards and a 71.0 completion percentage. His 21 passing touchdowns rank fifth.

The Giants (2-10) are hoping to have rookie Jaxson Dart back at quarterback after he missed two games following a concussion he suffered against Chicago on Nov. 9. Dart threw for 10 touchdowns and had three passes intercepted in his first seven NFL starts. He was 19 of 29 for 242 yards against the Bears before his concussion. Jameis Winston was New York’s starting quarterback for its last two games.

Dart cleared concussion protocol on Thursday, but Lawrence (elbow) and Thibodeaux (shoulder) were both held out of practice Wednesday. Thibodeaux hasn’t played in New York’s past two games.

“If he’s healthy and cleared to go, then I’d like Jaxson Dart to play,” New York interim head coach Mike Kafka said last week of Dart’s return timeline. “Only if he’s healthy and ready to go, and that’s based on what the doctors say.”

The Giants will be seeking their first road victory since Week 5 of last season, when they beat Seattle 29-20. New York has lost 12 straight road games since then.

New York fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen on Monday, 12 games into his second season in that role. Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen was named as the interim replacement.

“The results just weren’t where we wanted them to be and so Charlie’s going to step up for us and rally the group,” Kafka said. “The defensive staff will rally around Charlie and put together a great plan. I got a lot of confidence in the room and a lot of confidence in our staff to do that.”

New York enters the game against the Patriots ranked 32nd among NFL teams in rushing defense, 23rd in passing defense and 30th in scoring defense.

In addition to Wilson, five other New England players did not practice Wednesday: tight end CJ Dippre (back), linebacker Harold Landry III (knee), offensive tackle Morgan Moses (illness), safety Brenden Schooler (ankle) and linebacker Jahlani Tavai (personal).

–Field Level Media

Maye, Patriots Move On Past Cincy

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CINCINNATI – (Wire Service Report) – New England quarterback Drake Maye completed 22 of 35 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and the surging Patriots held on for a 26-20 win over the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.

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Pats’ TE Hunter Henry caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for New England (10-2), which won its ninth game in a row. Andy Borregales made four field goals.

Joe Flacco completed 19 of 37 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Cincinnati (3-9). Chase Brown had 19 carries for 107 yards.

The Bengals pulled within 23-20 with 4:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. Flacco found Mitchell Tinsley for a 17-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game.

The Patriots increased their lead to 26-20 with 1:51 remaining as Borregales made a 52-yard kick.

Flacco tried to lead the Bengals to a late comeback, but the Bengals’ drive ended at the Patriots 26-yard line as his fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Neither team scored a touchdown in the first quarter. The only scoring belonged to Cincinnati, which took a 3-0 lead on a 54-yard field goal by Evan McPherson.

The Bengals relied on a defensive touchdown to increase their lead to 10-0 in the first minute of the second quarter. Safety Geno Stone intercepted a pass from Maye and returned it 32 yards to the end zone.

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The Patriots scored on their next possession to pull within 10-7. Maye found Henry wide open down the left sideline for a 28-yard touchdown.

New England’s defense scored a touchdown less than two minutes later. Cornerback Marcus Jones jumped in front of Flacco’s pass and returned the interception 33 yards for the go-ahead score that put the Patriots on top 14-10.

Borregales added a 41-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead late in the half.

McPherson answered with a 63-yard field goal as time expired in the half to make it 17-13. The kick set a Bengals franchise record and marked a career long for McPherson.

The kicking trend continued in the third quarter, as Borregales drilled a 45-yarder to increase New England’s lead to 20-13.

Borregales chipped in a 19-yard kick to put the Patriots on top 23-13 with 5:55 left.

The Patriots lost a key starter on their offensive line due to injury. Left tackle Will Campbell sustained a leg injury and needed to be carted off the field late in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Campbell Hurt in Patriots’ Win

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Cincinnati – (Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell was carted off the field after sustaining an apparent leg injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Campbell appeared despondent after the injury. He draped a towel over his head as he rode in the back of a cart toward the visitors’ locker room in Cincinnati.

The 21-year-old is in his rookie season with New England. He has started 12 games this season protecting quarterback Drake Maye’s blind side.

Vederian Lowe replaced Campbell at left tackle following the injury.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Patriots at Bengals Preview

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New England Patriots (9-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -6.5, Total 51.5
Series Rewind: The Patriots have won four of the last five meetings to extend their lead in the series to 18-10. The Bengals have not defeated New England in Cincinnati since a 13-6 victory on Oct. 6, 2013.

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A victory will give New England its 28th 10-win season, tying Pittsburgh for the second most since 1970 behind Dallas (29). The Patriots are 5-0 on the road this season, the only team in the NFL without a loss. New England’s eight-game winning streak is its longest since an 8-0 start in 2019. First-year head coach Mike Vrabel’s defense ranks No. 1 against the run (84.7 yards per game) and is facing a Cincinnati offense that is tied for 31st in rushing (81.4). New England’s Drake Maye can become just the fourth player ever under the age of 24 to record 10 games with at least 200 passing yards and a 100-plus passer rating. Bengals WR Tee Higgins has caught touchdown passes in nine straight home games, joining Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Cris Carter with that accomplishment, and steps into the No. 1 receiver role with Ja’Marr Chase suspended one game for spitting at Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey last week. The Bengals could also get TE Mike Gesicki back in the lineup from a pectoral injury that pushed him to IR. But which Joe will throw? Burrow or Flacco? Sidelined since Week 2, Burrow (toe) was a full participant in practice this week. Flacco has been playing through a right shoulder injury. A tight turnaround to Thursday’s primetime holiday game at Baltimore might weigh into the decision.

NFL Previews: Week 12

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NFL Week 12 Capsules

New England Patriots (9-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -6.5, Total 51.5
Series Rewind: The Patriots have won four of the last five meetings to extend their lead in the series to 18-10. The Bengals have not defeated New England in Cincinnati since a 13-6 victory on Oct. 6, 2013.

A victory will give New England its 28th 10-win season, tying Pittsburgh for the second most since 1970 behind Dallas (29). The Patriots are 5-0 on the road this season, the only team in the NFL without a loss. New England’s eight-game winning streak is its longest since an 8-0 start in 2019. First-year head coach Mike Vrabel’s defense ranks No. 1 against the run (84.7 yards per game) and is facing a Cincinnati offense that is tied for 31st in rushing (81.4). New England’s Drake Maye can become just the fourth player ever under the age of 24 to record 10 games with at least 200 passing yards and a 100-plus passer rating. Bengals WR Tee Higgins has caught touchdown passes in nine straight home games, joining Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Cris Carter with that accomplishment, and steps into the No. 1 receiver role with Ja’Marr Chase suspended one game for spitting at Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey last week. The Bengals could also get TE Mike Gesicki back in the lineup from a pectoral injury that pushed him to IR. But which Joe will throw? Burrow or Flacco? Sidelined since Week 2, Burrow (toe) was a full participant in practice this week. Flacco has been playing through a right shoulder injury. A tight turnaround to Thursday’s primetime holiday game at Baltimore might weigh into the decision.

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Seattle Seahawks (7-3) at Tennessee Titans (1-9)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Seahawks -13.5, Total 40.5

Series Rewind: Ten consecutive meetings between the franchises have been decided by eight points or less. The Seahawks won the most recent game in 2023 (20-17) and the Titans took the 2021 matchup in overtime (33-30), erasing a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter with two Derrick Henry TDs.

The Seahawks are 3-1 in the past four games despite 12 turnovers thanks to an edgy defense capable of morphing on the fly due to interchangeable parts, a high-level challenge for rookie QB Cam Ward. Ward takes the field Sunday with few consistently reliable options at wide receiver, but the Titans dare not roll out a predictable game plan against mad scientist Mike Macdonald. The Titans scored only one touchdown in seven of 10 games this season and aren’t built to throw punches with heavyweights during a roster rebuild. Seattle features the NFL’s leading receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and a two-headed running back rotation Macdonald said will soon push Kenneth Walker III to the top of the pecking order. Tennessee’s run defense has been user-friendly to the tune of 134.7 yards per game this season. Smith-Njigba has seven 100-yards games and at least 93 receiving yards in nine of 10 this season. TE A.J. Barner had 10 receptions last season as QB Sam Darnold tries to unearth a reliable second option in the passing game. Darnold is coming off of a four-INT game in Seattle’s two-point loss to the Rams.

Minnesota Vikings (4-6) at Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Packers -6.5, Total 41.5

Series Rewind: The teams split the past 12 meetings. Minnesota has won three of the past four.

Walking wounded has been a theme this season for the Packers, with continuity and consistency fleeting because of a revolving door on the offense line and WR corps. QB Jordan Love was banged up last week — he missed only seven snaps in the win over the Giants — and RB Josh Jacobs (knee) left the victory in the first half. Top targets Tucker Kraft (knee) and WR Jayden Reed (foot, clavicle) are on IR and current top receiver Romeo Doubs was limited most of the week with a wrist injury. Only the timely return of WR Christian Watson, who caught two TD passes last week, has kept the forward pass as an option. The Vikings must contend with pass rusher Micah Parsons for the first time since he was acquired by the Packers. Parsons posted 1.5 sacks last week and digs in against Minnesota’s inconsistent offensive line in Green Bay’s first look at QB J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy has been sacked 15 times with eight interceptions and six TD passes in six games and was picked off twice in consecutive one-score losses to the Ravens and Bears the past two games.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) at Chicago Bears (7-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Bears -2.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers has 24 wins in 29 career games against the Bears, all during his days with the Green Bay Packers. The Bears won the first 10 games in the series, all played before 1950 when the Pittsburgh franchise was the Pirates.

Division leaders most didn’t see coming try to keep a grip on the top spot and remain in the thick of the playoff chase. The Bears are delivering in close games and have a 5-3 record when trailing in the second half this season. Only the Denver Broncos (6-1) have been better at stemming the tide than first-year head coach Ben Johnson’s bunch. He is sharing credit with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for steadying Chicago after a horrific start. A nemesis from the past, Aaron Rodgers, strolls into Soldier Field compromised by a fracture in his left wrist. Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin insist he could still start for the Steelers on Sunday. Rodgers has owned the Bears to the point that he proclaimed, well, parenthood of Chicago from his time in Green Bay. The Steelers hold a slimming lead in the AFC North and are generally winning games when they don’t turn the ball over. The Bears lead the league with 22 takeaways and are first in the NFL in turnover margin (plus-16). Pittsburgh is second in the league with 18 takeaways and brings a unique, blitz-heavy attack against second-year QB Caleb Williams. Pittsburgh is 5-1 when they record a takeaway this season. Williams is responsible for keeping the ball out of the Steelers’ grasp and using his rotation at running back of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai to move the chains. The Bears still are susceptible to allowing explosive plays and are 29th in the NFL with 80 penalties.

Indianapolis Colts (8-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chiefs -3.5, Total 49.5
Series Rewind: Indianapolis has won the past two meetings and 15 of the last 19, and boasts a 3-1 postseason mark against Kansas City during the stretch.

Kansas City made a living winning tight games last season, but the Chiefs are 0-5 in one-score contests this season. That includes three losses by three points, a prime reason why Kansas City is a distant 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Denver Broncos in the AFC West. The Chiefs are outside of the wild-card race with seven AFC teams possessing more wins. Just last season, the Chiefs went 11-0 in one-score games during the regular season and added another in the playoffs against the Buffalo Bills. But ruling out a late run with Patrick Mahomes (18 touchdowns, six interceptions) and Travis Kelce (franchise-record 84 touchdowns) on the roster might be a mistake. The Colts could really stamp their arrival by winning at Arrowhead as they haven’t played in a single playoff game since 2020 and the trip prior to that was a Jan. 2019 loss to Mahomes and the Chiefs in KC. Indianapolis is one of the surprise teams of the league and possesses the lead in the AFC South. The Colts have flourished behind NFL rushing leader Jonathan Taylor (1,139 yards, 15 touchdowns) and quarterback Daniel Jones (15 TD passes) and has topped 30 points seven times, the latest coming in a 31-25 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 prior to last week’s bye. Second-year defensive end Laiatu Latu has a team-best five sacks and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Jones’ recent turnover woes — four interceptions, two fumbles — could be a byproduct of the 15 sacks absorbed in the past three games. George Karlaftis leads the Chiefs with 5.0 sacks this season.

New York Jets (2-8) at Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Ravens -13.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: The Ravens own a 10-2 all-time edge over the Jets. Baltimore’s last four wins have been by an average of 17.3 points.

Baltimore has recorded four consecutive victories and is suddenly just one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFC North. The Ravens gave up just 187 yards in last week’s 23-16 win over the Cleveland Browns and scored 13 unanswered fourth-quarter points. Lamar Jackson had a shaky game by hitting just 14 of 25 passes for 193 yards and two interceptions and also was sacked five times. Jackson is dealing with an ankle injury leading up to this contest. Derrick Henry had 103 yards and a touchdown while notching his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Lightning-fast CB Nate Wiggins has three of Baltimore’s six interceptions, while the defense has just 15 sacks. New York is going with veteran Tyrod Taylor at quarterback as the bid to have Justin Fields be a downfield passing threat has fizzled. Fields avoided turnovers with only one interception, but he was unable to threaten the deep third of the field without WR Garrett Wilson on the field. The Jets rank last in the NFL at 139.9 passing yards per game and 29th in total offense at 291.5, and Wilson won’t likely be back until December. Taylor has completed 62.3% of his 69 throws for 379 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. However, he has been sacked nine times. RB Breece Hall has 722 yards and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard rushing season. He fell six yards short in 2023.

New York Giants (2-9) at Detroit Lions (6-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Lions -10.5, Total 49.5
Series Rewind: The Lions have won four of the last five meetings to grab a 24-21-1 lead in the regular-season series with the Giants. Detroit won the only postseason clash, 26-7, in the 1935 NFL Championship Game.

Interim head coach Mike Kafka’s first road game comes in a city where the Giants haven’t won since 2013. New York hung tough with the Packers last week before falling 27-20, its fourth one-score loss of the season. Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart did not play at Green Bay and did not clear concussion protocol this week, resulting him in being out against Detroit. To pull off the upset, the Giants will need to finally force some turnovers — only the neighboring Jets have fewer takeaways this season. The Lions went 0-for-5 on fourth down in last weekend’s loss at Philadelphia but will likely remain aggressive against a New York defense that has allowed opponents to convert 9-of-13 attempts on fourth down. Head coach Dan Campbell, formerly a tight end in the NFL, took play-calling duties on offense the past two games with mixed success. Offensive line breakdowns appeared to be the difference against the relentless Eagles. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown has receiving touchdowns in three of his last four home games, Jahmyr Gibbs has a rush TD in three of his last four home games, and DE Aidan Hutchinson has a sack in three of his last four home games.

Cleveland Browns (2-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Raiders -3.5, Total 36.5
Series Rewind: This is the second straight season these teams will face off. Las Vegas won 20-16 last year, has won the last five and holds an 18-10 lead in the all-time series.

There are no real stakes for this matchup between two teams who have stopped considering the playoffs weeks ago and have a combined touchdown deficit of minus-21 this season. But on the Cleveland side, there’s some intrigue as Shedeur Sanders is set to make his first career start with Dillon Gabriel still in concussion protocol. Sanders, the Colorado standout who fell into the fifth round of this year’s draft, will be the Browns’ 42nd different starting QB since they returned to Cleveland in 1999. No Browns rookie QB has won his debut since 1995. Sanders completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception replacing Gabriel last week vs. Baltimore. Las Vegas’ offense continues to sputter with Geno Smith at the helm. The Raiders converted just 3 of 12 third downs on Monday vs. Dallas and are 7-of-27 on third-down conversions over the last two games. Smith is tied for the NFL lead with 13 interceptions, more than his 12 interceptions. But Las Vegas continues to flash some promising skill-position talent. Ashton Jeanty had just seven rushing yards last week, but had six catches and ranks third among rookies with 717 scrimmage yards this season. Second-year tight end Brock Bowers had seven catches vs. the Cowboys to reach 151 for his career, tied for the second-fastest player to reach 150 catches (24 games).

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at Arizona Cardinals (3-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Jaguars -2.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: Jacksonville and Arizona have played just six times in the Jaguars’ first 30 seasons. Jacksonville won the first two games, but the Cardinals have won the four since, last coming away with a 31-19 road win in 2021.

With a 19-point blown lead vs. Houston followed by a 35-6 beatdown of the Los Angeles Chargers the last two weeks, you never really know what you’re going to get with this year’s Jaguars team. And yet, Jacksonville sits in playoff position as the No. 7 seed, a half-game ahead of the division-rival Texans, entering Sunday’s game at Arizona. The run game has been the Jaguars’ bread and butter when things have been going well under first-year head coach Liam Coen and that was certainly the case last week when Jacksonville ran for 192 yards and three scores against a stingy Chargers defense. Rookie RB Bhayshul Tuten, who led the team in rushing yards (74) for the first time, left the Los Angeles game late with an ankle injury and has been limited in practice. So have leading RB Travis Etienne (shoulder) and lead receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (ankle), who has missed the last two games. For Arizona, even a career-high 452 passing yards from Jacoby Brissett last week couldn’t stop their extended skid. The Cardinals have lost seven of their last eight games since a 2-0 start and are 3 1/2 games back from the third-place 49ers in the NFC West. Brissett did that without leading receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix surgery), who will be out again this week. Brissett has certainly revitalized the Arizona passing game with 1,570 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in five starts since replacing Kyler Murray, who is out at least two more games. But it hasn’t translated into wins.

Atlanta Falcons (3-7) at New Orleans Saints (2-8)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Saints -1.5, Total 39.5
Series Rewind: New Orleans has prevailed in 11 of the last 15 meetings. The teams face each other again in Week 18.

Veteran Kirk Cousins is back as the starter after Michael Penix Jr. was lost to a season-ending left ACL injury during last week’s 30-27 overtime loss against the Carolina Panthers. The 37-year-old Cousins has mostly been a highly paid spectator while firing just 52 passes this season. He tied for the NFL lead with 16 interceptions in 14 games last season before losing the job to Penix. The Falcons have lost five straight games and coach Raheem Morris said the offense will be tweaked to fit Cousins’ style. Star running back Bijan Robinson had 104 yards against the Panthers for his third 100-yard rushing effort of the season. Top receiver Drake Lewis (810 receiving yards) will sit out with a knee injury. New Orleans is coming off a bye and knocked off the host Panthers 17-7 in Week 10. Tyler Shough, a second-round rookie, stood out in his second career start by passing for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 70.4% of his passes and wasn’t intercepted, two facts that surely pleased coach Kellen Moore, one of the most efficient college quarterbacks ever during his playing career at Boise State. The New Orleans defenses will aim for a repeat showing after limiting the Panthers to 102 yards through the air and 175 total. Linebacker Demario Davis has a team-best 91 tackles.

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Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) at Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -3.5, Total 47.5
Series Rewind: The Eagles have won the last three clashes, including 24-20 in this year’s season opener, but would need to sweep the next 13 regular-season meetings to erase the Cowboys’ 71-58 lead in the heated rivalry.

The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott is a sparkling 21-2 at home against NFC East opponents in his career, a .913 percentage that is the highest at home by any QB against his division since the 1970 merger. His last loss in Arlington in a divisional game was on Nov. 19, 2017 against the Eagles. Standout wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens face an Eagles secondary that has allowed only two touchdown passes during their four-game winning streak. Lamb had an uncharacteristic bout of drops in the Week 1 loss at Philadelphia, including on a potential game-winning drive late in the game. Philadelphia has compiled the best road winning percentage (.718) with a 28-11 record since Nick Sirianni became the coach in 2021, including nine wins in their last 11 away games. Jalen Hurts has thrown one interception in his last 16 regular-season starts and the Eagles have turned the ball over a league-low four times this season. Hurts had two rushing TDs against the Cowboys in the season opener, which came before Dallas acquired DT Quinnen Williams. Williams gives Dallas another big body between the tackles to resist the rugby-scrum quarterback sneak play. He had 1.5 sacks and five QB pressures at Las Vegas in his Cowboys’ debut last week. The Eagles have an X-factor on their side: They are 5-0 in their Kelly green throwback jerseys since bringing them back in 2023.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) at Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Rams -6.5, Total 49.5
Series Rewind: Los Angeles leads the all-time series 19-10 and has won eight of the last 10 against Tampa Bay. But the Buccaneers won the last matchup in 2022.

Tampa Bay and Los Angeles enter Sunday night’s game as division leaders of the NFC South and NFC West, respectively, but without much room to spare. Los Angeles leads Seattle by just one game and San Francisco by 1 1/2 games while the Buccaneers have a half-game lead over Carolina. The Rams have been largely led by their offensive firepower this season, with Matthew Stafford throwing a league-high 27 touchdown passes through the first 11 weeks of the season. However, Los Angeles showed it is more than capable of winning in multiple ways last week when Stafford threw a season-low 130 yards and the Rams defense recorded four interceptions in a 21-19 win over the Seahawks. With a touchdown catch last week, Los Angeles WR Davante Adams became just the third player in NFL history (along with Terrell Owens and Brandon Marshall) to record 10-plus touchdown catches in a season for three different teams. This week’s game presents a third straight opportunity for Tampa Bay to come away with a win over a contending team. The Buccaneers lost the last two weeks against the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills to fall to the brink of falling out of first place in the division for the first time this season. This will be a trip of significance for Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield, who revived his career with the Rams in 2022 before signing with the Buccaneers as a free agent the following offseason. However, it was the ground game which led the way last week in Buffalo, as Tampa Bay racked up 202 rushing yards led by a career-high 106 yards from Sean Tucker with Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) out. Irving and WR Chris Godwin (leg) have a chance to return after missing multiple weeks.

–Field Level Media

Henderson Leads Patriots Over Jets

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – TreVeyon Henderson found the end zone three times and the New England Patriots sailed to their eighth straight win, 27-14 over the New York Jets on Thursday night in Massachusetts.

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Henderson ran for a pair of 7-yard touchdowns during the second quarter and added a 6-yard scoring catch after halftime to put the Patriots (9-2) in firm control. Drake Maye completed 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards, and Henderson tallied 93 total yards (62 rushing, 31 receiving on five catches).

New England’s Stefon Diggs hauled in nine catches for 105 yards.

Justin Fields ran for a touchdown and threw for another for the Jets (2-8), who had a modest two-game winning streak ended. John Metchie III, in his second game as a Jet following a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, had three receptions for 45 yards and a score.

The Patriots only led 21-14 entering the final quarter but soon tacked on two field goals by Andy Borregales (44, 26 yards). The latter kick was set up when Fields fumbled a low snap on the first play of a drive in the shadow of the Jets’ goalpost.

Fields took the Jets into the red zone on a late drive, but he was sacked by Elijah Ponder on third down and threw incomplete on fourth down. Fields connected on 15 of 26 passes for 116 yards and led the Jets with 67 rushing yards.

The Jets opened the game with a 14-play, 72-yard touchdown march, only for the Patriots to match it with a 13-play, 69-yard scoring drive.

New York converted four third downs on its opening drive before Fields hustled to the right corner of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. New England converted a fourth-and-2 with Maye’s 7-yard completion to DeMario Douglas before Henderson notched his first rushing score of the night in the first minute of the second quarter.

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The Patriots forced three consecutive three-and-outs while adding Henderson’s second score to build a 14-7 halftime lead. Borregales missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt as time expired in the half.

Henderson plucked a pass out of the air in the back of the end zone to put the Patriots up 21-7 with 7:46 to go in the third quarter.

The Jets responded when Fields hit a wide-open Metchie for a 22-yard touchdown with 3:10 left in the third.

–Field Level Media