Drake Maye Delivers Late Drama as Patriots Stun Ravens to Seal Playoff Return
If anyone across the NFL was enjoying a little peace and quiet, that calm was officially broken on Sunday night. The New England Patriots are back in the playoffs, and once again, it’s been driven by a cool-headed quarterback and a team that simply refuses to panic when things get tight.
In Baltimore, the Patriots pulled off a gutsy 28–24 comeback win over the Ravens, erasing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit and officially clinching a postseason spot. At the heart of it all was Drake Maye, who looked every bit like a franchise quarterback as the game slipped into crunch time. What unfolded felt familiar, almost nostalgic, for a franchise that built its legacy on late-game confidence.
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Down 24–13 entering the final quarter, New England’s margin for error had vanished. Still, Maye stayed composed. A 37-yard touchdown strike to Kyle Williams brought life back into the Patriots, and a sharp two-point conversion pass to Rhamondre Stevenson trimmed the gap to just three points. From there, the momentum had clearly shifted. Baltimore was forced to punt, and Maye calmly led an 89-yard drive that ended with Stevenson slicing through the defense for a 21-yard go-ahead touchdown with just over two minutes remaining.
Statistically, Maye was outstanding. A career-high 380 passing yards and two touchdowns were posted, but it was his fourth-quarter precision that stood out most. Twelve completions on 14 attempts in the final frame showed why New England remains atop the AFC East, even after last week’s loss to Buffalo. It was later admitted that the disappointment from that defeat lingered all week, quietly fueling this comeback.
For Baltimore, the night unraveled in painful fashion. Lamar Jackson exited in the second quarter with a back injury, forcing Tyler Huntley into action. While the Ravens did rally and briefly take control, familiar late-game issues resurfaced. Despite Derrick Henry’s success earlier, he barely touched the ball down the stretch, and a costly fumble by Zay Flowers on the final drive sealed Baltimore’s fate.
The loss dealt a serious blow to the Ravens’ playoff hopes. With two games remaining, their path to the AFC North now depends on near-perfect results and outside help. Head coach John Harbaugh didn’t sugarcoat it afterward, acknowledging that mistakes at key moments once again proved decisive.
For New England, though, the story is very different. In Mike Vrabel’s first season, the Patriots are a perfect 7–0 on the road, and belief is growing fast. The playoffs are secured, but the message inside the locker room is clear: this isn’t the finish line. It’s just the beginning.
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