The New England Patriots' Week 9 performance was horrendous. Five Packers had career days, with Jordan Love dicing up New England's defense and both Christian Watson and Matthew Golden posting career highs in yards.
The latter, primarily covered by Christian Gonzalez, had career highs in catches and targets as well.
The game ended 45-27, an 18-point loss. By the third quarter, the Patriots trailed by four touchdowns, leading 42-14. Tyrod Taylor saw action late in the game, and Tommy DeVito also saw action, quarterbacking a touchdown drive that ended in Corey Kiner's first career score.
While Week 5 of 2025 against the Steelers was turnover-ridden and Week 3 against the Jaguars was embarrassing, this game may be New England's most pathetic performance under Mike Vrabel.
The team's two best players and franchise cornerstones completely shrank, with Maye throwing three first-half interceptions and Gonzalez having his worst career game.
The result of New England's best collapsing was what we saw on Sunday, a complete and total implosion.
5 Packers have the best games of their careers against the Patriots
As disastrous as allowing 42 points in three quarters is, it isn't unheard of across the league. Five players having career-best games, however, is.
Love's offense completely dismantled a fully healthy Patriots defense. In the defensive backfield's second consecutive game together, both Watson and Golden had the best games of their careers, while Gonzalez struggled immensely.
Watson hauled in seven of his eight targets for 171 yards, his career-high. Going into the game, Watson already had a career high in both catches and yards through eight weeks, largely because of the injuries he sustained during his rookie contract.
Golden has starred in his second season as a pro, with his ten catches and 164 yards both being career highs. His previous high in catches was the week prior against the Panthers (7). His previous best in yards came in a Week 5 blowout of the Bears (123). Each Watson and Golden hauled in a touchdown as well.
Some #Packers vs. the #Patriots
— Graham Wilker (@GrahamWilker1) November 9, 2026
Jordan Love: 153.2 rating (regular-season career high)
Kaleb Johnson: 68 yards (career high)
Christian Watson: 171 yards (career high)
Matthew Golden: 10 catches, 164 yards (career highs)
Karl Brooks: 2 sacks (career high)
Wow.
While both Packers wideouts had tremendous days, they couldn't have done so without Love having one of the best games of his career. His 153.2 passer rating was the highest of his regular-season career, second only to his January 2024 Wild Card performance against the Cowboys.
In that game, he finished 16/21 with 272 yards and a trio of touchdowns. He carried a larger burden against the Patriots as a passer, but finished with a similar completion rate and the same number of touchdowns. He also had 100 more yards.
With less egregious stat lines, two other Packers had career days. Kaleb Johnson managed 68 rushing yards, possibly earning RB1 status in a backfield that has had little success this season.
Johnson was acquired in August after being selected in the third round just a year prior by the Steelers. His rookie season was a disaster, but the former Iowa Hawkeye managed 68 yards and a touchdown while averaging 4.9 YPC.
Defensively, former Bowling Green defensive tackle Karl Brooks' pair of sacks were also a career high. Walter Rouse struggled at left guard after Ben Brown's injury, and Maye was sacked a season-high four times on the day.
Drake Maye, the offensive line, and the Christian Gonzalez-led defense were all very poor. The result? A drubbing at home that saw the most points allowed in 56 years. It's the most points an opponent has ever scored at Gillette Stadium, and the first time the team has allowed 40+ points since Week 17 against the Chargers in 2024.
This was a game to forget for Mike Vrabel and Co.
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