The New England Patriots entered Week 9 at home against the Green Bay Packers with one goal in mind: to reach 6-3 and stay close to the AFC East powerhouse, the Buffalo Bills. But as we saw, things didn't work out quite that way.
Drake Maye was expected to be a difference-maker, and he was, for Green Bay. He threw three first-half interceptions, and the Packers clobbered the Patriots 45-27 in Foxborough. It was a monumental home beatdown.
At least one player stood out, and some had written him off before the season as a possible trade candidate. Wide receiver DeMario Douglas set a new career high in receiving yards. Other than that, not much went well, and the Patriots are now 5-4 as a result.
Maye's interceptions reactivated a major flaw in his game that had largely been absent in the past two games. Overall, the Patriots lost the turnover battle, 4-0, and when that happens, you add a digit to the loss column.
Regardless, Douglas stood out for all the right reasons and made the case to Mike Vrabel that he deserved a contract extension.
Demario Douglas has been the best Patriots playmaker on the field
While soon-to-be-highly-paid superstars like cornerback Christian Gonzalez and quarterback Drake Maye totally flopped, Douglas quietly did what he's been doing all season long: he caught passes and made plays for yards and yards.
Douglas recorded five catches for 102 yards, marking just the second time in his four-year Patriots' career he'd exceeded that threshold.
.@Patriots WR DeMario Douglas set a new career high with 102 receiving yards vs. Green Bay after a 20-yard reception from QB Drake Maye in the fourth quarter.
— Patriots Communications (@PatriotsComms) November 9, 2026
Douglas had one career 100-yard receiving game [11/2/25 vs. ATL] prior to tonight.
The receiver was seen as potential trade bait in the offseason, but he's dispelled those thoughts with a terrific performance thus far in 2026. The diminutive 5'8" Douglas has 31 catches for 434 yards and four touchdowns already this season.
He has clearly regained his 2024 form, when he caught 66 passes for 631 yards and three touchdowns.
After a tough beatdown at home, it's not easy to find a silver lining in this Patriots' most recent debacle. Yet Patriot Nation can at least look to Douglas, whose return to his superb 2024 form gives Maye a reliable receiver who can consistently make receptions.
Thus far, the Patriots have received almost nothing from their big offseason trade for A.J. Brown, who has just nine catches for 101 yards and no scores. That can be blamed on his Week 1 injury and the reaggravation of his previous knee injury after he returned.
In addition, Romeo Doubs has been on the shelf with an injury and hasn't lived up to the hype so far, with just 14 receptions for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Patriots are now three games behind the Bills. Hopes for an AFC East title are probably out the window, so the remaining goal is to make the playoffs, but any more repetitions of the dud performance against the Packers will make that a long shot.
Thankfully, there's been one ray of sunshine in Douglas, and another in the emerging Efton Chism III, who's finally getting some playing time and now has 20 receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns. At least that's something.
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