The New England Patriots just barely scraped past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, earning a 24-23 win that had fans covering their eyes for much of the action. There were plenty of negatives to take away from this battle, but New England was able to advance to 7-2, holding onto the top spot in the AFC East and winning its sixth consecutive game.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye has been one of the best passers in the league so far this season. He continued his impressive form in this game, leading an explosive first half that made the deficit too large to overcome for Atlanta.
With the win, Maye continued a tradition that has existed for the Patriots for decades.
Drake Maye extends Patriots’ win streak over Falcons
After the game ended, Patriots analyst Carlos A. Lopez was quick to point out that the Falcons haven’t beaten the Pats since 1998. That’s nearly four years before Maye was born.
The Patriots’ dominance over the Falcons is well documented. Of course, the most notable matchup between the two came in Super Bowl LI, when Tom Brady led a historic comeback to take home the victory.
But New England’s reign over Atlanta extends far beyond one game. This win gives them an eight-game winning streak over the Falcons. The last time that the Falcons were able to beat the Patriots, Drew Bledsoe was still under center for New England.
The Patriots have an all-time record of 6-10 against the Falcons, with their first matchup coming way back in 1972. Before the beginning of New England’s current streak, Atlanta actually had a four-game winning streak that spanned over a decade.
Drake Maye, as usual, was central to his team’s win this weekend. He finished the day with 259 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He was under pressure often, getting sacked six times and losing one fumble. The Patriots’ offense slowed down considerably in the second half, only managing a field goal after scoring 21 points in the first two quarters.
It wasn’t pretty, but New England continued to roll through its mid-season schedule. It’s far too early to compare Maye to Tom Brady, but the young quarterback has certainly established himself as a franchise cornerstone for years to come. If he can continue the Patriots’ strong tradition of winning games, and not just against the Falcons, fans are in for an exciting decade.