After last week's downfall by all parts of the Patriots' team, there is a lot of pressure on them to turn things around on Sunday Night Football against the Ravens. Their efforts in the first half of last week's game were impressive, but their second-half collapse made them underdogs in Week 16, despite their better record.
A big part of their loss was the dramatic turnaround of Drake Maye as soon as they returned to the field in the third quarter.
Some of that, of course, can be blamed on the offensive game plan, which prompted many questions about Josh McDaniels, but the proof is in the pudding: what the OC and Maye have accomplished this year is nothing short of impressive, and because of that, they can't be counted out this weekend.
But there might be an unavoidable problem that will inevitably make Maye's job a lot more difficult, and the last thing he needs right now is even more pressure on his shoulders as he heads into another big game.
Drake Maye might be forced to play Superman for the Patriots in Week 16
As seen last week with Mike Vrabel's decision to keep Robert Spillane sidelined to better prepare him for the playoffs, the Patriots are dealing with several injuries across their defense, and that hasn't changed in the days leading up to Sunday's game.
In fact, during Thursday's practice, a long list of starters were not present and were then listed on the injury report, which spells trouble for not only their defense against a very talented Ravens' offense, but also Maye, who might have to make up for the defense's faults by bringing the offense into the end zone far more than anticipated.
Christian Elliss was back at Patriots practice today, with multiple players returning for the Ravens pic.twitter.com/86pW0qr9Xu
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) December 18, 2025
Given that the stakes for his game aren't as high as some might think, since the Patriots can still make the playoffs and win the division with a loss to the Ravens, there's a chance Vrabel might choose to be more cautious with the roster and keep them out, as he's thinking long term.
And while that's understandable and maybe even admirable, it's hard to overlook the chance to secure a playoff berth with a win and maintain the one-game lead they have over the Bills to win the division.
They could ultimately end the season with the No. 2 seed, even steal No. 1 if the Broncos lose another game or two to end the year, and holding players out as a precautionary measure would certainly put a speed bump on that path.