The New England Patriots were hammered at home by the Green Bay Packers, 45-27, as three interceptions by the short-term back-in-form Drake Maye and a fumble by Rhamondre Stevenson set the stage for a brutal beatdown.
In the process, the Patriots have pretty much destroyed any hopes of repeating as AFC East champions, since they now sit three games behind the almost unbeatable Buffalo Bills.
One player whose return from injury was highly anticipated was Mack Hollins. The receiver had been a steady playmaker for Maye before his injury, and many expected him to make an impact upon his return against the Packers. While he failed to light up the stat sheet, he did his part with three receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown catch.
Unfortunately, the Patriots needed much more from both Hollins and his teammates, and didn't get it.
The New England Patriots are slip sliding away in the AFC East
Perhaps expectations were too high for Hollins' return. He's never been a massive catch-producer. His forte has always been making his receptions count, with a terrific career percentage of catches that go for both first downs and touchdowns.
In 2025, he caught 46 passes, 28 for first downs, and he also scored two touchdowns. The 2026 season has been an anomaly, as only 8 of his 18 catches have gone for first downs, and he has only one touchdown catch.
Regardless, the Patriots have far bigger problems than Mack Hollins' production right now. Big-time receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are both still sidelined with injuries. They were expected to be Maye's No. 1 and No. 2 receivers.
Between them, they have only 23 catches for 362 yards and three touchdowns for the season. When your top two receivers are out, and then Hollins joins them, it spells big trouble for Maye.
Time's running out for Mike Vrabel to get his team back on track, and for Maye to return to the form that made him October's AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
If Maye falls flat, as he did with those three interceptions against the Packers, the Patriots will do the same.
Hopes were high entering 2026 for the Patriots, but as observers knew, depth was thin in key places like the offensive line. The team did far too little to rectify those deficiencies. Those chickens have now come home to roost, as injuries across the board have wrecked their chances to repeat as AFC East champions.
Maye, Hollins, and the rest of the team now aim to make the playoffs. Yet, with things looking the way they are, even that will be a tall task.
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