Patriots vs. Ravens: New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye sparked a fourth-quarter comeback, erasing an 11-point hole to secure a playoff spot for New England against the Baltimore Ravens

Drake Maye may ultimately fall short in the race for the NFL Most Valuable Player award, with Matthew Stafford still looming as a formidable contender. But on Sunday night, when the New England Patriots faced a moment that could have reshaped their season, Maye delivered the type of performance that ensured his name remains firmly in the MVP conversation.

With New England staring at its first two-game losing streak of the season—a slide that would have pulled the Patriots into a tie with the Buffalo Bills for first place in the AFC East—Maye produced the defining game of his young career. He threw for a career-high 380 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Patriots back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 28–24 and clinch a playoff berth.

It marked New England’s most resilient victory of the season and underscored Maye’s growing stature as the engine behind the Patriots’ success. Whether or not the hardware comes at season’s end, Sunday night represented Maye’s unmistakable MVP moment.

The Patriots’ defense sealed the outcome in the closing minutes. With Baltimore driving and still within striking distance, outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson delivered the game’s decisive play. He chased down wide receiver Zay Flowers after a short completion and punched the ball free, forcing a fumble that New England recovered to all but secure the victory.

The loss dropped Baltimore to 7–8, significantly damaging its playoff hopes. The result also opened the door for the Pittsburgh Steelers to clinch the AFC North next week with either a win over the Cleveland Browns or a Ravens loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Baltimore’s uphill battle was made steeper early, as the Ravens were forced to play most of the game without quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson exited in the first half after taking a knee to the back at the end of a run and was later ruled out in the third quarter. He was replaced by Tyler Huntley, leaving the Ravens to navigate a critical matchup without their two-time MVP.

Despite the setback, Baltimore remained competitive throughout the night. The Ravens opened the scoring with Jackson on the field, as Derrick Henry broke free for a 21-yard touchdown run. After Jackson’s departure, Huntley guided a scoring drive highlighted by an end-around from Flowers, who weaved through the Patriots’ defense for an 18-yard touchdown to give Baltimore a 17–13 lead.

Special teams swung momentum early in the second half. Facing fourth-and-10, New England attempted a fake punt, snapping the ball directly to linebacker Marte Mapu. Baltimore was well-prepared, quickly swarming Mapu and stopping him well short of the first down. Given excellent field position, the Ravens leaned once again on Henry, who powered in from two yards out for his second touchdown of the night, extending Baltimore’s advantage to 24–13.

That cushion, however, would not hold.

Maye sparked New England’s comeback with a perfectly placed 37-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams. A successful two-point conversion cut the deficit to three points and shifted momentum firmly to the Patriots’ sideline.

Without Jackson to manage the game late, the Ravens were unable to respond, punting the ball back to New England. Maye then authored the drive of the night, converting a crucial fourth-and-2 with a strike to Stefon Diggs to keep the possession alive. Moments later, running back Rhamondre Stevenson finished the march with a 21-yard touchdown run, giving the Patriots a 28–24 lead with 2:07 remaining.

Chaisson’s forced fumble on the ensuing possession ended Baltimore’s final hope. What appeared moments earlier to be a damaging loss for New England instead became a season-defining victory—one that preserved the Patriots’ one-game lead in the AFC East and secured their place in the postseason.

For the Ravens, the defeat was another painful chapter in a frustrating season marked by injuries and missed opportunities. For the Patriots and their young quarterback, it was proof that when the stakes are highest, Maye is capable of delivering when it matters most.