Drake Maye's MVP case builds, Ravens playoff hopes crushed: Ravens vs. Patriots SNF takeaways – USA At the moment

The Baltimore Ravens‘ playoff chances are high on life help after John Harbaugh’s squad misplaced 28-24 to the New England Patriots on “Sunday Night time Soccer” in Week 16.
The Ravens had an opportunity to win Sunday’s contest. They’d an 11-point lead early within the fourth quarter after Derrick Henry punched in his second landing of the sport. It appeared just like the workforce was going to have the ability to stand up to a again harm that prematurely ended Lamar Jackson‘s night and keep inside placing distance of the Pittsburgh Steelers within the AFC North race.
As a substitute, Drake Maye led the Patriots to a fourth-quarter comeback. He led the workforce on back-to-back landing drives earlier than a K’Lavon Chaisson compelled fumble allowed New England to run the clock out on Baltimore and push the Ravens to the brink of elimination.
The Ravens now have only one path into the NFL playoffs. They should win each of their remaining video games whereas additionally seeing the Steelers lose in Week 17 to a Cleveland Browns workforce with a 3-12 report.
In the meantime, the Patriots have wrapped up their first playoff berth since 2021. They’re again within the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and are sustaining a one-game lead on the Buffalo Bills within the tight AFC East race.
Even higher, Drake Maye continues to play at an MVP degree. The 23-year-old quarterback posted a career-high 380 passing yards within the “SNF” victory and seems prepared to present New England an opportunity to earn its first playoff win since Tom Brady was the workforce’s quarterback.
USA TODAY Sports activities offered updates, highlights, harm updates stats and extra from the “Sunday Night time Soccer” matchup under.
No, the Ravens will not be eradicated from playoff competition but. Baltimore has a 11% likelihood of creating the playoffs after its “Sunday Night time Soccer” loss to the New England Patriots, in accordance with the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. The Ravens entered the competition with a 24% likelihood to make the postseason whereas a win would have improved their odds of successful the AFC North to 33%.
Flowers was attempting to weave his means by way of New England’s protection when Chaisson chased him down from behind. The previous first-round cross rusher managed to punch the ball out of Flowers’ fingers and the Patriots jumped on it, making a turnover.
The Ravens nonetheless have all three timeouts left, so the sport is not but over. That mentioned, the Patriots can all however run out the sport if they will get a primary down.
The Patriots bounced again from the controversial non-call and mounted a go-ahead landing drive. Stevenson was in a position to cap it off with a 21-yard run to get into the end-zone and put New England up 4 factors.
The Ravens can have 2:07 left in regulation to mount a late comeback. They are going to want a landing to win and keep in charge of their path to a possible playoff berth within the AFC North.
Patriots 28, Ravens 24
It appeared like Drake Maye was going to have a protracted completion to broad receiver Kayshon Boutte. Nonetheless, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey tackled the downfield menace earlier than the ball arrived, forcing the cross to be incomplete.
The officers didn’t flag Humphrey for cross interference regardless of the apparent infraction, which was clear-cut, in accordance NBC’s officiating analyst Terry McAulay. That put the Patriots behind the sticks.
The Patriots rapidly answered the Ravens’ latest rating by discovering Williams open down the sideline. The rookie had a little bit of area towards the sideline on Marlon Humphrey, and Maye lofted the ball completely over the Washington State product’s shoulder.
Williams managed to make a pleasant catch, getting his toes down earlier than going out of bounds, to chop the Ravens’ result in one rating. Maye then discovered Rhamondre Stevenson for a simple two-point conversion cross, so the Patriots at the moment are trailing 24-21 with 9:01 left within the fourth quarter.
The Ravens made the Patriots pay for his or her ill-fated faux punt determination. Baltimore was in a position to cowl 45 yards over seven performs thanks largely to 32 yards from Henry, who punched in a 2-yard rating to present Baltimore a two-possession lead.
Henry has now racked up 128 dashing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, along with his lone blemish being a misplaced fumble. He has been the Ravens’ greatest offensive participant and has helped compensate for the lack of Lamar Jackson.
Tyler Loop made the additional level to place the Ravens up 24-13 with 12:50 remaining in regulation.
The Ravens have formally dominated Jackson out for the rest of Sunday’s sport due to a again harm.
Mike Vrabel broke into his bag of methods late within the third quarter, dialing up a faux punt on fourth-and-10.
The Patriots snapped the ball to private protector Marte Mapu, a linebacker, and he gave the impression to be trying to cross the ball. He finally did not, as his prime goal was lined, and tried to run for the primary down. As a substitute, he failed to achieve a yard, fumbled and gave the ball to the Ravens on their facet of midfield.
The Ravens will now look to attain once more, main 17-13 with time winding down within the third quarter.
The Ravens scored their first landing since their opening drive late within the third quarter. John Harbaugh and Todd Monken dialed up a uncommon working play for broad receiver Zay Flowers, who made a pleasant reduce on the level of assault to arrange his blockers earlier than scampering into the end-zone for his second rating in as many weeks.
Tyler Loop made the additional level, and the Ravens at the moment are main 17-13.
The Patriots are again on prime. After Tyler Loop missed his area aim try, Drake Maye rapidly received New England into scoring vary. He could not fairly join with Rhamondre Stevenson on a possible landing cross, however Borregales was in a position to make his 41-yard area aim to place the Patriots up.
New England is now main 13-10 with 7:43 left within the third quarter.
The Ravens took the sphere for his or her first drive of the second half with Tyler Huntley nonetheless quarterbacking the workforce. “Snoop” was in a position to get the workforce on the sting of Loop’s area aim vary, so John Harbaugh determined to let the rookie try a career-long 56-yard kick with the workforce going through a fourth-and-9.
Loop’s kick was correct, but it surely got here up in need of the goal. The sport stays tied at 10, and the Patriots will now begin their subsequent drive close to midfield after Loop’s miss.
The Patriots introduced Henderson has been dominated out for the rest of the sport due to a head harm.
Tyler Huntley is the Ravens’ backup quarterback. The 27-year-old veteran is in his third stint with the workforce and was elevated into the backup function after Cooper Rush struggled rather than Jackson earlier within the season.
Huntley gained his lone begin for the workforce this season and has accomplished 73% of his passes for 254 yards and a landing. He has a profession report of 6-9 in 15 begins and has accomplished 65.2% of his profession passes for 3,040 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Each New England and Baltimore have had spurts of success shifting the ball, however turnovers have plagued each groups. Drake Maye notably recorded two in scoring vary whereas Derrick Henry’s fumble led to the Patriots’ lone landing of the primary half.
The larger story of the primary half, nevertheless, is Lamar Jackson’s well being. He suffered a again harm on the finish of the primary body, and if he cannot proceed, the Ravens must depend on Tyler “Snoop” Huntley to cause them to a wanted victory as they continue to be behind within the AFC North standings.
The Patriots are coping with a key harm of their very own, as working again TreVeyon Henderson banged his head on the turf within the first half and hasn’t but returned.
The Ravens quarterback suffered a again harm on the finish of the primary half. It occurred after he ran for 3 yards on a first-down carry after the two-minute warning, when the 28-year-old quarterback slid to the bottom.
Jackson stayed within the sport for the second-down play, a hand-off to backup working again Keaton Mitchell. Nonetheless, the Ravens referred to as a timeout following that play, and Jackson walked to the sideline to be examined by Baltimore’s medical employees.
Jackson was examined briefly on the sideline earlier than being taken to the locker room. The Ravens introduced Jackson is “questionable” to return due to a again harm.
The Patriots rookie working again was injured within the second quarter. He exited the sport after he was tackled following a 1-yard achieve on first down by Ravens security Alohi Gilman. He was examined within the blue medical tent earlier than going to the locker room. The Patriots haven’t offered an replace on Henderson’s situation.
The Patriots at the moment are main 10-7 after Borregales completed off the workforce’s newest drive with a made area aim. The Ravens will look to reply with 5:39 left within the first half.
The Patriots made Derrick Henry pay for his fumble. Maye linked on a 26-yard cross to backup tight finish Austin Hooper that received New England to the 1-yard line. New England then ran arduous play-action on first-and-goal, and Maye discovered Hunter Henry wide-open off it on a bootleg to his proper.
Andy Borregales linked on the additional level to make it 7-all early within the second quarter.
Ravens 7, Patriots 7
The Ravens can’t tie the Steelers within the AFC North standings in Week 16, as Pittsburgh managed to beat the Detroit Lions earlier on Sunday. That mentioned, if the Ravens beat the Patriots, they are going to have an opportunity to maneuver right into a tie with the Steelers in Week 17, if issues break their means. 
If that occurs, Pittsburgh would nonetheless be in charge of the division, because the Steelers personal a head-to-head win over the Ravens. That mentioned, the 2 groups are set to play once more in Week 18, so Baltimore can have an opportunity to render that tiebreaker null.
The Patriots and Ravens have traded turnovers. Henry had the ball punched out of his fingers by security Jaylinn Hawkins simply as Baltimore was nearing area aim vary. Craig Woodson recovered and the Patriots will get an opportunity to mount one other drive.
The Patriots and Payments are engaged in a tricky, head-to-head battle for the AFC East title. New England entered Week 16 with a one-game benefit within the division, however a loss in opposition to Baltimore would drop the Patriots right into a tie with the Payments atop the division.
Which workforce would prime the division if the 2 find yourself tied? Presently, the Patriots personal the tiebreaker over the Payments, as New England sports activities a greater divisional report (3-1) than Buffalo (3-2).
That would depart the Patriots in charge of their very own future over the ultimate two weeks of the season, even with a loss in opposition to the Ravens.
The Patriots received into scoring vary and appeared able to reply the Ravens with not less than a area aim. 
Nonetheless, on a third-and-14, Maye scrambled away from a sack and heaved a cross downfield within the course of Kayshon Boutte. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was in a position to make a diving catch to reel within the cross, giving Baltimore the ball again by itself 4-yard line.
The Ravens did not waste a lot time getting their offense going. They marched 65 yards over 5 performs to open the sport earlier than Henry discovered a wide-open lane on a counter play and was in a position to motor into the tip zone untouched.
Tyler Loop made the additional level, and the Ravens are main 7-0 early within the first quarter.
After the Steelers beat the Lions earlier within the day on Sunday, the Ravens have an estimated 24% likelihood to make the playoffs, in accordance with the NFL’s Subsequent Gen Stats. Baltimore’s possibilities of making the postseason will enhance to 33% with a win over the Patriots and would shrink to only 8% with a loss.
The Week 16 “Sunday Night time Soccer” matchup will air on NBC.
The Ravens and Patriots are set for kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Patriots journey to M&T Financial institution Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland for the matchup.
Peacock is the streaming residence of NBC.
This is how the USA TODAY Sports activities employees feels the Ravens vs. Patriots matchup will play out:
Nationwide Soccer League odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds up to date Sunday at 7:34 a.m. ET. For a full listing of sports activities betting odds, entry USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
The temperature is anticipated to be 33 degrees round kickoff in Baltimore. There isn’t any snow or precipitation of any type within the forecast. Winds shall be calm.
The Ravens entered Week 16 one sport behind the Steelers within the win column, however Pittsburgh was in a position to beat the Detroit Lions to maneuver additional forward of Baltimore. The Steelers have already got a head-to-head win over the Ravens too, so Baltimore has little room for error down the stretch of the season.
The Patriots enter tonight’s sport in first place within the AFC East. This is the division standings coming into “Sunday Night time Soccer”:
Within the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-6), Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Within the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-7), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
Baltimore has one of many hardest end-of-season slates within the league, in accordance with Tankathon rankings. All three of their ultimate regular-season video games are in opposition to groups that enter Week 16 in place to make the playoffs.
This is a take a look at the up to date first-round order as Week 16 outcomes are available in, in accordance with Tankathon, which calculates power of schedule in another way from the NFL:
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