In a game that swung back and forth under the lights of Sunday Night Football, the New England Patriots engineered a dramatic fourthquarter surge to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 28-24 and punch their ticket to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2021.
The victory, capped by two late touchdowns and a crucial turnover, was built on a season of steady improvement and resilience under firstyear head coach Mike Vrabel.
Trailing by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots (12-3) leaned on quarterback Drake Maye, whose 31-of-44 night for 380 yards and two touchdowns marked a career performance.
Behind that production and a defense that forced a late Ravens fumble, New England outscored Baltimore 14-0 in the final period to complete the comeback and extend its road mastery to 7-0.
The Ravens (7-8) looked poised to claim the win for much of the second half, rallying behind backup quarterback Tyler Huntley after starter Lamar Jackson exited in the second quarter with a back injury.
Jackson, a twotime MVP, had completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards before departing, a development that loomed over Baltimore‘s offense and altered the game’s momentum.
Turning point in the fourth
New England‘s comeback began with Maye engineering a methodical touchdown drive that culminated in a 37-yard scoring strike to receiver Kyle Williams.
Maye then connected with Rhamondre Stevenson on a twopoint conversion that put the Patriots within one. With the clock winding down, Stevenson broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run, breaking the 24-24 tie and giving New England its first lead of the night.
A late fumble by the Ravens, recovered by the Patriots, all but sealed the victory and set off celebrations on the Patriots‘ sideline, as they knelt out the final minute to preserve the win.
The comeback carried extra weight after New England squandered a 21-0 lead in a Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, a defeat that kept the AFC East race alive and added urgency to Sunday’s showdown.
Stefon Diggs provided a consistent target for Maye throughout the night, hauling in nine receptions for 138 yards.
Despite injuries that included losing rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson to a head injury midgame, the Patriots‘ offense remained balanced, combining a potent aerial attack with timely ground gains.
Defensively, New England showed the kind of bendbutdon’tbreak ability that has become a hallmark of its best outings this season.
After allowing Baltimore to build a lead through the first three quarters, the Patriots tightened up in the clutch, forcing the turnover that shifted the game’s tide and gave Vrabel‘s squad the final possession.
The result was more than just another win; it was confirmation that New England‘s rebuild is on track.
The Patriots entered the night with one of the league’s best records and, despite the setback in Week 15, demonstrated an ability to respond under pressure, a trait playoff teams often need.
