The New England Patriots clinched their spot in the NFL playoffs on Sunday night, with a comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens. This is the Patriots first playoff appearance since 2021, when Mac Jones and Bill Belichick led the team to a 10-7 record, but were bounced in the first round by the Buffalo Bills.
Pats QB Drake Maye talked about his team clinching their spot in the playoffs after the game Sunday night.
“That was one of the goals,” Maye said of what it means to clinch a playoff berth. “We want to win the division, and that’s still what we’re fighting for. It’s awesome to clinch the playoffs, but we want to win the division.”
The AFC East has been dominated by the Buffalo Bills for the last five seasons. The Patriots missed a chance to clinch the division in week 15 when the Bills defeated them 35-31 after coming back from a 21-point deficit.
Winning the AFC East remains the goal at hand as the Pats will take on the New York Jets in week 17.
Rhamondre Stevenson Faces Punishment After Bills Game
In a heated divisional game between New England and Buffalo, Rhamondre Stevenson found himself on the NFL’s bad side for his actions in the third quarter of the game.
After catching a checkdown pass from Drake Maye, Stevenson was able to gain 17 yards before being shoved out of bounds by the Bills’ Matt Milano. Stevenson, clearly frustrated with Milano, got into a shoving match with the Bills linebacker amidst a crowd on the Pats sideline.
He struck Milano with a punch to the helmet, which led to a fine being handed down to him by the NFL.
Stevenson was slapped with a $12,172 punishment for “unnecessary roughness” on the play. Characterized as “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing,” Stevenson’s aggression certainly fits the bill of “striking.”
Stevenson is allowed to appeal the fine. Appeals are handled by appeals officers and former NFL players, Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster or Jordy Nelson, who are jointly appointed and paid by the NFL/NFLPA.
The fines are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation, which support retired NFL players and youth football, respectively.
Vrabel Praises Resilience Following Win Over Ravens
Mike Vrabel was highly complimentary of the Patriots’ resilience in the come-from-behind 28-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
“I think we’re pretty resilient. I think we’ve got a bunch of guys that can help us on any given night — I think that’s something,” Vrabel said. “I think we play hard. I hope that we play hard. I hope that it comes off the screen. No more evident here than the last play. The play is never over. Guys being able to chase the football on defense and offensively guys trying to finish longer than the guy with the ball. Trying to make some plays downfield and spring some guys.”
K’Lavon Chaisson made the play of the game, when he stripped Ravens receiver Zay Flowers of the ball in the final two minutes of the game as Baltimore looked to march up the field to take a late lead.
NFL Doles Out Punishment to Patriots’ Running Back For Actions in Bills Game