FOXBORO — The Patriots were playing with fire in Sunday’s 24-23 win over the Falcons.
It initially looked like it was going to be a third straight blowout for the Patriots in Week 9, but they not only let the Falcons hang around but challenge late in the fourth quarter.
It was also one of quarterback Drake Maye’s worst games of the season. Maye threw an interception and lost one of two fumbles. It’s also just as easy to say that the Patriots won and extended their winning streak to six games because of Maye’s first-half heroics. Overall, he was 19-of-29 for 259 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while adding six carries for 22 yards.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Patriots, narrowly hanging on to a 24-23 lead, were forced to punt to the Falcons. A defensive stand and a forced punt gave them the ball back at their own 18-yard line with 1:53 left in the contest.
The Patriots ran the ball twice, picking up 5 yards and draining two Falcons timeouts. Maye closed out the game with a 17-yard completion to tight end Hunter Henry before kneeling on the ball to clinch a 24-23 victory.
For just the third time all season, the Patriots’ defense shut out the opposition on their opening drive. The Patriots forced a three-and-out from the Falcons, helped by outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson on a second-down sack.
The Patriots masterfully marched down the field on a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Quarterback Drake Maye hit wide receiver DeMario Douglas, lined up in the backfield and matched up with Falcons edge defender Jalon Walker, for a 16-yard touchdown. The alignment had fullback Jack Westover at wide receiver and running back TreVeyon Henderson in the slot. The Patriots split touches and snaps between Henderson and Terrell Jennings on their opening drive.
The Patriots forced another punt on the Falcons’ second series, though they did allow one first down. Backed up at their own 6-yard line, the Patriots then went three-and-out and punted.
The Falcons tied it up on a short five-play, 53-yard drive that ended with QB Michael Penix Jr. hitting wide receiver Drake London for a 1-yard touchdown over cornerback Marcus Jones. It was a size mismatch with the 6-foot-4, 215-pound London lined up across from Jones, who’s 5-foot-8, 188 pounds.
Jennings scored his first NFL touchdown to put the Patriots up 14-7 on a 3-yard run. That capped off a run-heavy 12-play, 65-yard drive.
The Patriots’ defense forced another three-and-out on defense before their offense scored quickly on a five-play, 72-yard possession. After hitting Douglas for a 58-yard gain, Maye threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs to go up 21-7.
The Falcons turned the ball over on downs with 1:17 left in the half but still managed to score and cut the Patriots’ lead to 21-14.
The Patriots were well on their way to increasing their lead to three scores when Maye was strip-sacked by Falcons edge defender Jalon Walker. Fellow rookie edge James Pearce Jr. recovered it and was chased down by Patriots left tackle Will Campbell at the 6-yard line. London caught another touchdown pass over Jones for the score.
Coming out of the half, the Patriots extended their lead to 24-14. They settled for a 32-yard field goal from rookie Andy Borregales after stalling in the red zone to finish off a 15-play, 56-yard drive.
After forcing the Falcons to punt, Maye threw an interception on a miscommunication with tight end Hunter Henry to Falcons safety Jessie Bates.
The Falcons capitalized on the turnover by cutting the Patriots’ lead to one score on a 38-yard field goal from Parker Romo, who spent training camp with the Pats.
The Patriots were forced to punt again before the Falcons went on a marathon 12-play, 85-yard drive that ended with London scoring his third touchdown of the game. This one was over cornerback Carlton Davis. Romo missed the extra point, allowing the Patriots to keep a 24-23 lead.
#### BEST
**WR DeMario “Pop” Douglas:** The undersized slot receiver has found his groove. He caught four passes for 100 yards with a touchdown.
**DT Milton Williams:** The Patriots’ high-priced free-agent pickup was charted with five total pressures, including a QB hit, by PFF. He forced a key intentional grounding penalty late in the fourth quarter with a hurry.
**OLB K’Lavon Chaisson:** Chaisson didn’t start the game, but he put a halt to the Patriots’ defense’s slow starts with a sack on the second play of the game. He registered three total pressures.
**QB Drake Maye:** The Falcons’ defense entered Week 9 allowing less than 150 yards passing per game. Maye eclipsed that mark midway through the second quarter. It wasn’t a perfect performance by Maye by any means. He was intercepted one and fumbled twice, losing a strip sack at the end of the half. He did consistently push the Patriots down the field in the first half, however.
**Run defense:** The Patriots’ run defense did it again, limiting Falcons running back Bijan Robinson to 12 carries for 45 yards. They still haven’t allowed a 50-yard rusher this season.
#### WORST
**CB Marcus Jones:** The undersized slot cornerback, coming off of a three-year contract extension and AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors, allowed two touchdown catches to Drake London in the red zone.
**Patriots guards:** Rookie left guard Jared Wilson and right guard Mike Onwenu were both charged with allowing sacks, per PFF’s in-game charting.
**CB Carlton Davis:** Davis had a pass breakup late in the fourth quarter but also allowed a touchdown to London.
#### WHAT WE LEARNED
• The Patriots opened the game in a heavy defensive set with linebacker Jahlani Tavai replacing Chaisson on the edge to load up against Bijan Robinson and the Falcons’ run game.
• The Patriots used defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga as a lead blocker in a short-yardage situation. The 335-pounder was able to get a nice push.
• Fullback Jack Westover was also heavily utilzed with starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson out. Westover was used as a lead blocker for Henderson and Jennings while also providing some pass protection.
• Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and didn’t return. Linebacker Christian Elliss left with a hamstring injury and didn’t return, and cornerback Christian Gonzalez was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.