The Patriots are 7-2 and coming off a 24-23 win over the Falcons.
The Patriots are 7-2 and coming off a 24-23 win over the Falcons.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The Patriots have cruised to a 7-2 record, one of the best in the NFL, on the heels of a six-game winning streak, but Sunday will provide perhaps their toughest test yet.
They’re in Tampa Sunday to face Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, who at 6-2 sit in first in the NFC South.
New England will be without some key pieces on offense, as running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) were ruled out earlier in the week.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call on CBS, and we’ll have live updates throughout the game. Follow along.
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Catch up on all the news from the Patriots this week
Three things to watch in Patriots-Buccaneers game
Patriots’ return to relevance includes appearance by Jim Nantz in TV booth to call game for CBS
‘It’s a giveaway year’: Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs is doing something special with his touchdown balls this season
Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis says ‘it’s going to be fun’ to return to Tampa, where he spent his first six NFL seasons
Patriots mailbag: Trade deadline, Drake Maye’s protection, and other questions
Patriots to be without Rhamondre Stevenson and Kayshon Boutte against the Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ 6-2 record is great, but their offense is banged up and struggling
The Buccaneers are rested and at home. Is this where the Patriots’ six-game winning streak comes to an end?
Three things to watch in Patriots-Buccaneers game —11:00 a.m.
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By Nicole Yang
The Patriots flew to Tampa Bay Saturday ahead of their Sunday showdown against the 6-2 Buccaneers.
Here are three things to watch for.
1. Will Drake Maye take fewer sacks?
Only rookie quarterback Cam Ward has taken more sacks than Maye this season.
Maye has been sacked 34 times (four fewer than Ward), including 12 over the past two weeks. Of the 34 sacks, seven have come on plays where Maye runs out of bounds or scrambles but doesn’t reach the line of scrimmage. Twelve have come on plays where he appears responsible for the sack, either by stepping or running into a tackle.
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Rhamondre Stevenson, Kayshon Boutte out vs. Buccaneers —10:30 a.m.
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By Christopher Price
The Patriots will be seriously shorthanded on the offensive side Sunday against the Buccaneers, as running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) were declared out Friday by coach Mike Vrabel.
Stevenson will miss his second straight game; the veteran running back was absent from last week’s 24-23 win over the Falcons because of the toe issue. As for Boutte, he appeared to sustain his hamstring injury late in the game against Atlanta. Neither practiced over the course of the week.
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Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy. Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.