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8 takeaways from Patriots’ primetime win over the Giants
The Patriots have won 10 straight games for the first time since 2015.
FOXBOROUGH — For the first time since 2015, the New England Patriots have a 10-game winning streak.
Drake Maye and the Patriots dominated the Giants on Monday night, leaving Gillette Stadium with a convincing 33-15 victory in primetime.
With the win, the Patriots improve to 11-2 this season — with Mike Vrabel becoming the third head coach since 1970 to win 10 straight games in his first season with a team.
Here are eight takeaways from Monday’s win.
Patriots take care of business
So much for this being a dreaded “trap game”.
For all of the concerns of the Patriots being hindered by injuries, fatigued ahead of a long-awaited bye week, or flustered by a scrappy Giants team playing better than their 2-10 record, none of those narratives played out in Foxborough.
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Instead, the Patriots once again staked their claim as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in front of a national audience — easily handling the Giants and dominating in just about every area of the game, especially in the first half.
With plenty of eyes on them, Drake Maye once again looked like an MVP, Mike Vrabel’s defense was relentless, and the Patriots’ special teams squad regularly shifted momentum in their favor.
The Patriots can now rest easy entering the bye week, especially after delivering a beatdown against New York.
Maye’s MVP candidacy continues to soar
A matchup against a Giants defense ranked 30th overall in yards allowed per game certainly won’t be a defining performance for Maye.
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But just a day after presumed NFL MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford labored in a loss to the Panthers, Maye continues to make a legitimate case for the NFL’s top individual accolade.
Maye was once again surgical in Monday’s win — completing 24 of his 31 throws for 282 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
For all of the concerns regarding the shorthanded offensive line in front of him, Maye — per usual this season — showed no signs of panic.
Regardless of how the final voting pans out at the end of this season, it’s an accomplishment in and of itself that a second-year player in Maye will almost certainly be in the mix for MVP honors.
New England overcomes injuries on both sides of the ball
It was hard to ignore New England’s injury woes going into Monday night.
The Patriots entered the game with sizable holes on their offensive line, with starting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson both sidelined with injuries. Starting center Garrett Bradbury also gutted through an illness that had his availability in question prior to kickoff.
A matchup against a Giants pass rush featuring the likes of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter could have led to a painful night for Maye. But New England’s reworked O-line — with Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown taking the place of Campbell and Wilson — stood tall on Monday.
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In total, Maye was sacked three times — but it wasn’t a game-wrecking performance put on by New York against the likes of Lowe and Brown.
New England’s defense was also shorthanded in the trenches on Monday, with Milton Williams still on IR and fellow defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga inactive with a chest injury.
After getting shredded on the ground in last week’s scrappy win over the Bengals, New England’s defense did largely stand tall on Monday — allowing 239 total yards of total offense in the victory.
Marcus Jones sets the tone
It didn’t take very long for the Patriots to jump out to a comfortable lead — due in large part to Marcus Jones’ explosive playmaking.
After New England’s defense forced New York to punt on its opening drive, Jones turned what was a slim 3-0 Patriots lead into a 10-0 game — taking his return 94 yards to the house for his second punt-return TD of the season.
Jones became just the fourth player in Patriots history to return two punts for touchdowns in a single season — joining Troy Brown, Irving Fryar and Mike Haynes.
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That play also marked the 75th career punt return for Jones, which qualifies him for the official NFL record book. And with that TD, Jones ranked first in NFL history with an average punt return yardage of 14.6.
Jones should be set up for his second All-Pro selection this season as he continues to stake his claim as arguably the most dynamic special-teams player in the league.
An inspired start
Jones’ TD was certainly the highlight of a lopsided first quarter for New England. But the Patriots dominated in just about every facet of the game in the opening 15 minutes — closing out the first quarter with a commanding 17-0 lead.
After allowing points on nine of their opponent’s 12 opening drives this season, New England’s defense clamped down to start Monday’s matchup — with New York punting twice and generating just 29 total yards of offense in the first.
While Jones landed a haymaker on special teams, Maye and the offense also accounted for 10 points in the opening frame.
New England’s red-zone woes sprouted up again on their first drive of the night. Despite getting a 1st-and-goal from New York’s 6-yard line, the Patriots ultimately had to settle for a field goal from Andy Borregales.
Their second red-zone sequence of the opening quarter was a lot more fruitful, with Maye dropping a three-yard pass into the bucket for Kayshon Boutte for his first TD of the evening.
With New England executing all across the field, this game was already wrapped up with 45 minutes left on the clock.
Koo’s miscue sets stage for another home run throw from Maye
New England’s dominant start was undercut for a bit in the second quarter.
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After Jaxson Dart caught the Patriots’ defense napping with a 30-yard TD to Darius Slayton with 12:55 to go in the first half, Maye and New England’s offense stalled with a 3-and-out on the next drive.
The onus fell on New England’s defense to stop the bleeding in what was a 17-7 game, especially after Bryce Baringer shanked his punt for just 22 yards.
That favorable field position allowed New York to move the ball into field goal range, with kicker Younghoe Koo given a prime chance to make it a 10-point game.
But in a bizarre sequence, Koo seemingly whiffed on the kick and instead caught the turf with his foot — with the squandered field goal attempt instead ending with a 13-yard loss and zero points on the board.
Koo’s blunder was made even worse after Maye delivered a knockout blow on the subsequent drive — hitting rookie wideout Kyle Williams for a 33-yard touchdown to extend New England’s lead to 24-7 at the time.
Elliss doles out plenty of damage
In a primetime matchup against the Giants, Christian Elliss decided to do his best impression of Lawrence Taylor on Monday.
The Patriots linebacker was a heat-seeking missile in the middle of New England’s defense — doling out a pair of bone-crunching tackles against both Dart and Gunner Olszewski.
After sending Dart into orbit on a scramble out of bounds in the opening quarter, Elliss forced a turnover on special teams in the next frame. After Olszewski was wrapped up by Marte Mapu on the kick return, Elliss cracked him with a thundering hit — knocking the ball loose.
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The ball was recovered by Elijah Ponder at New York’s 30-yard line, with New England getting three points off of that turnover via a 30-yard field goal from Borregales.
New England added even more insurance before halftime. With a little over 90 seconds left in the second quarter, Maye and the Patriots gained 67 yards on just five plays — setting the stage for another field goal from Borregales.
At the half, the Patriots held a 30-7 lead.
A quiet second half
The second half wasn’t quite as riveting as the opening 30 minutes, with New England failing to turn an already lopsided win into a complete laugher across multiple drives.
But after New York made it a 15-point game with a rushing TD from Devin Singletary (and subsequent two-point conversion), New England iced the game for good — with Borregales converting on his fourth field goal to close out the win.
New England’s offense stalled out at several moments down the stretch, but Vrabel and Co. will have ample time to correct those miscues after returning from the bye.
LIVE UPDATES
11:06: Final: Patriots beat the Giants, 33-15. New England enters the bye week at 11-2.
10:56: New England ices this game with a 23-yard field goal from Borregales.
It’s 33-15 — and that should do it.
10:48: Hunter Henry reels in a touchdown, but it’s wiped out by offsetting penalties.
10:46: New York’s latest drive ends in a punt, and the Patriots have a prime chance to put this game away.
10:33: Patriots punt again. New England has remained in control, but they’re also letting the Giants hang around.
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10:23: Giants score their second TD of the game, as Devin Singletary breaks through for a 22-yard TD off the wildcat.
It’s a 30-15 game after Dart scrambles and hits Slayton for a 2-point conversion.
10:20: End Third: Patriots lead the Giants, 30-7.
10:12: A 4th and 12 does prompt New England to opt for a field goal — but Borregales’ 45-yard attempt is no good. Sailed wide left.
Still a 30-7 game.
10:09: It looks like the Patriots are intent on delivering another knockout punch on this drive. They go for it on 4th and 6 and Diggs picks up the first down.
10:01: New York goes for it on 4th and 6 on its first drive of the second half, and it doesn’t move the chains.
Maye and Co. take over at their own 38.
9:42: Handed the ball with a little over 90 seconds in the half, the Patriots gain 67 yards on just five plays — allowing Borregales to hit another field goal.
It’s 30-7 Patriots at the half. Complete domination.
9:37: Carlton Davis nearly picks off Dart on the first play of that drive.
9:32: New England can’t cap off that fumble with a TD, but do get another field goal from Borregales.
It’s 27-7 Patriots.
9:28: Terrell Jennings downgraded to out.
9:26: Another huge play by Christian Elliss — forcing a fumble on the kick return after lighting up Gunner Olszewski.
Patriots take over at NY’s 30.
9:22: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS.
Maye hits Kyle Williams for a 33-yard touchdown. Just an absurd deep ball from the Patriots QB, once again.
It’s 24-7 Patriots.
9:18: I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Koo attempts the kick, but misses the kicks the turf.
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Still a 17-7 game.
9:14: Jaylinn Hawkins breaks up a pass for Theo Johnson on 3rd & long – forcing a field goal for New York.
9:13: Patriots landing some big hits today, with Christian Gonzalez laying out a sizable tackle on Wan’Dale Robinson.
9:06: Abdul Carter – back on the field after sitting out the first quarter – gets to Maye to scramble out of the pocket but he can’t pick up a first down.
Patriots punt on 4th and 1 — and Baringer shanks the punt. Giants starting this drive on their own 40.
9:02: Terrell Jennings is questionable to return with a head injury.
8:58: The Giants show some signs of life. Dart hits Darius Slayton for a 30-yard TD.
It’s a 17-7 game.
8:51: End First: Patriots up, 17-0.
This has been all New England so far.
8:46: TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. New England converts in the red zone this time, with Maye hitting Boutte for a 3-yard TD.
It’s 17-0 Patriots with 1:00 left in the first quarter.
8:44: Maye hits Hunter Henry on a sail route for 36 yards. Patriots back in the red zone.
8:38: Christian Elliss just sent Jaxson Dart into orbit. What a hit.
Refs correctly don’t whistle Elliss for the hit, while Theo Johnson gets whistled for 15 yards for trying to pick a fight with the linebacker.
Giants are punting once again.
8:32: Marcus Jones does it again. He returns a punt 94 yards to the house. This place is LOUD.
Patriots make it 10-0 with 5:17 left in the first quarter.
8:31: The Patriots’ defense … makes a stop on an opening drive. Giants punting.
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8:30: Nice play-action coverage from NE leads to Harold Landry recording a sack against Dart. Landry with a huge hit on the Giants QB.
8:23: Patriots get a 1st-and-goal from the 6 — but can’t punch the ball in. Red-zone offense continues to be an issue.
Borregales’ 22-yard field goal is good. Patriots lead, 3-0.
8:21: Stefon Diggs with the assist.
8:16: Terrell Jennings has a 39-yard kick return. Patriots starting on their own 47 to open the game.
8:13: Giants win the coin toss and defer. Maye and the Patriots are up front.
8:06: Willie McGinest is tonight’s “Keeper of the Light”.
7:50: A few Patriots greats are in the house for Monday Night Football.
7:39: A look at the Patriots’ O-line during warmups:
LT Vederian Lowe
LG Ben Brown
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Mike Onwenu
RT Morgan Moses
7:22: Warmups are underway:
7:20: Patriots rolling out the throwbacks tonight.
6:50: Christian Gonzalez with a shoutout to Boston’s own Donna Summer.
6:47: A look at the Patriots inactives.
The loss of Tonga will hurt the Patriots up front, especially with Milton Williams already on IR. However, the Patriots do get good news on the O-line, as Garrett Bradbury is good to go at center. He was questionable due to illness, but his availability helps stabilize a unit already playing without Will Campbell and Jared Wilson.
6:00: Greetings from Gillette Stadium! This is the first Monday Night Football held in Foxborough since 2022.
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