Matthew Stafford entered Week 13 viewed as a slight favorite over Drake Maye in what looks like a two-way race for NFL MVP.
With Week 13 in the books, that script is flipped. Maye led his New England Patriots to a blowout 33-15 win over the New York Giants on Monday night to close out the NFL week.
Advertisement
The Patriots jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead that they extended to 30-7 at halftime. At that point, the second half was just a formality as New England cruised to its 10th straight victory following a 1-2 start.
With the win, the Patriots improved to 11-2 to vault past the 10-2 Denver Broncos for the best record in the NFL and control of the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
And Maye produced another sterling effort in his breakout second NFL season. Maye finished the game completing 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards with 2 touchdowns and no turnovers.
Stafford’s MVP case took a hit
Compare that to Stafford, who didn’t have nearly as good of a Week 13. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback entered Sunday having thrown 27 consecutive touchdowns without an interception.
Drake Maye and the Patriots are now 11-2.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters)
He threw another to start Sunday’s game to break Tom Brady’s former record with his 28th touchdown pass without a turnover. But he threw interceptions on consecutive possessions from there — one in the end zone and another that the Panthers returned for a pick 6. And the Rams were stunned in a 31-28 loss to the Panthers that allowed the Chicago Bears to seize control of the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Advertisement
The divergent performances should be enough to tilt the balance of the MVP race back in Maye’s favor.
Patriots deliver on expected blowout
The Patriots entered Monday as heavy favorites at home over the reeling and now 2-11 Giants and delivered as expected with a dominant effort.
They bogged down in the red zone on their opening drive and settled for a field goal. But punt returner Marcus Jones broke things open with a 94-yard touchdown return after New York’s first possession to extend New England’s lead to 10-0.
From there, the rout was on.
On New England’s next possession Maye hit receiver Kayshon Boutte with a fade in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown despite tight coverage from cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. That score extended New England’s lead to 17-0.
The Giants responded with a touchdown. But the Patriots answered two possessions later with Maye’s second touchdown of the night.
Advertisement
This time, Maye found Kyle Williams with a pinpoint deep ball down the left sideline that Williams corralled in the end zone for a 33-yard score.
And that was more than enough for the Patriots. These Giants weren’t going to mount a rally from that deficit against New England.
The Patriots added two more field goals before halftime before hitting cruise control in the second half of the 18-point victory.
Who will win No. 1 seed in AFC?
The race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC remains hot with the Broncos now winners of nine straight games. They’ll close out their season with games against the Raiders, Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs and Chargers. Outside of the Raiders, each of their remaining opponents is either in the playoff picture or in the hunt.
Advertisement
The Patriots, meanwhile, have a Week 14 bye before closing their season with games against the Bills, Ravens, Jets and Dolphins. The Ravens and Bills will be fighting to remain in the playoff picture. The Jets and Dolphins most certainly will not.
Live30 updates
Ryan Young
The Patriots will enter their bye week on a 10-game win streak and in total control of the AFC. When they come back, though, they’ll have to host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Ryan Young
Ryan Young
And that’ll officially do it. The Patriots have secured their 10th straight win and reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the AFC standings.
They are now the first team since 1999 to win 10 straight after losing 13 or more games in the pervious season.
Ryan Young
The Patriots got all the way down inside the 10, but an incomplete pass and a scramble that came up short left them settling for another field goal.
It’s 33-15 now with 2:14 left. We’re just about done here.
Ryan Young
The Patriots forced a quick punt there after the Tracy injury, so they’ll get the ball back with 7:41 left. A score here would almost certainly seal the win.
Ryan Young
Tyrone Tracy went down hard after a big hit in the backfield there for the Giants, and couldn’t put any weight on his left leg as he was helped off the field.
Ryan Young
That’s a quick stop for the Giants, thanks in part to a sack from Zaire Barnes on second down, and the Patriots will punt it away here.
New York is getting it back with about 11 minutes left, down by 15.
Ryan Young
Now that’s how you start a quarter. Devin Singletary just ran in a 22-yard touchdown on a direct snap and a fake pitch to Jaxson Dart.
They went for the 2-point conversion, and got it after a long scramble from Dart in the backfield.
The Patriots lead 30-15 now early in the fourth.
Ryan Young
This game has slowed way down, but the Patriots are still in control here.
The Giants are driving, and will come back at the New England 25 to start the final period.
Ryan Young
Andy Borregales was perfect up until now, but he just pulled a 45-yard field goal attempt wide left.
The Giants will take over now, but they’re running out of time to make a comeback. A touchdown here, and fast, is going to be critical.
Ryan Young
The Giants quickly got across midfield, but their drive stalled out almost immediately. The Patriots pushed them back on third down for a loss of three, too, and then Jaxson Dart missed Theo Johnson on fourth down.
So New England will take over.
Ryan Young
The Giants have received the kick, and the third quarter is officially underway.
Ryan Young
This has been all New England so far tonight. The Patriots just added three more points to close the first half after a 28-yard field goal from Andy Borregales, and they’re up big at the break.
Ryan Young
Rhamondre Stevenson just picked up 35 yards easily after the Giants left him wide open on the left side of the field. The Pats are now in position to add more points before the break after gaining 58 yards in just three plays.
Ryan Young
Hodgins was just shy of the first down marker after a catch on third down, and then the Giants failed to get the Pats to jump on fourth-and-one. They’ll instead take the penalty and punt it away again.
New England will get the ball back now with a little more than a minute left.
Ryan Young
The Patriots struggled to get much going after that fumble, but a field goal works. Borregales is good from 30 yards out, and their lead is now 27-7 with 1:48 left in the half.
Ryan Young
That was a ridiculous hit on the kickoff there, which forced a fumble and gave the Patriots the ball right back.
Gunner Olszewski needed a lot of help to walk off the field after taking a shot directly to his helmet, and he went straight to the medical tent. Part of the Giants’ logo was ripped right off his helmet, too. That’s how big the hit was. Somehow, though, no penalty.
Ryan Young
Just five plays after that wild failed kick from Younghoe Koo, the Patriots have extended their lead. Drake May threw a dime to Kyle Williams in the corner of the end zone, and they now lead 24-7 late in the first half.
Jason Owens
The Giants settled for a field goal attempt after Theo Johnson couldn’t hang on to a deep pass in the end zone from Jaxson Dart.
Then Younghoe Koo straight up failed to kick the ball on a 47-yard attempt. He kicked the ground instead. Seriously.
Here’s how it looked from the end zone.
And here’s how it looked from field level.
That’s one of the most bizarre things ever seen on an NFL field. And instead of a touchdown or a field goal, the Giants walked away with no points and a 17-7 deficit.
Ryan Young
The Giants sacked Drake Maye on third down there to complete the quick three-and-out, and they’ll get the ball back in great field position after an absolute shank of a punt.
A score here would completely change the game. Let’s see what they can do…