The New England Patriots (10-2) will take the national stage on Monday Night when they battle the New York Giants (2-10). New England enters the week on a nine-game win streak. It sits in first place in the AFC East.
A significant reason for the Patriots’ success has been quarterback Drake Maye. The second-year signal caller ranks second on the PFSN QB Impact Score, trailing only 2024 MVP and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
The Patriots Will Win if Drake Maye Gets the Ball Out Quickly
The Patriots have the upper hand, but this matchup still cannot be considered a guaranteed win for New England, given the recent wave of injuries. The Patriots will be without starting left tackle Will Campbell and starting left guard Jared Wilson. Outside linebacker Harold Landry III, who is dealing with a knee injury, and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, who is dealing with a chest injury, are both questionable.
Even without Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants have a strong defensive line led by Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, and Brian Burns. All three of those players are expected to impact pass protection throughout the game.
With rookie Will Campbell now on Injured Reserve, Vederian Lowe will likely start at left tackle. Lowe allowed only one pressure on 16 pass blocking snaps in Week 12. In 2024, he allowed a pressure rate of 11.2% at left tackle, which ranked sixth-highest among players with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps.
Even when Maye faces pressure, he remains productive. According to Next Gen Stats, Drake Maye is the only quarterback in the league who has generated a positive win probability added, plus 4.7%, on pressured dropbacks this season. His one thousand thirty-eight passing yards under pressure led the league by more than 200 yards. His nine passing touchdowns under pressure are the most in the NFL. His 8.8 yards per attempt when pressured ranks fourth highest by any qualified quarterback since 2018.
New England also continues to receive contributions from rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who is emerging as a key offensive weapon. After rallying from a 10-point deficit to beat Cincinnati 26-20 in Week 12, Henderson will again be an essential factor in protection to help Maye remain upright.
The Patriots Lose if Fatigue and Injuries Catch Up to Them
The past two weeks have been challenging for New England’s health. For most of the season, the Patriots enjoyed strong injury luck, but that trend has shifted.
As noted earlier, the Patriots placed rookie left tackle Will Campbell on Injured Reserve after he suffered a knee injury in the win over Cincinnati. At the start of the same game, Jared Wilson also exited with an ankle injury.
Another concern involves tight end Hunter Henry, who was a limited participant in practice throughout the week. Henry is coming off a 115-yard receiving performance last Sunday and has been featured heavily in the Patriots’ passing game.
Earlier in November, New England lost former Super Bowl-winning defensive end Milton Williams. The former Eagles defender is eligible to return in Week 17. On the back end, the Patriots also placed cornerback Alex Austin on Injured Reserve. Special teams standout Brenden Schooler will also miss time, and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga remains questionable after dealing with a chest injury.
The Patriots will appear on Monday Night Football for the first time since the 2022 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Score Prediction: 20-10, Patriots