![\"Ravens](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/KPIJTDWKORWGUVR3B7Q2L33DDE.JPG\")
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t play in the second half because of a back injury.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n\u201cWe talked about two things \u2014 we need to pack our belief and our identity, and I think we did,\u201d Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. \u201cIt was a huge team win. It was a great win for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The game was looking grim for the Patriots when Derrick Henry rumbled into the end zone to make it 24-13 early in the fourth quarter. But Maye led touchdown drives of 73 and 89 yards, Rhamondre Stevenson scored the game-winner with 2:07 left, and K\u2019Lavon Chaisson forced a Zay Flowers fumble inside two minutes to seal the win. Maye, who threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns, jogged off the field to chants of \u201cMVP\u201d from the legions of Patriots fans who made the short trip to Baltimore.<\/p>\n
Losing to the Ravens\u2019 backup quarterback would have been disastrous. Instead, the win kept all of the Patriots\u2019 goals in front of them.<\/p>\n
The Patriots, who finish the season with winnable games against the Jets and Dolphins, are still in play for the No. 1 seed. They maintained their lead over the suddenly hot Jaguars for No. 2. And they practically shut the door on any talk of the Bills overtaking the Patriots for the AFC East title.<\/p>\n
Jackson probably would have made a difference had he played in the second half. But he didn\u2019t, and the Patriots have nothing to apologize for.<\/p>\n
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t play in the second half because of a back injury.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
\u25aa As great as the win was, it could still prove calamitous from an injury standpoint<\/a>. The Patriots lost TreVeyon Henderson and Kayshon Boutte to head injuries, and DeMario Douglas to a hamstring injury. The Patriots should be getting Will Campbell, Milton Williams, and Robert Spillane back soon, but Maye could be without several key weapons moving forward.<\/p>\n \u25aa On a night when the Patriots couldn\u2019t get much going on the ground, Maye was electric with his arm, compiling his first 300-yard game of the season (and almost making it to 400). He had an unstoppable connection with Stefon Diggs, hitting him on 9 of 10 passes for 138 yards. Maye had some clutch throws on third down \u2014 20 yards to Mack Hollins on third and 13; 24 yards to Diggs on third and 15 \u2014 and a gorgeous 37-yard touchdown to Kyle Williams thrown with perfect touch over the top.<\/p>\n Maye wasn\u2019t always sharp. He cost the Patriots 6 points with an interception inside the red zone and a fumble in Ravens\u2019 territory. He also threw deep to Stevenson on third and 2 when he should have gone for a safer pass.<\/p>\n But Maye was at his best in the fourth quarter, completing 12 of 14 passes for 139 yards and leading two touchdown drives. Whether or not he will win the MVP award, he played like one in the fourth quarter on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u25aa The Ravens took an early 7-0 lead and looked like they were going to break the game open in the first quarter when Derrick Henry\u2019s fumble swung momentum back to the Patriots. The Ravens were driving in Patriots territory, but safety Jaylinn Hawkins punched the ball out of Henry\u2019s arms and Craig Woodson recovered it, giving the Patriots new life.<\/p>\n The Patriots subsequently marched 68 yards in 10 plays to tie the score 7-7, and the sequence seemed to suck the life out of the Ravens, who managed just 3 points the rest of the half.<\/p>\n![\"Kyle](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/A44NF7UXGPXAPSHTLMPE7FFHKU.JPG\")
Kyle Williams reeled in a touchdown catch against Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey in the fourth quarter.Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n