The New England Patriots were beaten and battered before the comeback even began. On SNF, the Patriots lost key pieces one by one against the Baltimore Ravens, absorbed hit after hit, and still found a way into the NFL Playoffs. TreVeyon Henderson exited early with a head injury. DeMario Douglas followed later in the night. The sideline thinned. The margin vanished. Yet the Patriots refused to fold, rallying behind Drake Maye when the night felt ready to break them.

The game tilted further in the fourth quarter. New England trailed by 11 points. The crowd tightened. The pressure spiked. That’s when Maye took control. Calm feet. Clear eyes. He delivered throw after throw, pulling the Patriots back into rhythm. Maye finished 31-of-44 for 380 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Each drive carried urgency. Each completion rebuilt belief. When the deficit disappeared, everything changed. When the lead flipped, the outcome felt earned.

Across the field, the Ravens faced their own turning point. Lamar Jackson exited with a back injury and was eventually ruled out. The Ravens pushed, but the Patriots closed with precision. At the final whistle, New England stood tall at 12–2. The playoff drought ended. Patriots social media made it official in seconds.

The Patriots are in the playoffs, and the reactions were immediate.

Another fan celebrating a Patriots team that refused to break.

Another fan was dismayed at the no-DPI call that almost cost them the SNF game.

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John Harbaugh's decision to bench Derrick Henry was criticized by this fan.

A Patriots win that reshaped the AFC race

The loss dropped the Ravens to 7–8 and stripped them of control in the AFC North. With the Pittsburgh Steelers moving to 9–6, Baltimore now needs help just to stay alive. The path narrowed. The pressure shifted.

For New England, the message resonates deeper. This team bends. It absorbs punishment. Then it answers. An 11-point fourth-quarter deficit didn’t stop them. Injuries didn’t stop them. Drake Maye didn’t flinch when it mattered most. With the NFL Playoffs secured and confidence surging, the question now feels unavoidable. How far can a team this tough really go?