Game Preview: Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots
The Atlanta Falcons (3-4) will travel to face the New England Patriots (6-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, with the game broadcast on CBS. According to BetMGM NFL Odds, the Patriots are favored by 5.5 points. The Falcons have a 3-4 record against the spread, while the Patriots are 6-2. The series record shows that the Patriots lead 10-6. Their last meeting was in November 2021, when the Patriots defeated the Falcons 25-0 in Atlanta.
Recent Performance
In their most recent games, the Falcons suffered a 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins at home, while the Patriots secured a 32-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns at home.
Team Stats
Falcons Offense
- Overall: 14th
- Rush: 11th
- Pass: 13th
- Scoring: 28th
Falcons Defense
- Overall: 2nd
- Rush: 21st
- Pass: 1st
- Scoring: 13th (tied)
Patriots Offense
- Overall: 10th
- Rush: 18th
- Pass: 9th
- Scoring: 8th
Patriots Defense
- Overall: 9th
- Rush: 2nd
- Pass: 19th
- Scoring: 4th
Both teams have a turnover differential of +2.
Key Players to Watch
Falcons' Bijan Robinson: As the team's dual-threat running back, Robinson has accumulated 962 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns through seven games. However, he was limited to just 25 yards on nine carries in the Week 9 loss to the Dolphins, marking his fourth-lowest rushing total of the season. The Patriots’ strong run defense poses a significant challenge for him this week.
Patriots' Drake Maye: The quarterback is coming off his seventh consecutive game with a passer rating over 100, finishing with a 135.8 rating in the win over the Browns. If he maintains this streak in the upcoming game, he will tie the franchise record, joining elite quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Lamar Jackson.
Key Matchup
The key matchup of the game will be Bijan Robinson against the Patriots' run defense. New England has not allowed a running back to gain 50 yards this season, making it the only team in the NFL to achieve this feat. Robinson has 549 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, so this challenge could be pivotal for the Falcons' offensive strategy.
Key Injuries
Falcons: - QB Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and WR Drake London (hip) are day-to-day. - Edge rusher Leonard Floyd (hamstring), WR Casey Washington (back), and DL Zach Harrison (knee) missed the first practice of the week.
Patriots: - RB Rhamondre Stevenson sat out Wednesday’s practice due to a toe issue. - C Garrett Bradbury (toe), WR Stefon Diggs (ankle), and DT Khyiris Tonga (knee) were all limited.
Series Notes
The Patriots have won the past seven meetings between the teams. This includes their dramatic overtime victory in Super Bowl 51 during the 2016 season. The Falcons have not won in Foxborough since 1998, when the Patriots played at the now-demolished Foxboro Stadium.
Additional Stats and Notes
- The Falcons' defense has been outstanding this season, allowing an average of 275.6 yards per game — second-lowest in the league behind the Texans (266.9). Their pass defense has limited opponents to an NFL-best 149.1 yards per game.
- Offensively, the Falcons average 17.1 points per game, which is the fifth-lowest in the league.
- RB Bijan Robinson leads the team with 549 rushing yards, while WR Drake London has 469 receiving yards.
- QB Michael Penix Jr. has completed 61% of his passes for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Both Penix and London were sidelined last week and are considered day-to-day ahead of the game.
The Patriots are on a five-game winning streak, their longest since the 2021 season. They recently recorded a season-high 177 rushing yards against Cleveland, following a 175-yard performance against Tennessee. The Patriots' defense allows just 76 rushing yards per game, ranking second in the NFL behind Seattle.
- WR Stefon Diggs needs one reception to become the 29th player in NFL history with 900 receptions. He is fifth among active players in career receptions.
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson is seventh on the Patriots' career rushing list (3,345 yards) and needs 47 yards to surpass Don Calhoun (3,391) into sixth place.
- S Brenden Schooler leads the team with 11 special teams tackles and needs three more to match his career high of 14 set during his rookie season in 2022.
Fantasy Tip
Drake Maye faces a tough challenge this week against the Falcons' top-ranked pass defense, which allows just 149.1 yards per game. However, Maye has thrown for at least 200 yards in every game this season and has six games with at least two touchdown passes. His consistency makes him a solid fantasy pick despite the defensive challenge.