EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Patriots vs. Falcons

Matt Hylen
Nov 1
4 min read

After a statement win against one of the league's best defenses, the New England Patriots will look to make it a 6-game winning streak against the 3-4 Atlanta Falcons on home turf.

As it stands currently, the Pats have looked like one of the best teams in football. QB Drake Maye is an MVP candidate, the defense has improved every week, and the coaching has created a winning culture. As for the Falcons, they are extremely inconsistent but have a bunch of talent throughout the roster. One week, they can blow out a team like the Buffalo Bills, whereas another week they could get blown out by a team like the Miami Dolphins.

So, what version of this Falcons team will New England face this week? Can the offense keep its momentum going? Let's dive into it.

Injury Report

Credit to Greg M. Cooper/AP via Boston.com

As of Friday's injury report (10/31), the Patriots only listed one player, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, as out for Sunday's game. Stevenson is dealing with a toe injury that kept him out of practice this week. Other players who were listed on the injury report, but no longer have a designation, include:

DT Christian Barmore (Non-Injury Related)

C Garrett Bradbury (Toe)

WR Stefon Diggs (Ankle)

Morgan Moses (Rest)

DT Khyiris Tonga (Knee)

As for the Falcons, their injury report was a little more lengthy, with multiple players holding designations prior to Sunday's game. Those include:

OUT

CB Billy Bowman Jr. (Hamstring)

OL Storm Norton (Foot)

WR Casey Washington (Back)

DL Zach Harrison (Knee)

QUESTIONABLE

S Jessie Bates III (Knee)

EDGE Jalon Walker (Groin)

EDGE Leonard Floyd (Hamstring)

My 3 Keys to the Game

Credit to Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

First and foremost, the Patriots have to find a way to contain Bijan Robinson. New England's run defense has been nothing short of elite thus far this season, ranking 2nd in rushing yards allowed, with no RB rushing for over 50 yards in a game. This should bode well for them against a Falcons team that often abandons the run early if it is not working. Robinson is the heart and soul of the Falcons' offense; it cannot function at a high level without him being heavily involved. Thus, the Pats need to make yet another defensive stand against the run and take Robinson out of this game. If Miami could do it last week, so can New England.

My second key to the game is getting TreVeyon Henderson involved. With Rhamondre Stevenson out, this is Henderson's golden opportunity to make his mark on this team and prove he was worth the 2nd round pick. It has been tough sledding for the rookie out of Ohio State, but New England may have no other choice than to see what Henderson has got when given lead-back duties. Henderson will be coming off his career-best performance in terms of efficiency (10 rushes for 75 yards); all that is left is a game plan that involves him.

My third and final key to the game will be that I would like to see this defense make a stop on early drives. There have been too many games where the defense has let up early scores, causing the offense to start the game playing from behind. Granted, outside of the first 2-3 drives, the defense has been great, but it is those "scripted drives" that have been killing them this year. So, against a talented offense when healthy and on their game, I would like to see the defense force a punt or two early and give the offense a chance to start the game ahead.

Who Wins?

I think this game solely depends on what version of this Falcons team New England is getting. When Atlanta is playing to expectation, they are a playoff-level team that can beat anyone they match up against. However, they are prone to off-weeks where they look like a bottom team in football. So, this could be a trap game for the Patriots.

That being said, I think the Patriots being at home and on the win streak they are carrying will help them get over the hump. Falcons' QB Michael Penix JR. will have trouble getting his players the ball with Christian Gonzalez shadowing Drake London and the Defensive Player of the Month, Marcus Jones, shutting down the slot.

So, for those reasons, I am going to take the Patriots to beat the Falcons 30-20. New England has the more consistent offense and has enough defensive pieces to match up with the talent positions of the Falcons. Though it will not be a blowout in my eyes, the Patriots should control this game for the most part.