The New England Patriots‘ 10-game win streak came to an end in Week 15, as they threw away a 21-point lead vs. the Buffalo Bills, eventually suffering a 35-31 loss. Considering the fact that the AFC East division was on the line in this contest, it was a sorely disappointing result, but the Pats still have the inside track when it comes to beating out the Bills for the top spot in their division.
New England could take a big step towards securing its spot in the postseason by taking down the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16. That’s going to be easier said than done, though, thanks in large part to superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. When discussing the team’s upcoming matchup, outside linebackers coach Mike Smith knows that the Pats’ defense is going to have its hands full with Jackson and the Ravens’ offense.
Patriots Gearing Up for Tough Battle vs. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
For much of the 2025 campaign, the Patriots have been dominant on both sides of the ball, but they fell apart on offense and defense in the second half against the Bills. Many of the challenges that New England is fresh off facing in Week 15 against Josh Allen will be present again when Jackson steps onto the field against them on Sunday.
What makes Jackson so difficult to contain is his ability to make plays with his legs. No play is ever dead when Jackson drops back, no matter how bad the situation may look. That puts opposing defenses in a bind, and while Allen is certainly capable of making something out of nothing, there’s nobody better at doing that than Jackson.
While the two-time MVP hasn’t been fully healthy for much of the season, he still cannot be taken lightly by the Patriots. Smith is very well aware of that, and his position group is going to play a big role in determining whether or not New England’s defense can bounce back after its rough showing against Buffalo. Smith admitted that stopping Jackson on every play is going to be impossible, but he implored his team to do what it can to limit him as much as possible.
“A guy like Lamar can do it all,” Smith said on Thursday. “He’s a receiver back there. He’s gonna take what you give him. You’re not gonna be 100% keeping him in the pocket, but you just gotta limit those. And again, just like the zone read, mixing up what we’re doing.”
Patriots Aiming to Pick Up Statement Victory in Week 16
GettyDrake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots
The knock on the Patriots in 2025 has been the fact that their regular-season schedule is historically easy. New England has big wins over playoff contenders like Buffalo and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it also just proved it still has a lot to learn in its recent loss to the Bills. Facing off against another tough team in the Ravens will provide a clear snapshot of just what the Patriots can accomplish over the remainder of the year.
Beating Baltimore is going to be tough, as it needs to win in order to keep itself alive in the AFC North division. New England’s recent loss was a tough pill to swallow, but this team has proven it still can go toe-to-toe with the best of the best. If the Pats can limit Jackson, they will have a great shot at getting back in the win column after their crushing Week 15 loss.
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