FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021 after rallying from an 11-point, fourth quarter deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
The game was in many ways was emblematic of the culture that Mike Vrabel said he hoped to cultivate in his first season as coach.
“We said we needed to pack two things: We needed to pack our belief and our identity," Vrabel said. “I feel like we did.”
But the victory could also leave the Patriots shorthanded next week against the New York Jets as they look to secure their first AFC East title since Tom Brady's final season with New England in 2019.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has emerged as a Rookie of the Year candidate with four touchdown runs over 50 yards this season, left Sunday’s victory in the second quarter with a head injury and did not return.
Wide receiver DeMario Douglas also injured his hamstring and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga hurt his foot. That was all in addition to linebacker Robert Spillane sitting out for the second straight game as he continues to deal with his own foot issue.
At 12-3, New England currently has a one-game lead over the Buffalo Bills (11-4) with two games to play. If the Patriots win this Sunday at the Jets and Buffalo loses when it hosts Philadelphia, New England will win the division crown.
It has left a welcome sense of urgency lingering inside the Patriots’ locker room.
“It was awesome to clinch the playoffs, but we want to win the division,” quarterback Drake Maye said.
After being outscored 28-7 in the second half of their Week 15 loss to Buffalo, the Patriots vowed not to let it happen in two games in a row. They made good on that promise, outscoring the Ravens 18-14 over the final two quarters Sunday.
Special teams. Trailing 17-13 in the third quarter and facing a fourth-and-10 on its own 44, New England lined up to punt. Instead, the Patriots faked, snapping directly to punter protector Marte Mapu. He looked to pass, before being tackled for a loss and fumbling. The Patriots recovered, but the Ravens took over on downs and capitalized by scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry to go up 24-13.
It was a disastrous play for a team that has had multiple highlights on special teams this season.
Maye. He was again serenaded with “MVP!” chants from Patriots fans that made the trip to Baltimore, and his play was worthy of it. He had a bumpy start, throwing an interception in the red zone on the Patriots’ opening possession. But he was steady after that, keeping plays alive in the pocket and finding throwing lanes in the Ravens’ defense. Maye finished with a career-best 380 yards passing yards (his first career 300-yard game). He also had two touchdown tosses, his 10th game this season throwing for at least two TDs.
It marked his first career fourth-quarter comeback victory.
“I care about winning. If that’s what it takes, then hopefully I’ll try to do whatever it takes,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do for this team. I won’t change that, no matter if it’s 500 yards or 40 yards. Whatever it is to win the game.”
Run defense. Henry carried 18 times for 128 yards against a Patriots defense that came in allowing just 89.5 yards per game on the ground. It could have been worse, but Henry didn’t get another carry after his 2-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. The Ravens still finished with 171 total rushing yards, a season-high allowed by the Patriots.
In addition to Douglas, Spillane and Tonga, DT Joshua Farmer injured his hamstring and CB Charles Woods left with an ankle issue.
3 — The Patriots improved to 7-0 on the road this season, leaving them as the NFL’s only team with an unblemished record away from home. This is only the third time in team history that New England has started a season 7-0 on the road. The others were in 2007 and 2016, when they ended up a perfect 8-0.
The Patriots visit a Jets team on Sunday that has lost three straight and five of six.
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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) runs in front of Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, left, reacts toward down judge Patrick Turner (13) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) is pressured by Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Salah got Egypt off to a winning start in the Africa Cup of Nations by scoring late for 2-1 against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Salah captained the team in his first start for nearly a month and fired inside the bottom corner in stoppage time to spare Egypt embarrassment against a team ranked 129th in the world.
Egypt, the record seven-time champion, was thwarted for long periods in the coastal city of Agadir by Zimbabwe’s stubborn defending and an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
“We wasted several scoring chances and we didn't have luck on our side,” Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said. “That's football. We were the better team throughout the match. Opening games are always difficult.”
Prince Dube stunned the favorites in the 20th minute when he took Emmanuel Jalai’s cross with his first touch and spun around a defender to flick it past Egypt ’keeper Mohamed El-Shenawy with his next.
Salah tried riling his teammates. They kept missing chances. Hassan hooked Emam Ashour in the 33rd, leaving the midfielder in tears on the bench.
Arubi tipped over a fierce strike from Marmoush, Trézéguet dived in an attempt to win a penalty and was booked, then Salah, Marmoush, and Mostafa Mohamed – who had gone on for the ineffective Ashour – all had efforts blocked before the break.
The game resumed in the same manner after until Marmoush finally found a way to score from a difficult angle in the 64th.
Salah’s winner gave the Pharaohs three points in Group B. The Liverpool star has never won Africa’s premier competition. This is his fifth edition.
Lyle Foster earned South Africa a hard-fought 2-1 over Angola in the other group game.
The Bafana Bafana ended a six-game winless streak against Angola, which had won three and drawn three of their meetings since a World Cup qualifier in November 2015.
South Africa’s Oswin Appollis opened the scoring in Marrakech with a low strike inside the left post in the 21st minute, but midfielder Show equalized some minutes later when he deflected Fredy’s free kick from the wing inside the near post.
Tempers frayed after a foul by South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba before the break.
Tshepang Moremi thought he scored a brilliant goal after it. The goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi struck the crossbar with a fierce strike as South Africa kept pushing.
Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle refreshed his attacking lineup by sending on Mabululu and Milson in the 76th but it was Foster who scored at the other end when he curled the ball beyond Hugo Marques’ outstretched arm in the 79th.
Patson Daka scored in stoppage time for 2012 champion Zambia to grab a 1-1 draw against Mali in the early game in Casablanca.
Mali dominated and missed a penalty before the break when Willard Mwanza saved El Bilal Touré’s effort – the second saved penalty in as many games at the tournament.
Lassine Sinayoko finally broke the deadlock around the hour mark, but Daka had the final say with a header to earn Zambia a point in Group A.
Host nation Morocco leads the group with three after opening with a 2-0 win over Comoros on Sunday.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Zimbabwe's Prince Dube scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and Zimbabwe in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and Zimbabwe in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and Zimbabwe in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and Zimbabwe in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
South Africa's Lyle Foster celebrates after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Lyle Foster celebrates after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa national team pose for a group photo during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Angola's Show Cafumana celebrates after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Khuliso Mudau heads the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Oswin Appollis, left, celebrates after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Angola's Zito Luvumbo, left, is challenged by South Africa's Aubrey Modiba during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and South Africa in Marrakech, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
