Okay, first of all, New York's muffed field goal was hilarious. The poor kicker - I won't mention his name but he'll probably be answering for that play for the rest of his life - kicked his foot into the ground several inches behind the football, missing the ball entirely. The holder was left there holding the ball as the entire New England defensive line was barreling down on top of him. The play was officially scored as a "turnover on downs" with the holder tackled for a 13 yard loss. But go ahead and Google "NY Giants missed kick" - it's something you may never see again.
For what it's worth, the kicker claimed the ball was moving so he decided for some reason not to even try a kick. It looked to me like he overran the ball and couldn't get in a proper kick, so he planted his toe into the turf instead. Whatever. It simply wasn't the Giant's night. Let's get back to the game itself.
Marcus Jones had a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown and Drake Maye passed for two TDs. Andy Borregales kicked four field goals, one of which followed a Giants' fumbled punt return on their own 27-yard line.
Drake Maye shined yet again with 282 yards on 24-for-31 passing. Maye leads the NFL with 3.412 total yards on the season, has the league's highest QB rating at 111.9, and the highest completion percentage (71.5). He is second in the NFL in passing yards per attempt (8.8), third in passing yards per game (262.5), completions (276), and first downs (158), and fourth in total number of touchdowns (23). MVP, anyone?
New England started the season 1-2 and early on it looked like this was going to another one of those disappointing, last-place years. But since then they've won 10 straight and at 11-2, the Patriots are now in first place not only in the AFC but the entire league. They are, quite simply, the best team in the NFL. Go ahead and argue - they may not be your favorite, but you won't convince me that the team with the winningest record led by the top QB in the league isn't the best team.
The Pats have a bye next week and then will play Buffalo (8-4) on December 14 in what will probably be the toughest, most-contested game on the New England schedule this year. The Bills realize that their only chance of catching back up to us is to pull to within one game of the Patriots in the AILC (all-important loss column).
Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel, and the rest of New England, players and fans alike, know a win over the Bills would put the final nail in Buffalo's coffin.
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