Patriots Fall Multiple Spots in NFL Power Rankings After Losing to Packers

The New England Patriots fell four spots to No. 15 in Nick Shook's Week 10 NFL Power Rankings for NFL.com after a 45-27 home loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

New England was No. 11 a week earlier and No. 10 the week before that. The Packers, No. 13 in Week 9, jumped five spots to No. 8 and now sit seven places ahead of the team they beat at Gillette Stadium.

Shook's case against the Patriots started with Christian Gonzalez, who he wrote was “getting cooked in coverage.”

Per Next Gen Stats, Gonzalez allowed 10 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown.

Shook also pointed to Drake Maye's three interceptions before raising a question about the reigning AFC champions: “Perhaps these Patriots are just a middling team that could sneak into the playoffs.”

Green Bay never trailed in New England. It was a brutal loss for the Pats.

“We lost, and we got our asses kicked,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. “There’s no two ways around it. Like, that’s what happened tonight.”

Maye completed 21 of 38 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. All three interceptions came in the first half, and two of them set up Green Bay touchdowns.

The first came on New England's opening possession. After a penalty, Packers safety Xavier McKinney intercepted Maye at the Patriots' 14, and Jordan Love scored on a scramble two plays later.

Maye, who was second in MVP voting last season, said he was late on some throws.

“Starting with me, man, it’s one of the biggest differences between winning and losing football games,” Maye said. “And so our defense in a bad spot in the first drive. And just gave them the football.”

It was his second three-interception game of the season. The first came in the opener, a 13-10 loss at Seattle. Maye had thrown one interception in his previous four games.

New England trailed by 10 points twice in the second quarter, at 17-7 and 24-14. It's really bizarre that Maye is turning the ball over so much this season.

“You can’t put the team in the hole straight off the bat,” Maye explained. “And we had chances to put us back within three points multiple times. And just frustrating.”

New England turned the ball over four times, and Green Bay scored 21 points off them.

The Packers, meanwhile, did not commit a turnover.

Love threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score. Christian Watson caught seven passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, and Matthew Golden had 10 catches for 164 yards and a touchdown.

McKinney finished with two interceptions.
Green Bay led 24-14 at halftime and 42-14 in the third quarter.

The Packers finished with 478 total yards.

Vrabel said the Patriots need to tackle better, pressure the quarterback, and create turnovers.

“I’m surprised about just the way that the day went, the way that it started, and then I guess kind of how the third quarter went,” Vrabel explained.

New England played without A.J. Brown, who had been ruled out. Rhamondre Stevenson left with a knee injury late in the third quarter after catching a touchdown and losing a fumble. 

The Patriots had been 3-0 at home before Sunday. They are 5-4 on the season now after losing three games all of last season.

“Losing is frustrating,” Vrabel said. “We’re in this together. We’re going to get them back and get ready to travel and put 48 guys out there that care and want to exhibit some sort of identity, and see how we respond.”

Detroit, New England's opponent Sunday in Munich, is No. 7 in Shook's rankings at 6-2.