The New England Patriots are heading into a huge Week 9 showdown against the Green Bay Packers, and they just ruled out running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) and receiver A.J. Brown (ankle/knee). This is a massive hit to an offense that has relied heavily on its stars, especially with Drake Maye in the middle of an MVP-caliber season. How do you go into a marquee matchup missing two key playmakers like that?
MVP Contenders Face Off, But One Squad Is Already Limping
This isn’t just any regular season game. Both the Patriots and the Packers are sitting at 5-3, after digging themselves out of 1-2 starts with four wins in their last five. It’s a tight NFC-AFC showdown, a clash of contenders, and it’s the first time we’ll see two of the league’s most exciting young quarterbacks face off. Jordan Love is absolutely lighting it up, leading the NFL in passing yards, while Drake Maye was just named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. We’re talking about two guys who are absolutely in the MVP conversation right now. But for Maye, going into this game without Henderson and Brown is a serious disadvantage against a Packers team that’s proven they can win tough.
The Numbers Are In, And The Under Just Got Real
The latest odds have the Patriots as a 3-point favorite at home, with the over/under for total points set at 44.5. But here’s where it gets wild: SportsLine’s proven model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up over $5,000 on top-rated picks, is going Under 44.5 points. That’s a gutsy call, especially since the last five New England games have actually gone *Over* the number. On the flip side, the last five Green Bay games finished Under.
So, why the Under pick? Love is on fire, leading the NFL with 2,246 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, thriving by attacking downfield to Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. But the Packers’ run game ranks last in the entire league, making their offense pretty one-dimensional. That’s a huge problem. Green Bay’s defense, though, is opportunistic as hell, with 15 takeaways, good for second in the NFL. They’re going to be all over Drake Maye, who has paced a Pats offense scoring 29.6 points per game over their last five outings. But can he keep that pace when Brown and Henderson are sidelined? That’s the million-dollar question.
This game, kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium, is going to be a true test of grit for both these 5-3 squads. Can Maye overcome those massive injuries and continue his MVP push, or will Love’s arm and that opportunistic Packers defense steal a road win? Get ready, because it’s going to be a battle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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