On November 1st, the New England Patriots pushed their 2026 record to 5-3 after coming back to defeat the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. This win comes after a loss the week before, when the Chicago Bears defeated New England on Thursday Night Football. However, this Sunday, November 8th, the Patriots will face another NFC North opponent in the Green Bay Packers. If the NFL Playoffs started today, New England would hold the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC, and Green Bay would have the final position in the NFC, so this Week Nine matchup has become a critical game in both franchises’ 2026 season. Who will walk away on top and have an even more prime position to make the playoffs?
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel announced that three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown will not play against the Packers due to ongoing knee and ankle issues. 24-year-old running back TreVeyon Henderson is also missing Sunday’s matchup as he’s experienced “an unexpected and unusual medical emergency involving a series of unexplained neurological symptoms”. In a statement posted on his social media, Henderson said that tests have "come back positive and reassuring." This once again leaves quarterback Drake Maye with limited options. Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner will be the Patriots’ two main players on the ground. Receivers DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III, and tight end Hunter Henry, if he plays, all must be on point when it comes to catching Maye’s throws. New England’s defense must continue to set a precedent that an injury-ridden offense can follow suit behind.
The 5-3 Packers got running back Josh Jacobs back on October 25th against the Detroit Lions after he was removed from the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List after missing the first six games of the season. Green Bay’s offense adds another weapon for quarterback Jordan Love, who’s looking to show he can take the Packers past the NFL Wild Card Round. Receiver Christian Watson has surpassed his career-high in receiving yards through eight games, while Matthew Golden continues to show why he’s been a force in his sophomore season. Although two of Green Bay’s losses came at the hands of division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings and the Lions, they have been able to find success against talented teams such as the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Chicago Bears, even though they didn’t have their starting quarterback, Caleb Williams. The defense has given up a total of 164 points, which is better than nine NFC teams.
This Week Nine matchup needs to be a battle between Maye and Love. Who’s going to show up and deliver in a crucial game in the middle of the season? Maye has limited options within his offense, but that cannot be the excuse if the Patriots want to try to make a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Love has been doubted by analysts and reporters all the time; he must showcase why it’s time the Packers need to be a little more in the discussion when it comes to possibly winning the NFC North, the NFL Playoffs, and, in the distance, a potential Super Bowl appearance.
Both teams need to set the pace early if they want to come out on top. A score on the first drive, big stops on defense, and continued solid play can continue to put pressure on the opposing team. New England needs to see a big-time performance from Stevenson on the ground and Douglas in the air. Love, along with his two top receivers, must make an impact on the road. I can see the Patriots winning this one, but it wouldn’t be pretty. I am leaning more toward Green Bay to win this Week Nine matchup now, yes, because of the injuries to Brown and Henderson; however, more so because they’ve struggled against most of the top teams they’ve played thus far. The Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Bears exposed the Patriots’ weaknesses, and it was a close, last-second win against the Buffalo Bills that kept them out of the conversation. Green Bay should get the job done 27-17.
