The New England Patriots have already shown this season that they are capable of responding to an embarrassing loss. Now, coming off one of their worst performances of the year against the Green Bay Packers, Mike Vrabel's team needs to prove it can do it again.
New England's 45-27 loss to Green Bay on Sunday was a frustrating step backward for a team that entered the week with legitimate playoff aspirations. The Patriots struggled to contain the Packers offensively, had too many defensive breakdowns, and once again left plenty of questions about their ability to compete with some of the NFL's better teams.
Unfortunately, the schedule isn't getting any easier. The Patriots travel to Munich, Germany, this weekend to take on a Detroit Lions team that presents a completely different set of challenges. If the Patriots want to avoid back-to-back losses, they'll need a much better performance on both sides of the football.
There is, however, a blueprint for how this team can respond.
Earlier this season, the Patriots suffered an embarrassing 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. Drake Maye struggled with two turnovers, the offense couldn't find any consistency, and the defense was unable to slow down Jacksonville. It was the type of performance that raised serious questions about the direction of the team.
Instead of allowing that loss to define their season, Vrabel and his team responded with their biggest win of the year.
New England traveled to Buffalo the following week and stunned the Bills, 29-26, handing Josh Allen and company their only loss of the season. Maye delivered another clutch performance, leading a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, while the defense did an excellent job limiting Buffalo's biggest offensive weapon.
And that defensive game plan could be especially important heading into Sunday's matchup.
The Patriots didn't necessarily shut Allen down completely, but they made it difficult for him to hurt them with his legs. New England's defensive approach emphasized keeping Allen in the pocket, limiting his rushing opportunities, and forcing him to beat them as a traditional pocket passer. The defense also mixed in man coverage at critical moments, eventually forcing Allen into a game-sealing interception.
That is going to be the challenge against Detroit, although the focus will shift from the quarterback to the running game.
The Lions have one of the NFL's most dangerous backfields, led by Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit enters the week averaging 127.8 rushing yards per game, good for eighth in the league. Gibbs' explosiveness, ability to make defenders miss, and receiving skills make him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.
If the Patriots allow Gibbs to consistently find running lanes, it could be a very long afternoon in Germany. Detroit has the offensive personnel to punish defenses that struggle to stop the run, and allowing the Lions to establish their ground game would put even more pressure on New England's defense to contain Jared Goff and the passing attack.
The Patriots need to make Detroit one-dimensional. That means winning at the line of scrimmage, tackling better, limiting explosive runs, and making Gibbs work for every yard. Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, and the rest of the defensive front will have an especially important role in making that happen.
Of course, stopping the run is only part of the equation. The Patriots also need Maye and the offense to respond after a disappointing performance against Green Bay. Maye threw three interceptions in the loss, his fourth game this year in which he turned the ball over more than once as he couldn't keep pace with the Packers' offense. The Patriots will need a clean game from their quarterback to pull off an upset against Detroit.
There is no reason to believe this team can't respond. The Patriots have already bounced back from adversity once this season following the Jacksonville disaster, and their victory over Buffalo showed exactly what this roster is capable of when all three phases are playing complementary football.
But this is another opportunity to find out just how good New England really is.
The loss to Jacksonville was followed by a statement win over Buffalo. Now, after getting embarrassed by Green Bay, the Patriots have another chance to prove they can respond.
A win on Sunday could get their season back on track and restore some confidence in this team. But if they come up short, the Green Bay loss could mark the beginning of the end for New England's 2026 season.
