"America's Game of the Week" on FOX in Week 9 pits the 5-3 Green Bay Packers against the 5-3 New England Patriots, two teams who have rebounded from disappointing 1-2 starts with four wins in the last five games and who both currently occupy the No. 7 seeds in their respective playoff races.
This matchup of uncommon opponents -- the Packers and Patriots haven't played since the 2022 season and have faced off only seven times since Super Bowl XXXI -- feels surprisingly familiar. That's mostly because both teams have gunslinger quarterbacks who rarely waver from hunting big plays in Jordan Love and Drake Maye, creating a can't-miss showdown of potential playoff teams on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Which team is going to get a big win over a playoff
hopeful with a lot of eyes watching in the late afternoon timeslot on Sunday?
Five things to watch for Packers-Patriots in Week 9:
1. Turnovers in the spotlight
The Packers have generated multiple takeaways in five straight games and rank second in the NFL in total takeaways (15) entering Week 9, while the Patriots have at least one turnover in every game and are -7 in turnover differential this season. In a matchup of big-play hunting quarterbacks, the winning team will likely be the one who better protects the football and isn't on the losing side of a game-shifting turnover when the hunting goes awry. It should come as no surprise, but the Patriots created only one total takeaway in their three losses this season. Meanwhile, the Packers can't expect to turn the ball over three times -- like they did last week -- and beat the Patriots on the road.
2. WRs against man coverage and a top CB
A fascinating matchup looms between the Packers' highly productive wide receivers and a Patriots defense that loves to play man-to-man coverage and features an elite cover corner. Can Christian Watson and Matthew Golden consistently win when the Patriots play man coverage? Per Next Gen Stats, New England plays man coverage at the second-highest rate in football this season. There is confidence in the coverage scheme because Christian Gonzalez is an elite player, and Carlton Davis III is a capable player opposite him. Matt LaFleur has historically done well in scheming up open receivers against man, but Watson and Golden have their work cut out for them in this matchup. Gonzalez and Davis will challenge the receivers every snap.
3. Unexpected pressure creators
Both defenses feature unexpectedly great pass-rushing groups. The Packers rank in the top five for pressure rate overall and are the only team featuring three edge rushers (Lukas Van Ness, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Brenton Cox Jr.) with a pressure rate of at least 16.0 percent this season. First-year playcaller Jonathan Gannon has done a terrific job scheming up pressure without Micah Parsons. The Patriots, meanwhile, rank second in PFF's pass-rush grade and have five players with at least 14 total pressures, including edge rushers Elijah Ponder (30) and Gabe Jacas (23). Veteran newcomer Dre'Mont Jones has 21 pressures, and interior rushers Christian Barmore and Milton Williams both had over 50 total pressures last season. The subplot here is that both the Packers and Patriots have struggled to consistently protect their quarterback this season. Which team better protects their quarterback against the pass rush on Sunday? Or which quarterback better handles what could be unavoidable pressure?
4. No Romeo's revenge
Former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and won't play, robbing this matchup of a fascinating subplot. The Patriots might not have A.J. Brown, Hunter Henry and TreVeyon Henderson, either. Can Drake Maye carry New England's offense? Demario Douglas is his leading receiver this season. The Packers could be without starting corner Keisean Nixon, who is dealing with a groin injury, but injuries appear to favor Green Bay's defense in this matchup. The Patriots are going to be shorthanded offensively, putting a lot of the game on Maye's shoulders, both as a passer and scrambler.
5. Gusty winds at Gillette?
The current weather forecast for Foxborough calls for temps around 50 degrees and the potential for gusty winds throughout the afternoon. Consistently gusty winds could challenge two quarterbacks who love to throw the ball down the field, and any kind of wind will put the pressure on two up-and-down kickers. Trey Smack's struggles are well-documented. Patriots kicker Andy Borregales has missed an extra point and three kicks under 50 yards already this season. Over two NFL seasons, Borregales is 24-for-33 (72.7 percent) on kicks between 30 and 49 yards, including a 10-for-17 mark on kicks between 40 and 49 yards. Smack has missed three extra points and five kicks between 30 and 49 yards. Bucke up when the kickers step onto the field on Sunday.
Prediction: Patriots 24, Packers 21 (5-3)
Two factors tilt this one to the Patriots for me: Drake Maye's ability to create out of structure and under pressure, and New England's depth and talent in the pass-rushing group. In a game that looks so likely to come down to which quarterback is better protected or can create under pressure, the edge -- at least in my mind -- goes to the Patriots. I don't think the Packers have faced a team with this combination of quarterback talent and pass-rushing depth yet this season. Winning in New England, where the Patriots are 3-0 to start 2026 and 11-1 in their last 12, is tough. One other thing to watch: Can Trey Smack make a big kick outdoors in a tricky stadium? These teams are so evenly matched, so a missed kick could make all the difference. I'll go Patriots by a field goal in a back-and-forth battle.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Patriots: 5 things to watch and a prediction for Week 9
