”We’ve had games go the other way that we’ve had to learn from those, too,” he said. While he’s pleased with his team’s progress, coach Bill Belichick hopes it is still carrying the lessons it learned from losses earlier in the season as well. It’s all positive signs for the Patriots heading into a three-game stretch against Carolina, Cleveland and Atlanta, three teams who are a combined 11-12 this season. ””It’s always great to see the offense move the ball and score points. ”When you get a chance to have the ball, you have to put points up,” quarterback Mac Jones said. The offense struggled at times, but avoided the crucial late-game miscues that hurt it early in the year. … But we knew if we want to take this season where we want to take it, you have to win those close games.” Earlier in the season, we were losing those. ”Great teams win the close games,” Phillips said. 500.Ī big reason is the play of a defense that is enjoying its best stretch of the season, notching eight takeaways over the last four games. It also marked the Patriots’ first win this season over a team above. New England (4-4) has won two straight and three of its last four – its best stretch of the season. But a pick-6 by Adrian Phillips and field goal by Nick Folk helped the Patriots secure a 27-24 win, just their second victory in a one-score game this season.