Yahoo Sports Staff Updated Sun, November 8, 2026 at 10:08 PM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this story The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots present what could be Sunday's best matchup, with both teams bringing 5-3 records into the game.
New England arguably took an easier path to Week 9 with wins over the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. However, the Patriots also earned a win over the Buffalo Bills before losing to the Chicago Bears. An offense that ranks third in the NFL might provide an edge against a middle-of-the-pack Packers defense.
Green Bay faced tougher competition during the past five weeks, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys but losing a key NFC North matchup to the Detroit Lions.
Though the NFL season is at its halfway point, the Packers and Patriots each need a win to maintain a hold on the third wild-card playoff spot in their respective conferences. New England is slightly ahead of the Cleveland Browns due to point differential, while Green Bay is one spot in front of the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (4-4).
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Packers and Patriots face off in Week 9, airing on Fox .
The Packers take an early 17-0 lead against the Patriots after Trey Smack connected on a 41-yard field goal.
Green Bay got down the field quickly thanks to another massive play by wide receiver Matthew Golden.
After a big gain and a score on Green Bay's first drive of the game, Golden had another huge reception, this one for 43 yards.
The Packers were unable to sustain the drive after the big play, but it still got them in field goal range.
The Green Bay Packers are suddenly looking a bit thin at running back, as starter Josh Jacobs is dealing with a hand injury after his hand got caught in an opponent's face mask in the first quarter of Sunday's contest against the New England Patriots.
The team officially announced Jacobs as questionable to return with the injury .
Jacobs has been inefficient in limited work so far this game, tallying 5 yards on four rush attempts (1.3 yards per carry). Quarterback Jordan Love currently leads the team with 13 rushing yards, which he tallied on the Packers' opening drive.
With a 7-0 lead already, Jordan Love leaned on Matthew Golden on Green Bay's second drive of the game.
The duo connected for a 49-yard gain early on the drive to get to the red zone.
The drive ended with Love finding Golden again, this time for a five-yard score.
After the extra point, Green Bay is up 14-0.
After Xavier McKinney picked off Maye, the Packers took over in the redzone after the return,
Savion Williams picked up one-yard on first down and then Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love said he would just handle it himself, running the ball in from 13 yards out.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye wants his first pass of the game back.
After Rhamondre Stevenson picked up 1-yard on the first play of the game, Maye aired the ball out but it was picked by Xavier McKinney.
With less than 90 minutes until kickoff, the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots have officially announced their Week 9 inactives. Here's a look:
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson released a statement on social media Friday explaining that his absence from the team is due to "unexplained neurological symptoms" that forced him to be hospitalized. Some of his "physical functions" have also been affected.
Henderson says he was examined, and while the results were "positive and reassuring," doctors have yet to determine a cause.
"Recently, I experienced an unexpected and unusual medical emergency involving a series of unexplained neurological symptoms that required hospitalization for several days," Henderson wrote. "During that time, I underwent extensive medical testing and evaluation. While the results of my comprehensive medical testing have come back positive and reassuring, the cause of this remains unknown and unexplainable.
"I will continue working closely with specialists and physical therapists to focus on my recovery, as these symptoms have affected my strength, coordination, and some of my physical functions. I am committed to doing everything necessary to return to full health. My health and long-term well-being remain my foremost priorities."
The 24-year-old Henderson suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4 and was initially expected to be out for multiple weeks. He did not miss a game as he played against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, rushing for a total of 40 yards on 10 carries.
Henderson was ruled out of last week's win over the Miami Dolphins and again in Week 9, listed with an "illness."
Source: Sports
