In Week 15, the New England Patriots lost to the Buffalo Bills 35-31. After holding a 24-7 lead at the half, Buffalo stormed back over the final 30 minutes of regulation, ending the Patriots' winning streak at 10 games.
Things won't get easier in Week 16 for New England as they go on the road against the Baltimore Ravens. While Baltimore is 7-7 on the season, they still have Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, both of whom could win a game by themselves. Injury-wise, it certainly doesn't help that the Patriots received some unfortunate news regarding the team's starting linebacker on Friday.
Patriots LB Robert Spillane Ruled Out of Week 16
After Friday's practice, head coach Mike Vrabel announced that Robert Spillane will miss the Week 16 contest against the Ravens, according to the Athletics Chad Graff. Not having Spillane in the lineup is a significant blow to the defense, and that was clear against the Bills. Even though Spillane was active for the game, he didn't register a snap. This year, Spillane leads the Patriots in tackles with 97, along with one sack and two interceptions.
Early in the week, based on comments that Spillane made, it seemed likely that he would miss extended time. In his absence, Jack Gibbens saw an increased role against the Bills, playing every defensive snap. Should Spillane miss more games, Gibbens could look to earn another contract in New England.
Last off-season, Gibbens signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Patriots, making him a free agent after the 2025 campaign. Spillane's injury gives Gibbens a chance to prove himself and earn a new contract for next season. Through 14 games this year, Gibbens has 61 tackles and one sack. Those are fine numbers for a reserve, but they don't exactly jump off the page when reading them. With that being the case, there is no better time for Gibbens to prove himself than now with Spillane sidelined.
Hopefully, Gibbens can step up in Spillane's absence and help the defense play better than they did against the Bills. A win against the Ravens is massive for New England, as they would clinch a playoff berth. Clinching a spot now would allow the Patriots to be more cautious with Spillane's return, which should only pay dividends for them down the road once the playoffs begin.
Should Gibbens not take full advantage of this opportunity, though, it would not be surprising in the slightest to see Mike Vrabel and the front office elect to go in a different direction at the linebacker position this offseason. One way or another, the ball is in Gibbens' court.