Despite off-field loss, Demario Douglas helps Patriots to sixth-straight victory with a career day

FOXBOROUGH — The New England Patriots are on a six-game winning streak after their 24-23 win against the Atlanta Falcons, and a heavy-hearted Demario Douglas was a driving factor on Sunday.

Douglas put up 100 receiving yards in a game for the first time in his career. With Kayshon Boutte sidelined for a majority of the game with a hamstring injury, Douglas stepped up and became a key part of the Patriots' offense

In the first half, Douglas recorded 75 receiving yards and a first-quarter touchdown. During their opening drive, New England marched down the field and got into Atlanta’s red zone. On 2nd and 9, Douglas lined up in the backfield and scored a 17-yard touchdown from Drake Maye to put the Patriots up 7-0.

“I’m in the backfield. We know they kind of go man here and there. So, me in the backfield, I could line up with the linebacker," Douglas said. "So, Coach [Josh] McDaniels did a great job of scheming that play up.

“As I come off, I see a D-end on me. That might be a backer lined up at the end. I couldn’t really pay attention because I was just running by him. But as soon as I saw him try to connect with me, I just ran past him, but that’s a good play called by Coach McDaniels.”

In the second quarter, Douglas’s 58-yard reception helped give the Patriots their third touchdown of the game. On the Patriots 31 yard line, Drake Maye connected with Douglas on a crossing route that brought New England to Atlanta’s own 15. Two plays later, Stefon Diggs caught a touchdown pass for 11 yards to put the Patriots up 21-7.

“I stay stumbling. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know what it is, but had a cross route and caught it,” said Douglas. “I thought (the defender) was closer, but he wasn’t. So, I hit my knee, got up and I started stumbling from there. Then I saw the dude in my peripheral, so I just lowered the shoulder.”

Before the game, Douglas’s uncle, Brett Conway, was shot and killed on Saturday night, so it was an emotional game for the Patriots' wide receiver. 

“This whole morning, my mood was different, I couldn’t hold my tears… He was here with me today. First day in heaven he was working,” Douglas told NFL Network on the field after the game.

Douglas’ high school teammate and Patriots running back Terrell Jennings also mourned the loss in his post-game press conference. Jennings, who was recently signed to the active roster, scored his first career touchdown with Douglas rushing from the sidelines to celebrate.

“This day was special in a way since it was our salute to service. I celebrated Brett Conway, his life today,” said Jennings. “Last night, I had lost a really close ... he wasn’t a family member, but he was a close friend to my family. So, I was just balling for them today, and I can really say it was my team. That’s all I could think about with that first touchdown. My team, all the work we put in, they were more excited than me for the touchdown.”

Said Douglas: “He was with us. This whole morning was hard. As people came up to me – my eyes kind of getting a little – but as people came up to me, I tried to try to keep – I can’t even think. I just tried to be a man, and I just had to put my head down. I just know he was with me, and he was with Terrell, too. He got a touchdown, too. And that’s a blessing. We waited for this moment. Terrell did. He trusted the process, and he’s capitalizing and that’s a blessing.”

Douglas was happy to break 100 yards for the first time in his career. He was close multiple times this season, and today finally paid off.

“It’s a blessing, man. I’ve been trying to get it, trying to get it in New Orleans and that kind of went away. But definitely feels good and definitely getting it with the win, that makes it better," Douglas said.