Claps. Who knew we’d be talking about this after the Week 9 clash between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons? But that seemed to be the reason the Pats’ win streak went up to 6. Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris and starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said that was the case. But Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel cleared the air on that play, appearing on The Greg Hill Show.

“I didn’t see anything. Like, is that fake? I don’t know… Clapgate… That was new. I didn’t see that… Maybe that’s a testament to our fans… They got loud.”

The play in question was a 2nd-and-10 attempt at the Patriots’ 48-yard line shortly before the two-minute warning. The Falcons’ center, Ryan Neuzil, heard claps, an indication that Penix was ready for the ball. But the clap, as per Penix & Co., had come from the Patriots’ defense, and Penix was surprised. Facing pressure, he grounded the ball and got flagged for 10 yards. Just one play later, Atlanta was forced to punt, and the 24-23 score was sealed in stone.

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While Vrabel (amid a lot of laughter on The Greg Hill Show) noted there was nothing to read into it, coach Morris seemed to disagree in his post-game presser. Indeed, he looked quite serious when he noted:

“They did a nice job. They simulated a snap. The ball came early, was snapped early. … that was when we got the intentional grounding. Nice job by those guys. Great situational football. Great play. … That’s why the ball was snapped early on Mike. He wasn’t ready for the snap.”

In their Week 9 clash, Michael Penix Jr. threw for a decent 221 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons. The Patriots had two costly turnovers that had Drake Maye looking very sombre on the sideline. But despite that, Maye tossed the ball for 259 yards (with considerably less number of attempts) and scored twice. Pats’ running back Terrell Jennings rushed for another TD. But if the Falcons hadn’t messed up with that early snap, the Patriots’ win streak might just have been broken.

While Michael Penix Jr. also highlighted this play, the Patriots’ defense firmly noted there was no clap.

Michael Penix Jr.’s admission and the Patriots’ defense

Post-game, Michael Penix Jr. had noted the clap is ingrained in his pre-snap routine, and the Pats took advantage of that.

“Supposedly, they were clapping. For us, whenever I’m clapping, that means I want the ball. I knew he [Ryan Neuzil] said he heard them clapping, and he thought it was my clap, and he snapped the ball.”

But Milton Williams, the Patriots lineman who pressured Penix on that play, denied this claim.

“Who was clapping? Did it look like I was clapping? … I’m going to go watch and see who was clapping–I didn’t hear no clapping. I’m looking at the ball, the ball moves, I’m gone.” So who’s in the right here?

Mike Vrabel remains positive that it wasn’t his defenders. Maybe it was the crowds clapping in excitement that carried over? The Falcons and Raheem Morris think otherwise. But clap or no clap, the 24-23 verdict is clear.

The Falcons need to find fixes for their team. Their 3-5 record is darkened by a 3-game losing streak after Week 9. The Patriots, meanwhile, look to build on their 7-2 record. Will their momentum carry forward over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next? We’ll find out.