FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For all the controversy and arguments to help both facet, the New England Patriots’ determination to advertise Drake Maye this week got here right down to a easy argument.
“Drake provides us one of the best probability to win now,” head coach Jerod Mayo stated, “and going ahead.”
In a 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans, Maye proved his head coach proper.
No, the Patriots didn’t upset a contending Texans staff. New England fell to 1-5 whereas Houston improved to 5-1.
However after the Patriots ranked final within the league with 119.4 passing yards per sport by way of 5 weeks and second-worst within the league with 12.4 factors, the third total draft decide of 2024 improved each.
And he gave motive to imagine he’ll enhance New England’s possibilities going ahead.
The Patriots offense had began the afternoon with a web page out of the Greek fantasy of Sisyphus.
Maye started his beginning profession with a three-and-out, threw two interceptions and misplaced a fumble in opposition to a feisty Houston Texans protection.
His flooring was tough, Texans rookie security Caden Bullock returning a Maye overthrow 29 yards earlier than the quarterback himself tackled the defender.
The Texans went up 14-0 within the first 12 minutes of the sport earlier than Maye acquired settled.
However with 53 seconds to play earlier than halftime, Maye arrange DeMario Douglas down the appropriate sideline for a YAC-heavy 22 yards to spark the drive. Two Houston defensive penalties additional moved New England down the sphere, and with 11 seconds on the clock, Maye dropped again and located a pocket cleaner than the Patriots’ 2024 resumé would have predicted.
Maye uncorked a poised 40-yard cross to the appropriate nook of the tip zone, second-year receiver Kayshon Boutte rushing up the tip of his route and separating simply in time to haul within the landing.
The Patriots had been on the board. And Maye had thrown the primary of what the Patriots hope shall be many touchdowns.
The optimism, just like the roaring (and now not booing) crowd, would regress earlier than it returned. However New England noticed causes for optimism.
Drake Maye did what he may in NFL beginning debut
Houston gained 17 factors off turnovers alone.
Maye misplaced a fumble on a strip sack and tight finish Austin Hooper misplaced nonetheless one other fumble on both finish of a three-and-out.
On the Patriots’ first offensive snap of the fourth quarter, Anderson deflected Maye’s cross, organising Houston security Eric Murray to return down with the interception. Joe Mixon’s 20-yard landing boosted the Texans to 17 factors off turnovers alone.
Maye did present flashes earlier than, after and in between the turnovers.
He threw for 3 touchdowns in a single sport after veteran Jacoby Brissett had thrown for 2 in 5 contests.
He accomplished 59.3% of his passes after Brissett had accomplished 58.5% of his, throwing for 233 yards after Brissett had managed 139.2 per sport.
Maye’s second landing was a 6-yard cross to tight finish Hunter Henry off play motion, and his third was a 35-yard dart over the center to Douglas:
The Texans had been too explosive and too opportunistic for the Patriots to win regardless of 4 turnovers. However the resurgence of the cross sport, even on a day when beginning operating again Rhamondre Stevenson was sidelined with a foot harm, validated Mayo and the Patriots’ determination.
Subsequent up: Maye will proceed his rookie 12 months abroad, dealing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in England.