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Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who was in a similar predicament last year as a first-year quarterback leading his team after being drafted second overall, can relate to Maye’s experience. Stroud lost his first two games before powering the Texans to a playoff berth. However, the Patriots, standing at 1-5, may not have the same fate given their struggles this season.
Despite the team’s woes, Maye’s performance in the 41-21 defeat was a highlight. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 243 yards, achieving an 88.3 passer rating, and threw three touchdown passes, surpassing the total touchdowns of Jacoby Brissett over his previous five games. Maye’s performance was significant enough that Patriots coach Jerod Mayo decided it was time for the rookie to take over.
“I was definitely excited at the beginning,” Maye reflected. “My teammates were instrumental in calming me down, and Jacoby was a big part of that.”
Maye made his first appearance as an NFL starter at 9:08 in the first quarter, and as his image was shown on the Gillette Stadium video board, he received a warm welcome from the fans. “It gave me goosebumps going in there for my first time,” he remarked. “I’m in a fantastic position here with the Patriots and playing quarterback in the NFL.”
His debut was filled with both solid plays and learning experiences. Although he threw an interception early on after over-throwing DeMario Douglas, he later connected with Douglas on a 35-yard touchdown pass during the fourth quarter. “I love how he gained confidence as the game went on,” Douglas commented, praising Maye’s performance.
Fans are holding out hope that Maye could become the long-awaited answer for the Patriots in the post-Tom Brady era. They saw a glimpse of that promise late in the first half when Maye made an impressive throw, leading to a 40-yard touchdown to Kayshon Boutte that brought New England within 14-7. “His competitiveness was fantastic,” tight end Hunter Henry, who caught one of Maye’s touchdown passes, said.
Maye also demonstrated his versatility by rushing for a team-high 38 yards. His ability to extend plays provided a much-needed spark to a struggling New England offense that faltered since a strong start to the season. However, Maye acknowledged the need to protect the football better, as one of Houston’s four sacks resulted in a fumble that handed the Texans great field position.
“I realized I took some sacks where I could have either thrown the ball away or opted for safer throws,” Maye said. “We kept putting ourselves in difficult spots, and against teams like this, that’s not a recipe for success. But there are also many positive moments to learn from.”
Stroud mentioned the encouragement he shared with Maye when they met after the game, advising him to stay true to himself. “Just be yourself. Everything that brought you here will help you reach your goals. Trust that you will find your rhythm over time. You’ll face tough days and good ones—as long as you keep getting up each day, you’ll be fine,” Stroud said. “I thought he played quite well and will continue to improve as he gains experience.”
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