NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Sunday, Drake Maye demonstrated precisely why the New England Patriots selected him with the third overall pick during the NFL draft held in April. However, he also illustrated the reality that quarterbacks often require time to mature.
Maye showcased his skills by leading the Patriots with a personal best of 95 rushing yards. In a critical moment, he evaded defenders for an impressive 11.82 seconds before connecting with Rhamondre Stevenson for a touchdown, forcing the game into overtime just as time expired. Despite his efforts, Maye was intercepted twice, including the decisive pick in the 20-17 defeat to the Titans, marking the Patriots’ second overtime loss this season, bringing their record to 2-7.
“His mental toughness and resilience are evident, and those qualities are essential for a quarterback,” remarked first-year coach Jerod Mayo. “He’s a fierce competitor.”
Limited throughout the week due to the concussion protocol, which sidelined him during the previous week’s win against the Jets, Maye was cleared for play on Saturday. He did not seem to show any signs of hesitation, as he led his team with eight rushing attempts and threw for 206 yards.
“He gave us a chance to win the game. We just couldn’t capitalize,” Mayo acknowledged.
However, the rookie faced challenges, suffering two interceptions, with the last one concluding the game. He was stripped of the ball by Arden Key, a linebacker for the Titans, following his fourth sack, which was then recovered by Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. This turnover set up the Titans at the Patriots’ 26-yard line, leading to a straightforward touchdown for a team that had managed only one score in the fourth quarter in the entire season. After the Patriots’ defense held Tennessee to a 25-yard field goal by Nick Folk in overtime, New England had one last chance, but Maye’s second interception dashed those hopes.
So far this season, Maye has thrown six touchdown passes and four interceptions.
“I need to review my performance and learn from this,” Maye commented. “I must take full advantage of the opportunities I’m given during these games and strive to improve.”
One of Maye’s most promising plays came when he extended a play to secure his only touchdown pass before the eventual loss. He acknowledged the offensive line for their solid blocking while he searched for an open receiver.
As the ball was snapped with just four seconds left, Maye spent the longest amount of time before throwing a touchdown pass—recorded since Next Gen Stats began tracking such metrics in 2016. The only longer recorded time was Jayden Daniels’ game-winning pass for Washington the week before, clocked at 12.7 seconds.
Mayo opted for the extra point instead of attempting a 2-point conversion to seal the victory. Maye, still recovering from a taxing drive, didn’t consider lobbying his coach for another chance at the ball.
“After a drive like that, it’s taxing, and I don’t think going for two is an easy call in that moment,” Maye explained. “It’s easy to criticize the choice afterward.”