The New England Patriots may be finding new hope as they navigate a challenging season. After the departure of Tom Brady five years ago and the mixed results from rookie Mac Jones in his first season, the offense saw a spark with Drake Maye at the helm during their recent matchup against the Houston Texans.
Although the Patriots suffered a 41-21 loss, marking their fifth consecutive defeat, the game showcased promising developments. Maye managed to score more points than any game previous this season, throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns—outperforming Jacoby Brissett’s stats from the first five games. Unfortunately, the 41 points allowed to the Texans also represents the highest total New England has given up this year.
Making his first official NFL start, Maye acknowledged feeling a surge of energy, stating, “I was a little amped at the start, for sure.” He added, “We’ve got some stuff to look back and learn from, but I also feel like we did some good things.” After a brief stint on the bench, Maye stepped in following a rough opening of 1-4 under Brissett, a transition prompted by Coach Jerod Mayo’s decision.
In his debut, Maye completed 20 out of 33 passes, marking the first instance of New England surpassing 160 total passing yards in a game this season. Despite some setbacks—including a strip-sack and two interceptions—his ability to lead the team was evident as the game progressed. Following initial struggles, including a three-and-out on the first drive and an interception on the second, he guided the Patriots to a touchdown just before halftime.
Receiver Kendrick Bourne praised Maye’s charisma and leadership qualities. “He has an aura. That’s important in football,” Bourne noted, adding, “When he’s in the huddle, he knows what he’s doing. You can feel it.”
One noteworthy element of Maye’s performance was his execution of the two-minute drill. He orchestrated a swift 84-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown just before halftime, demonstrating his potential as a playmaker. “I think the two-minute time is a great time for a quarterback,” said Maye, emphasizing the importance of distributing the ball effectively to his teammates.
However, the Patriots’ defense must learn to limit opposing teams’ explosive plays. The Texans capitalized on mistakes with two significant plays over 50 yards that allowed them to grip the game’s momentum, and Mayo remarked on the need to cut down on these big plays, indicating a need for improvement on both sides of the ball.
Amid the struggles, some aspects showed promise. After experimenting with multiple offensive line combinations this season, the Patriots may have finally settled on a successful arrangement with the signing of center Ben Brown from the Las Vegas practice squad. His quick adaptation impressed Coach Mayo, who recognized Brown as one of the best performers on the line during the game.
On the downside, New England’s running game struggled significantly, with Maye being the leading rusher, achieving 38 yards on five carries. In the absence of Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson only managed 19 yards on 13 carries, which exposes a crucial area for improvement moving forward.
Injuries are also a concern, as tackle Vederian Lowe exited the game early with an ankle injury and was set to undergo an MRI.
Maye’s three touchdown passes during his debut were a notable accomplishment, as it came quicker than Brady, who took four games to achieve the same feat, while both Mac Jones and Drew Bledsoe took longer.
Next up for the Patriots is a trip to London, where they are slated to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, hoping to turn their fortunes around.
