In his last season at North Carolina, quarterback Drake Maye scored a total of nine rushing touchdowns, with five coming from just one yard away. Despite this impressive record, during a crucial moment in the New England Patriots’ game against the Arizona Cardinals, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt opted for traditional handoff plays. Running backs Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson both failed to gain the needed yardage, leading to a turnover on downs.
Following the Patriots’ 30-17 defeat, Maye reflected on his collegiate capabilities as a successful quarterback sneak performer, noting, “I’m a big dude. I’m heavier than people think, so I think there may be a conversation for that. I think it’s tough to stop a 6-5 dude for 1 yard.” When asked whether Maye should have been given the chance to run in such tight situations, head coach Jerod Mayo responded with a vague remark that hinted at doubt towards the play-calling. However, he later clarified his statement, affirming that all decisions regarding plays are ultimately his responsibility.
Mayo emphasized the unity between him and the offensive staff, suggesting that while they have designed quarterback runs, they haven’t yet made use of them in games. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of Van Pelt and the offensive team in crafting their strategy, reassuring that he contributes to discussions but ultimately concludes as one cohesive unit.
During the game, the Patriots missed another opportunity to capitalize on good field position in the third quarter when defensive back Jonathan Jones intercepted Kyler Murray at the Arizona 18. Yet, this play was nullified due to a controversial roughing the passer penalty against linebacker Anfernee Jennings.
In terms of performance, Maye showed promise as he continues developing into the franchise’s future quarterback. The third overall draft pick completed 19 out of 23 passes for 202 yards and added a rushing touchdown to his stats. He managed an impressive 10 for 10 for 71 yards in the first half. However, most of his successful passes occurred in garbage time when the game’s outcome was nearly settled. After a rocky third quarter featuring two completed passes for just 11 yards and an interception, Maye rebounded with a flawless fourth quarter, throwing 7 for 7, accumulating 120 yards and a touchdown as the team trailed 23-3. His 5-yard rushing touchdown capped off the scoring at 30-17.
The Patriots have struggled in the red zone this season, ranking 29th overall with a conversion rate of just 46% in turning scoring opportunities into touchdowns. Mayo pointed out the obvious nature of their plays, stating, “There comes a point in time as a football team where everyone in the stadium knows what the play is and we just have to move bodies. We weren’t able to do that.”
On a positive note, defensive back Christian Gonzalez shined in his matchup against first-round draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr., allowing just one catch for 23 yards across five target attempts. Gonzalez recorded all three of New England’s pass breakups during the game and was recognized by Mayo as the team’s top defensive player, underscoring his consistent competitive presence on the field.
Conversely, kicker Joey Slye struggled, missing a significant 53-yard field goal attempt on the Patriots’ opening drive. Previously, he had missed two kicks in the prior game, one of which was a near-record attempt from 68 yards.
In injury news, linebacker Christian Ellis sustained a head injury late in the fourth quarter and did not return to the game.
A noteworthy statistic indicates that Maye becomes the fourth quarterback in Patriots history to complete every pass in the first half with at least 10 attempts, joining notable names like Tom Brady, who accomplished this feat twice, and Hugh Millen back in 1992.
Looking ahead, the Patriots have a challenging schedule, with two upcoming matches against the Buffalo Bills, separated by one game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
