The New England Patriots may have a reason to feel hopeful again.
Five years after Tom Brady played his last game for the team and three seasons after rookie Mac Jones led them to their only playoff game since Brady left, Drake Maye sparked the New England offense against the Houston Texans.
Despite this, it wasn’t enough, as the Patriots lost 41-21, marking their fifth consecutive defeat. However, the 21 points scored was the highest for them this season, and Maye threw for more yards and touchdowns than Jacoby Brissett did in any of the first five games. Unfortunately, the 41 points allowed was also the highest New England has given up.
“I was a little amped at the start, for sure,” said Maye, who had played in one game before but was making his first NFL start. “We’ve got some stuff to look back and learn from, but I also feel like we did some good things.”
After trying for three seasons to rebuild from the Brady era with Jones, a 2021 first-round pick, the Patriots moved on from him—and six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick—and returned to the draft to select Maye third overall.
While the top two picks, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, were immediate starters showing success in Chicago and Washington, the Patriots let Maye sit on the bench for five games to learn behind Brissett.
After starting the season 1-4 with Brissett, coach Jerod Mayo decided to make a change.
Maye completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns—marking the first time New England surpassed 160 passing yards in a game this season. However, he also lost the ball on a strip-sack and threw two interceptions.
The improvement was noticeable as the game progressed.
After a three-and-out on his first drive and an interception on his second, he managed to gain some first downs and led the Patriots to a touchdown in the last minute of the first half.
“He’s like a natural leader,” receiver Kendrick Bourne said. “He has an aura. That’s important in football. Some people have an aura, some don’t, and he’s definitely one of those. He doesn’t have to try; he’s just that guy.
“When he’s in the huddle, he knows what he’s doing,” Bourne added. “You can feel it. It’s important.”
