Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
Drake Maye shrugs off MVP chants, love from Patriots teammates following win vs. Jets
"Yeah, may have been for TreVeyon [Henderson] tonight."
What Drake Maye said of MVP chants following the Patriots’ win over the Jets: Many people inside Gillette Stadium seemed ready to award Drake Maye MVP following the Patriots’ 27-14 win over the Jets on Thursday night. However, the Patriots quarterback is remaining humble about the MVP talk.
When he was asked about the “MVP!” chants that rang throughout Gillette Stadium in the closing moments of Thursday’s win, Maye joked that he thought they were for a Patriots teammate.
“Yeah, may have been for TreVeyon [Henderson] tonight,” Maye said. “He scored three touchdowns.
“No, I think our fans have been great with me since I got here, since I got drafted,” Maye added on a more serious note. “I just appreciate them for embracing me, and trying to embrace this city and give these fans and this team and just myself just leave it all out there and give it everything I got.”
Advertisement:
Maye had another efficient outing on Thursday, completing 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown. The 281 passing yards are the most he’s thrown in a win in his career as he completed his first 11 passes of the game. Henderson, the Patriots’ rookie running back, caught Maye’s lone touchdown pass while rushing for two scores of his own.
The efficiency from Maye helped the Patriots either score or get deep into Jets territory in five of their first seven possessions. He also distributed the ball a good bit on Thursday, with five players recording at least three receptions.
More importantly, Maye’s strong play helped the Patriots improve to 9-2 and extend their winning streak to eight games. They also hold the best record in the NFL ahead of Sunday’s slate of games and have a two-game lead with the tiebreaker in hand over the Bills for first place in the AFC East.
Advertisement:
That might be why rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell was willing to break into Maye’s press conference and declare him the MVP.
“Get out of here, rookie,” Maye said with a laugh.
In his own comments to reporters, Campbell further praised Maye.
“He’s playing at an elite level right now,” Campbell said. “I’m biased, but I think he’s the best player in the NFL. There’s no game we’re out of when we have him.”
Campbell also dished out high marks for Maye as a person and a leader.
“Even though how good of a player he is, he’s an even better person and an even better teammate,” Campbell said. “So that makes it that much more cool to be able to share the huddle and locker room, and be friends with somebody like that. “I just look forward to the future and continue to play with him and grow with him, as we all continue to grow in this offense. He’s got everything in front of him and I’m super excited to be part of it.”
Tight end Hunter Henry also gave Maye some MVP love.
“Shoot, he’s my MVP,” Henry told reporters. “I love him to death. As a player, obviously, I love him to death. As a person, he’s my guy. I’d go to bat for him wherever he wants. I love competing with him. I love playing with him. I just love being on this team with him.”
Advertisement:
Following Thursday’s game, Maye’s seventh in passing yards per game (257.8), tied for second in touchdown passes (20), and fifth in passer rating (113.2). He also remains the betting favorite to win MVP at most sportsbooks, holding +235 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Trivia: The Patriots extended their win streak to eight games on Thursday. When was the last time they had a win streak that long?
(Hint: They didn’t win the Super Bowl that year.)
Scores and schedule:
The Patriots won their eighth game in a row on Thursday night, taking down the Jets, 27-14. They improved to 9-2 with the win, becoming the first team in the NFL to seal a winning record this season. Now, the Patriots will have a mini bye before taking on the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 23.
While the Patriots extended their winning streak, the Bruins’ winning streak came to an end on Thursday. They lost to the Senators, 5-3, ending their winning streak at seven games. The Bruins will remain north of the border on Saturday when they take on the Canadiens at 7 p.m.
The Celtics’ longest stretch without a game so far this season continues until Sunday, when they host the Clippers at 3:30 p.m.
Advertisement:
Read more from Boston.com:
- 9 takeaways from Patriots’ primetime win ove
- TreVeyon Henderson is breaking through as a top weapon for Drake Maye, Patriots
- Patriots stock watch: Here’s who stood out and struggled in prime time win vs. Jets
- Does Devin McCourty think Drake Maye is MVP frontrunner?
- MLS owners vote to shift soccer season to a summer-to-spring calendar in 2027
- Mike Vrabel explained cautious approach with star defensive lineman who left Jets game with injury
Mack Hollins wears suicide prevention shirt ahead of Jets-Patriots
Following the tragic death of Cowboys edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland, Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins wore a shirt with “988” in block letters. The number is the phone number for the suicide and crisis hotline.
What Mike Vrabel told Patriots after win over Jets
In his postgame locker room speech, Mike Vrabel shouted out two specific plays: the push to help TreVeyon Henderson score their first touchdown, and safety Dell Pettus’s pass breakup that helped seal the win. Vrabel also stated his appreciation for everyone in the room as they’ll have their first extended break of the season, jokingly saying “I’m also going to enjoy a couple of days away from you.”
On this day
Rob Gronkowski officially retired as a member of the Patriots on Wednesday, which came two days shy of his 15-year anniversary of his breakout game. Fifteen years ago on Friday, the then-rookie tight end caught three touchdown passes from Tom Brady in a 39-26 Patriots win over the Steelers.
Those three touchdown receptions were a part of a 10-touchdown rookie season for Gronkowski.
Daily highlight
A couple of days after David Pastrnak scored his 400th goal, his former Bruins teammate reached a historic threshold. Brad Marchand notched his 1,000th career point on Thursday night when Panthers teammate Eetu Luostarinen netted a goal on an empty net in their 6-3 win over the Capitals.
As the assist made Marchand the 102nd player in NHL history to score 1,000 points, his Panthers teammates left the bench to celebrate with him.
Trivia answer: 2019
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com