Drake Maye showcased his talent and 3 other takeaways from Patriots’ loss to Texans
While Maye's first career start was a display of his potential, it was another reminder that questions remain about the supporting cast.
Drake Maye’s first career NFL start did give New England’s offense a jolt, but it was not enough to spark the Patriots to a win on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots fell to the Houston Texans, 41-21, despite Maye finishing his first start in New England with 243 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Even with Maye offering up hope for the future, Sunday’s loss was once again rife with lapses in execution for a 1-5 Patriots team.
Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s loss:
Drake Maye showcases potential …
The Patriots may not have left Gillette Stadium with a win on Sunday, but for the first time in a long time, there seems to be hope percolating in Foxborough.
Because after a rough start, Maye showcased some of the high-end potential that has New England holding out hope that it has a franchise fixture in place under center.
The 22-year-old QB finished his first career NFL start completing 20 of 33 passes for 243 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 38 rushing yards off of five carries.
It was the most passing yards by a Patriots QB this season, with Maye becoming the first Patriots QB with three TD passes in a game since Bailey Zappe in Week 14 last season against the Steelers.
For most of the first half, it was looking like more of the same for New England’s lackluster offense. With just a little over a minute left in the first half, Maye completed just five of his 10 passes for 36 yards and an ugly interception.
But with little time left on the clock in the second quarter, Maye gave New England’s offense the lift that it needed.
Maye completed three of his four passes on that drive for 69 yards — culminating in a 40-yard touchdown throw to Kayshon Boutte to make it a 14-7 game at the time.
It was an impressive throw by Maye, and a welcome sight for a Patriots offense that hasn’t been able to generate much of anything in terms of explosive plays this season.
As noted by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Maye’s 40-yard TD to Boutte marked just the third time since the 2020 season that New England generated a passing TD of 35+ air yards.
Despite making it a one-score game at the half, Maye and the Patriots were unable to carry that momentum over into their first drive of the third quarter.
Maye was sacked and fumbled just two plays into that drive — with Houston QB C.J. Stroud hitting Stefon Diggs for a 10-yard touchdown just two plays later to give the Texans a 21-7 lead early in the second half.
New England followed up that turnover with a 3-and-out and a fumble from tight end Austin Hooper on its next two drives — allowing Houston to pad their lead with a pair of field goals.
Maye did string together another promising scoring effort at the end of the third quarter, orchestrating a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a six-yard touchdown catch from Hunter Henry.
But Maye and the Patriots were knocked for another turnover early in the fourth. As Maye tried to hit Antonio Gibson on a screen, the ball was tipped by Will Anderson before eventually getting intercepted by Eric Murray — who was already tangled up with Hooper.
Just two plays later, Joe Mixon scored a 20-yard touchdown to seemingly ice the win for Houston.
Still, Maye and the Patriots refused to roll over — with Maye scoring his third touchdown of the afternoon off a 35-yard TD to DeMario Douglas, who torched Murray off a crisp route to make it a 34-21 game.
But once again, New England could not build any momentum, with Dameon Pierce reeling off a 54-yard TD run for Houston on its next drive to keep the score out of reach for New England.
As expected, there were some growing pains for Maye in his first NFL start, especially on that first interception off an overthrow toward Douglas.
But amid those bumps in the road, Maye’s arm and ability to scramble at least offer hope that this Patriots offense has the means to regularly generate some chunk yardage this season — something that was hard to come by with Jacoby Brissett in at QB.
In particular, wideouts like Douglas (six catches, 92 yards, one touchdown) impressed with Maye in place.
… but questions remain about supporting cast, timing of start
Even though Maye did elevate New England’s offense, a couple of punishing sacks and major lapses in execution still raise questions about whether Sunday was the right time to start the rookie QB.
A Patriots O-line that started recent pick-up Ben Brown at center and lost left tackle Vederian Lowe to an ankle injury on Sunday was, to their credit, better than it’s been during a few disastrous games earlier this year against teams like the Jets.
But a matchup against a Texans defense that entered Sunday with a league-best 42-percent pressure rate was inevitably going to lead to some punishing hits.
Houston finished with four sacks — headlined by that third-quarter sack by Danielle Hunter where the pass-rusher blew past Demontrey Jacobs and rocked Maye with a blind-side hit.
Beyond Maye fumbling the ball and turning it over, the promising QB was slow to get up following the sack — a familiar sight for Patriots fans who saw Brissett also take his fair share of lumps through the first five games of the season.
Beyond a few lapses in pass protection, several other key cogs on New England’s offense were severely lacking.
With Rhamondre Stevenson ruled out due to injury, New England’s run game was stuck in the mud — with the Patriots only gaining 3.2 yards per carry. Maye was New England’s leading rusher with his 38 yards.
Several of Maye’s pass-catchers also struggled to support their rookie QB, be it Hooper’s costly fumble or a couple of dropped passes from Ja’Lynn Polk. While New England should expect a young QB like Maye to make rookie mistakes, they can’t expect those same miscues from a veteran like Hooper.
Add in some additional penalty woes by New England on Sunday and a malleable showing on defense — and it’s clear that the overall product and talent around Maye raises questions as to just what fans should expect from their rookie QB this season.
It’s also clear that Maye has the means to sling the ball and extend drives. But this team is still staring at a steep uphill climb as far as becoming a contender once again.
Penalty woes continue
Just a week removed from getting whistled for 12 penalties, the Patriots once again made life difficult on themselves due in large part to self-inflicted miscues.
The Patriots were whistled for another nine penalties on Sunday against Houston that accounted for 50 total yards. Some of them, admittedly, were tough calls against New England.
A ticky-tack DPI call against Marte Mapu off a 3rd-and-5 on New England’s own 5-yard line was a backbreaker early in the first — giving Houston new life en route to an eventual two-yard TD catch from Tank Dell.
A holding call against Marcellas Dial also proved costly in the second quarter, wiping out a 28-yard punt return from Marcus Jones. Instead of starting on New England’s 49, Maye and Co. had to start at their own 11-yard line — with the Patriots eventually forced to punt on the play.
Given the several other flaws on this roster, New England can’t afford to keep making these miscues and put themselves in brutal spots.
Defense not good enough
Yes, the Patriots defense has lost several key contributors this season, and weren’t aided by four New England turnovers that often put them in brutal field positions.
But given the pressure put on Maye in his first NFL start, New England’s defense struggled to support their QB by keeping momentum on their side — especially in the second half once Maye started to settle into a rhythm.
Stroud (21-of-30, 192 yards, three touchdowns), Diggs (six catches, 77 yards, 1 TD), and Dell (seven catches, 57 yards, 1 TD) picked apart New England’s defense for most of the game — while Houston finished with 192 rushing yards.
After putting New England in a 14-0 hole before the end of the first quarter, the Patriots D was unable to keep the team in the game during the second half. After Maye’s third touchdown of the afternoon made it a 34-21 game, it took Houston just four plays to find the end zone once again — with Pierce’s 54-yard TD run icing things.
There were a few positives from New England’s defense in terms of individual performances. Along with his impressive punt return that was wiped off the board in the second quarter, Marcus Jones picked off Stroud in the end zone in the second quarter.
Jones’ interception came off a pass that was tipped up in the air by safety Marte Mapu — who finished with five tackles and a half sack.
LIVE UPDATES
4:09: Final: Patriots fall to the Texans, 41-21. Tough loss, but Drake Maye showed plenty of potential.
3:57: Davis Mills now in at QB for Houston.
3:51: That’s a back-breaker for New England. Dameon Pierce runs in for a 54-yard touchdown run. Patriots D has also labored today.
41-21 Texans.
3:44: Maye once again is doing what he can to keep New England in this one. He hits DeMario Douglas for a 35-yard touchdown.
34-21 game.
3:43: Maye scrambles for 15 yards. He’s New England’s leading rusher so far today.
3:39: Michael Jordan heads to the blue medical tent. Sidy Sow slots over and gets hit with a false start call.
3:31: Mixon runs in a 20-yard touchdown on the next play after the turnover.
33-14 Texans lead.
3:29: Patriots D force a 3-and-out. But then Maye throws an interception on the next play. Fourth turnover of the day for New England.
3:23: End third: Patriots trial Houston, 27-14.
3:20: PATRIOTS TD: Maye caps off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a six-yard pass to Hunter Henry. 27-14 game.
3:19: Signs of improvement from Patriots’ passing game.
3:10: Hooper’s fumble leads to another Houston field goal from Fairbairn.
Texans up, 27-7, with 5:22 left in the third.
3:07: Patriots letting any hope of making this a competitive game slip away. Maye hits Austin Hooper for a gain, but the TE fumbles the ball. Texans take over on New England’s 31.
3:02: Texans convert on a 39-yard field goal to give themselves a 24-7 lead.
2:57: Diggs seemingly can’t be stopped at Gillette. 26 yard pickup through the iar and Houston is back in New England territory.
2:52: Maye can’t hit Douglas on the crosser — Patriots punting once again.
2:46: And Stroud and Diggs team up for a TD. Gonzalez in coverage.
21-7 Texans.
2:45: Hunter sacks Maye and he fumbles. Texans take over on New England’s 10-yard line. Jacobs was beat clean on that sack from Hunter.
2:44: Vederian Lowe is downgraded to out.
2:43: Second half is underway. Patriots starting on their own 21.
2:29: Halftime: Patriots trail the Texans, 14-7.
2:26: Drake Maye and the Patriots have life. Maye hits Boutte for a 40-yard touchdown. Great throw.
It’s 14-7 Texans and New England will get the ball back to start the second half.
2:23: Polk drops a dart from Maye. Can’t have that.
2:19: Mapu makes an immediate impact back on the field — as he teams up with Eliss for a sack on Stroud. Texans punting with 1:06 left in the half.
2:17: Mapu back on the field for New England.
2:14: Brenden Schooler’s continued rise as a special-teams ace is one of the few positives for New England so far this season.
2:13: Now Marte Mapu is questionable to return with a neck injury.
2:10: Will Anderson sacks Maye and he looks to be in some pain. Not good. Patriots puting.
2:05: A nice response by New England’s defense to force Houston into a 3-and-out. But a holding penalty on Marcellas Dial wipes out a 28-yard punt return by Marcus Jones — putting the ball on the 11.
1:56: Lowe questionable to return with an ankle injury.
1:52: Lowe heads to the locker room. Looks like Zach Thomas is in at left tackle.
1:51: Patriots defense makes a play. Marcus Jones snags a ball in the end zone after Mapu made the initial deflection. Jones brings it back to the 27-yard line.
1:50: Joe Mixon reels off a 59-yard run to the left side. Marcus Jones brings him down.
1:49: Vederian Lowe is now in the medical tent.
1:47: 3rd & 11. Drake Maye gets sacked, and Vederian Lowe is limping after getting rolled up. New England is punting.
1:47: Patriots with six penalties already.
1:42: Maye makes things happen with his legs – gaining 11 yards on that scramble.
1:40: Maye’s interception doesn’t end up costing New England. Fairbairn’s field-goal attempt from 40 yards is no good.
1:36: End First: Patriots trail Houston, 14-0.
1:33: Maye’s third pass of the day is picked off. Calen Bullock makes the play on a ball intended for Douglas on the crosser. Texans take over on New England’s 28.
Ooof.
1:31: Maye hits Bourne on the run for an eight completion. Gillette Stadium approves.
1:27: Stroud and the Texans are carving up the Patriots’ defense. A 10-yard TD pass to Mixon makes it a 14-0 game. Patriots have not been competitive so far today.
1:23: Tank Dell is picking apart New England’s man coverage. Another 3rd-down pickup for Houston.
1:19: A 21-yard punt from Baringer is … not ideal. Texans starting on New England’s 45.
1:17: Patriots go 3-and-out on Maye’s first drive. Two back-to-back runs out of the gate had Maye looking at a 3-and-9. First pass toward Polk sails way out of bounds.
1:15: Loud ovation as Drake Maye takes the field.
1:11: Tank Dell reels in a 2-yard TD pass from Stroud. Jon Jones in coverage.
7-0 Texans with 9:13 left in the first.
1:10: A brutal DPI call against Mapu on a 3rd-down play. 1st and 10 for Houston from the 1 yard line.
1:08: Texans moving the ball early here. Diggs with two catches already with Gonzalez in coverage.
1:01: Texans call heads and lose. Patriots win the coin toss and opt to defer.
Stroud and the Texans’ offense are up first.
12:56: Today’s “Keeper of the Light”:
12:43: The Patriots are shuffling their O-line once again. Ben Brown, signed just a few days ago, is starting at center.
12:34: Maye is ready to roll.
12:30: Not a good look for Thornton.
12:20: Patriots inactives. Stevenson was not a surprise, but a tough look for Thornton to be on the outside looking in at reps. Thornton and Baker have the speed to be deep threats now that Maye is under center.
The return of Kyle Dugger after missing last week is a good sign for New England’s defense.
12:16: QB1 takes the field.
12:15: Greetings from Gillette Stadium!
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