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What Drake Maye said about last-second touchdown, turnovers in Patriots’ loss to Titans
"I [had] some decisions that I made throughout the game that would have impacted the outcome and I take that upon myself."
Drake Maye’s last-second scramble and game-tying touchdown throw to Rhamondre Stevenson on Sunday afternoon will likely earn a spot in the promising QB’s career-end highlight reel.
But the 22-year-old QB spent most of his postgame presser in Nashville focusing on the three turnovers that marred his promising performance — and set the stage for a 20-17 Patriots loss.
“Disappointed in the loss — made some bad decisions, especially that one at the end there,” Maye said of his game-ending interception in overtime. “We got a chance to go down there and at least tie it up. We’re on our own 40 — think it was first down. So I just got to be better.
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“I [had] some decisions that I made throughout the game that would have impacted the outcome and I take that upon myself.”
Maye’s turnovers loomed large in a game against a 1-6 Titans team that entered Sunday last in the league in takeaways (three), giveaways (16), and turnover margin (-13).
But even with those miscues, Jerod Mayo offered up a sentiment likely shared by many watching Maye serve as New England’s lone playmaker on an otherwise uninspired afternoon from the Patriots’ offense.
“Look, he’s a guy out there trying to make a play. He’s just trying to make a play,” Mayo said of Maye’s turnovers. “And I think sometimes, as well as he has played, sometimes we forget how young he is, and he’s going to continue to develop.
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“And he’ll be a good quarterback in this league. … We already knew it, but I think the obvious thing is just his mental toughness and ability to really change the page and being a resilient player. That’s a great quality to have as a quarterback, and he’s a good competitor.”
Maye’s strip-sack in the fourth quarter might have handed Tennessee a go-ahead touchdown with 4:32 left in regulation, while the rookie’s second interception of day sealed a Titans win in overtime.
But had it not been for Maye’s contributions both on the ground and through the air, the Patriots very well could have been dealt a lopsided loss against a very mediocre Tennessee roster.
Despite getting matched up against a stingy Tennessee defense allowing the NFL’s fewest passing yards per game (151.6), Maye completed 29 of his 41 throws for 206 yards — headlined by his game-tying TD to Stevenson after seemingly evading three or four game-ending sacks.
The play was a fitting encapsulation of what Maye has showcased during his limited time as New England’s QB1 — absolving a New England offensive line that still coughed up four sacks and nine QB hits in the loss.
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Those numbers would have been far worse if it wasn’t for Maye’s ability to evade pressure and break free for chunk yardage.
According to Next Gen Stats, Maye scrambled for 11.82 seconds before finding Stevenson in the end zone — marking the second-longest time to throw on a TD pass in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016). The only play that was longer was Washington’s Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary from one week ago against the Bears.
Beyond that last play in regulation, Maye routinely torched the Titans’ defense on the ground — finishing with 95 rushing yards off of just eight carries (11.9 yards per carry). The only Patriots QB to finish with more rushing yards in a single game were Steve Grogan (103, 1976) and Babe Parilli (96, 1964).
Even with Sunday’s loss — and the fact that he was just a week removed from a concussion — Maye stressed that he isn’t looking to change his approach on the field, especially when it comes to the running game.
“I’m not gonna change the player that I am,” Maye acknowledged. “I’m past the protocol and cleared and I’m going to be the player. And if they’re dropping out guys and there’s some rush lanes up front, I’m gonna make them pay.
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“And that’s my mindset. And I gotta make some better throws, and maybe might missed some guys, but at the same time I’m going to play how I’m going to play.”
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