Pats vs. Texans: Drake Maye Flashes Potential in First Career Start
By Jordan Pagkalinawan
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the no. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, made his first start of his young career Sunday against the Houston Texans. The switch came amid the Pats’ 1-4 start, which included a four-game losing streak.
The UNC product was the lone bright spot in the Pats’ 41-21 loss to the Texans at Gillette Stadium. He threw for 243 yards on 20 of 33 passes and secured three touchdowns and two interceptions. According to Boston.com, Maye’s performance marked the most passing yards by a Pats QB this year, as well as the first since Bailey Zappe to throw three touchdown passes.
The Patriots drafted Maye with the hope he’d be their savior under center in the years since Tom Brady’s departure. Since the seven-time Super Bowl champion left New England in 2020, the Patriots started four different QBs—Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe—in four seasons before Jones’s arrival in the Bay State. Mayo’s decision to start Maye was formally announced Wednesday, with the first-year head coach adding: “I think now Drake gives us the best chance to win now and going forward.”
Maye’s debut was a mix of touchdowns and turnovers, but filled with promise nonetheless. His first TD in the second quarter got New England close with a 14-7 deficit, though his next two came as the Texans separated themselves with a 27-point second half. He also showed a knack for keeping plays alive by scrambling, as his 38 rushing yards marked a team-high for the Pats.
In reflecting on his performance, Maye said, “I was a little amped at the start for sure. The guys around me were great [at] trying to settle me down, and Jacoby was a big part of that…It gave me goosebumps going out there for the first time. I’m in a great spot with the Patriots here and playing quarterback in the NFL.”
Texans starter CJ Stroud—who was once in Maye’s shoes as a rookie starting QB—offered words of encouragement to Maye postgame.
“Just be yourself, you know,” Stroud said. “Everything that got you here will take care of where you want to go and really just trust yourself…There are days where you’ll look at yourself like, man, I’m the worst quarterback in the world, but it’s always about getting up the next day and keep going. I thought he played really solid. Definitely feel like he’ll get better and better as he keeps going.”
The Pats will look to right the ship on the road when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 9:30 am ET.