FOXBORO – Nobody wants to inform Drake Maye that he didn’t play his finest soccer sport in Sunday’s win over the Falcons.
It was one of many first issues Maye mentioned when he obtained to the rostrum Sunday afternoon after the 24-23 victory.
“I’ve to play higher,” the Patriots quarterback mentioned. “I’ve obtained to play higher for this crew down the street. I feel it’s robust. It’s robust in a sport the place you win and you may really feel in that locker room that these guys know we will play higher.”
Maye began out sizzling, going 9-of-13 for 157 yards with two touchdowns till the ultimate drive of the primary half, when he coughed up the ball on a strip sack whereas main 21-7. The Falcons recovered and scored, giving the Patriots only a one-score lead going into halftime.
“We actually obtained an opportunity to get some extra factors going into halftime, and free rush there, very first thing I needed to do, I informed our quarterback coach, simply obtained to tuck the ball to the chest,” Maye mentioned. “Getting in a nasty behavior of attempting to interrupt tackles on these guys that I don’t have an awesome probability of breaking a deal with on.”
The Patriots prolonged their result in 24-14 with a subject aim popping out of the half, however on Maye’s subsequent drive, he had a miscommunication with tight finish Hunter Henry that led to an interception.
Henry minimize left, and the ball flew over his head and into Falcons security Jessie Bates’ diving arms.
“Gave the ball again to them at midfield and it simply modified the sport,” Maye mentioned.
Maybe it says extra about Maye’s MVP-caliber season by means of the primary eight weeks of the season {that a} 19-of-29, 259-yard, two-touchdown, two-turnover efficiency is seen as a disappointment.
Maye additionally added eight carries for 20 yards. He fumbled once more early within the third quarter however recovered it himself.
He additionally accomplished the game-clinching move, connecting with Henry for 17 yards on third-and-5 with 1:42 left in regulation to place the sport away when the Patriots have been main 24-23.
Head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned there was no hesitation to let Maye throw the ball, relatively than calling a 3rd straight run.
“Simply go win the sport,” Vrabel mentioned.
Maye’s teammates have their quarterback’s again.
“Chin up, chest out. That (expletive) occurs,” huge receiver Stefon Diggs mentioned. “Receivers aren’t excellent. We’re not all the time open. We’re not all the time doing the suitable stuff. However to have the ability to go on the market and can (us) to a win, I’ll take that any day, and I’m using with Drake Maye.
“Issues aren’t going to be excellent. I’ll inform y’all on a regular basis, it’s exhausting as (expletive) to play quarterback.”
Maye was sacked six occasions for a lack of 38 yards within the sport. PFF charged the Patriots’ offensive line with three of these of their preliminary sport charting. The opposite three have been on Maye.
Heart Garrett Bradbury, a veteran chief, mentioned the offensive line bears some accountability for a few of Maye’s struggles.
“The Drake miscues that he’s beating himself up (over), we had our hand in (them), too. It was safety, and we tried to make him do one thing that’s out of what he’s coached to do,” Bradbury mentioned. “And so we’ve obtained to be higher for him. We’ve obtained to scrub the pocket up a bit of bit and provides him some throwing lanes, as a result of after we do, everybody is aware of how good it may be. In order that’s how all of us really feel.”
The Patriots went 4-13 throughout Maye’s rookie season after which began this yr 1-2.
So, Maye is aware of how exhausting it’s to win within the NFL, and he’s nonetheless going to have a good time a victory even when he’s being exhausting on himself postgame.
“I feel you simply benefit from the wins and know deep down I’m annoyed and I would like some performs again, however that’s an excellent protection we confronted, and people guys in that locker room are cool to be round and play with,” Maye mentioned.
The Falcons got here into the competition as one of many league’s stingiest defenses, permitting lower than 150 passing yards per sport. Maye eclipsed that within the first half, after which he wanted some assist from his protection to place the sport away.
Total, Maye nonetheless generated .02 EPA (anticipated factors added) per play. That was the second-lowest mark of his season, behind the Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Raiders. His CPOE (completion proportion over anticipated) was +5.3%. That was his third-lowest mark of the season, however nonetheless on the constructive facet.
