FOXBORO — Drake Maye stays in the hunt for the NFL MVP award, however the Patriots quarterback would somewhat deliver some totally different {hardware} to Gillette Stadium.
Maye has acquired quite a few MVP chants from Patriots followers this season, and people continued into the primary half of Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Payments. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford gained some floor on Maye within the MVP odds after the Patriots’ loss, nonetheless.
That doesn’t appear to trouble Maye a lot.
“The MVP is clearly one of many massive accolades for for this league, and it’s one thing that’s an honor as a participant to earn their award, and I respect all of the previous MVPs, however I feel on the finish of the day, profitable the Tremendous Bowl is the largest factor,” Maye stated Wednesday. “And I feel it’s what sort of makes this league go, is profitable the large one, and that’s what you’re employed in the direction of, and that’s what this recreation’s about. I like profitable, and the private accolades include all that, however I’d somewhat win than win private awards and other people within the locker room, I do know lots of them really feel the identical method.”
Maye, who leads the NFL in Professional Bowl voting, ranks first within the NFL in completion proportion with a 70.9% mark. He’s thrown for 3,567 yards with 23 touchdowns and 7 interceptions whereas main the Patriots to an 11-3 report. He’s additionally rushed 85 instances for 362 yards with 4 touchdowns.
It’s at present a three-man race for MVP between Stafford, Maye and the quarterback who beat the Patriots on Sunday, Payments QB Josh Allen.
Stafford has the sting with a 112.2 passer score over Maye (109.1) and Allen (104.3).
So far as superior stats are involved, Maye leads NFL QBs with a 7.8% completion proportion over anticipated, 99.8 whole EPA and 0.20 EPA per dropback. Maye is third within the NFL with a 71.2 QBR however ranks larger than Stafford and Allen. Stafford (93.3) and Allen (87.5) each have larger total PFF grades than Maye (87.0). Maye (85.3) does have Allen (78.0) beat in PFF passing grade, although Stafford (93.0) leads the NFL.
Stafford’s Rams are the No. 1 seed within the NFC with an 11-3 report. The Patriots lead the AFC East over the 10-4 Payments and are ranked second within the convention behind the Broncos.
Maye has one other probability to state his case for MVP in a nationwide, primetime matchup towards the Ravens on “Sunday Evening Soccer” this week.
The Patriots can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Ravens. They will later win the AFC East with wins over the Jets and Dolphins.
Maye isn’t taking the 7-7 Ravens evenly.
“We’ve got a troublesome problem,” Maye stated. “They’re a great protection, they usually’re a great soccer group with an amazing quarterback, so that they’re a troublesome problem.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel went as far as to name Ravens security Kyle Hamilton one of many NFL’s high gamers.
“Groups aren’t actually operating the ball on them, so that they’re forcing lots of these video games to be one-dimensional,” Vrabel stated. “Actually good mixture of veteran gamers and a few youth. Actually good inside gamers. I imply, they’re simply massive, (Travis) Jones and (John) Jenkins, and clearly they’ll rotate different guys by means of there, but it surely begins with these two.
“I feel Kyle Hamilton is without doubt one of the finest gamers on this league simply from a versatility standpoint and what he can do on the line of scrimmage, protecting. I imply, 34 profession PBUs, eight profession sacks, performs nickel, performs security, performs dimebacker. So, the flexibility there’s spectacular. The playmaking skill is spectacular. I imply, (Marlon) Humphrey is – in case you’re free with the soccer otherwise you take a nap, he’ll pull it out or he’ll hammer it. Roquan Smith often tackles the ball each time it’s handed off. So, they’re taking part in nicely, they’re taking part in with lots of confidence and it’ll be an enormous check.”
If the Patriots can’t get their run recreation going towards the Ravens, then they’ll need to depend on Maye to make performs together with his arm. And even when it’s not a precedence for Maye, a win over the Ravens on Sunday evening will definitely assist him within the MVP race.
