ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Again within the spring, when he signed a wealthy free-agent contract with the Patriots, Carlton Davis studied a participant’s spotlight video on his cellphone.
Not dangerous, he thought.
Davis had pulled up Drake Maye’s highlights from his rookie season, a uncommon 12 months the place a quarterback can begin 12 video games, play 11 from begin to end, win just one and be thought-about a hit. It didn’t take lengthy for Davis, an ex-Buccaneers and Lions cornerback, to grasp why.
“I watched his highlights, and I used to be like, ‘Oh s—, he obtained one thing to him,’” Davis remembered Sunday, after the Patriots’ 23-20 win at Buffalo. “After which simply watching him follow and watching him develop by way of (coaching) camp, watching him develop by way of the season, I by no means doubted him. … He is usually a twin menace if he desires to be, however he additionally has an important arm on him. It’s nearly getting comfy with the offense.”
Quick-forward, and Maye seems comfy. So comfy, the truth is, he led his first game-winning drive Sunday evening in opposition to the closely favored Payments in a 23-20 upset. Maye went 13 of 14 for 184 yards within the second half, when the Patriots scored on three of 4 sequence.
Tight finish Austin Hooper didn’t catch a move, however raved after the win about Maye’s affect on the sphere as a passer, runner and subject basic.
“He’s our man,” Hooper stated. “I imply, he solely continues to get higher. (He’s) so clever, (the) aggressive spirit; he could make all of the throws, could make performs together with his legs, function the road of scrimmage, get us out of sure performs and different issues. I imply, he’s that man. For positive.”
Maye overcame a tough first half, ending 9-of-16 for 89 yards. Pats coach Mike Vrabel praised his toughness in a post-game press convention, minutes earlier than teammates famous his capability to play in a hostile street setting in primetime.
“I feel only a actually gutty efficiency from Drake,” Vrabel stated. “I simply proceed to get pleasure from watching him develop and lead this soccer staff.”
Patriots exterior linebacker Harold Landry added: “I’ve all the time believed in him, man, and it’s undoubtedly good to see him simply driving down the sphere, main our offense. It’s nice to see. It offers you confidence. It offers you juice whenever you go on the market on protection to have his again and attempt to get them the ball again as quickly as doable.”
