Morning Sports Update
Former NFL quarterback (now ESPN analyst) Dan Orlovsky additionally in contrast Maye to a Tremendous Bowl winner.
The evaluation of Drake Maye’s progress: One of many central elements of the Patriots‘ profitable begin to the season — New England, now 5-2, has already eclipsed its complete 2024 win complete (of 4) — has been the event of second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye, 23, has thrown 12 touchdowns towards simply two interceptions via seven video games. He’s additionally second on the workforce in speeding, testomony to his all-around contributions to assist maintain the Patriots’ offense shifting.
Given his (and the workforce’s) promising begin, Maye has acquired consideration from ESPN’s “NFL Reside,” which centered on his function in New England’s turnaround in a current phase.
“I believe he’s grow to be the most effective deep-ball throwers in your complete NFL, week after week after week now,” mentioned ESPN NFL senior author Mina Kimes on Tuesday.
Kimes identified that Maye is second within the NFL in cross completion proportion, and first in QBR (quarterback ranking) on throws over 15 yards.
She added that Maye is differentiating himself from different younger quarterbacks.
“Typically when you have got a younger quarterback who’s chucking it, they’re simply discovering one-on-ones and throwing it exterior the numbers,” mentioned Kimes. “Tennessee performed a ton of zone [coverage] towards him — which by the best way I believe is defenses beginning to concern the Patriots’ passing assault truly opened up issues on the bottom — and all of his bombs have been simply beating zone.
“After I watch Drake Maye throw deep, clearly the arm energy stands out,” Kimes continued. “He’s throwing with accuracy, he’s throwing with contact, however he additionally has a very good understanding of the defenses that he’s throwing at, and the place the voids are, the place the leverage is. That to me is what’s most spectacular about this. This isn’t only a uncooked, gifted quarterback chucking it downfield.”
In different phrases, he’s greater than only a gifted quarterback making performs with sheer potential.
“He is aware of what he’s seeing, and he is aware of the place to assault,” Kimes concluded.
Fellow ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, himself a former quarterback, in contrast Maye to a notable AFC title from the previous.
“Watching him, it’s like watching younger Ben Roethlisberger,” Orlovsky claimed. Particularly, Orlovsky cited Maye’s energy in avoiding tacklers and full robust passes.
“So typically he sheds off that arm tackler, that in-the-pocket shove, and I believe you’re realizing when he was popping out of college how essential that body was. After which a few of these wild throws, Ben would make throws like that the place you’re identical to, ‘Good God, how did you make that [throw] into that window, or place it there?’”
Maye and the Patriots will get to return residence for the newest matchup this weekend for the primary time since a Sept. 28 win over the Panthers. New England will play the Browns at 1 p.m.
Trivia: Ben Roethlisberger was one among 4 quarterbacks picked within the first spherical of the 2004 NFL Draft. Are you able to title the opposite three?
(Reply on the backside).
Trace: They have been picked by the Chargers and Giants (who performed a high-profile commerce of two of the QBs), in addition to the Payments.
Scores and schedules:
The Bruins misplaced to the Panthers 4-3 on Tuesday, with the TD Backyard crowd welcoming again former Boston star Brad Marchand in what was an inevitably emotional scene.
Tonight, the Celtics open the 2025-26 season at TD Backyard towards the 76ers at 7:30 p.m.
And on Sunday, the Patriots will probably be again residence for a matchup towards the Browns at 1 p.m.
Extra from Boston.com:
Celtics season hype video: The workforce launched a particular video narrated by Isaiah Thomas.
Sights and sounds: Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane was mic’d up for the current win over the Titans (his former workforce).
On today: In 1961, the Patriots annihilated the Payments 52-21 in a traditional AFL matchup. Billy Lott caught three Babe Parilli landing passes as Boston constructed a 45-0 result in successfully finish the sport by the third quarter.
Elsewhere, the Bruins weren’t as productive, falling 9-1 to the Maple Leafs to drop to 0-7-1 on the season.
Day by day spotlight: Devin Gandy ran again a Louisiana Tech trick play for a kickoff return landing on Tuesday night time, although Western Kentucky finally gained 28-27 in time beyond regulation.
Trivia reply: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, J.P. Losman
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