New England Patriots
“I did not throw very properly tonight. Should be higher. We did what we needed to do.”
FOXBOROUGH — As he’s performed all season lengthy, Drake Maye deflected reward and directed it towards his teammates on Sunday after the Patriots’ first postseason win in almost seven years.
His feedback held much more weight after New England’s 16-3 victory over the Chargers — particularly given the rock struggle that performed out for a majority of that contest.
“Wasn’t fairly, that’s for certain,” Maye stated after the win. “However this protection was so enjoyable to observe. Congrats to them. It was so enjoyable to observe. They gained the sport for us. I didn’t throw very properly tonight. Should be higher. We did what we needed to do. That’s what it takes within the playoffs. Pleased with this group.”
It wasn’t the sharpest exhibiting on Sunday in Maye’s postseason debut.
Whereas the 23-year-old QB’s rise as an MVP frontrunner this season has helped spark a 10-win turnaround in 2025, Maye and New England’s explosive offense took a backseat to the protection on Sunday.
A six-sack efficiency from New England’s massive our bodies up entrance was wanted, as Maye and the Patriots struggled to get right into a rhythm for many of Sunday’s sport in Foxborough.
After finishing a league-leading 72.0 % of his throws to open the season, Maye was 17-for-29 on his passes (58.6 %) on Sunday in opposition to a stingy Chargers protection — throwing for 268 yards and one landing within the win.
The second-year QB was additionally knocked for a pair of turnovers — a tipped move that was intercepted within the first quarter and a fumble generated off a strip-sack from Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh within the third quarter.
“We’ve bought to care for the soccer,” Mike Vrabel stated of his quarterback’s play. “Thought he got here by means of after we wanted him. The tipped move is one thing that was unlucky. That changed into an interception. However the throw to Hunter I assumed after we wanted him was elite.”
Regardless of some struggles in opposition to Los Angeles’ tenacious move protection, Maye began to settle in in the course of the second half.
Whereas most of Sunday’s sport was a good contest, Maye was in a position to capitalize popping out of halftime — finishing 11-of-14 throws within the second half for 173 passing yards, one landing, and a 142.0 passer ranking.
Maye’s finest throw of the night time got here in crunch time, as he set his ft— after TreVeyon Henderson took out Daiyan Henley with a key blitz pick-up — and hit Hunter Henry for a 28-yard landing with 9:45 left on the clock, giving New England some respiration room.
“Often bought a flat [route] that form of holds Derwin, but it surely actually didn’t,” Maye stated. “So, simply trusting [Henry]. He simply makes massive catches, time and again. It was form of the same throw to the one to [Hooper], and I missed one to [Hooper], so I used to be simply considering, give him an opportunity to make a play. It’s a sport of inches, and we got here up on the fitting aspect of it.”
Maye additionally managed to maneuver the chains with some regularity by counting on his legs, gaining 66 yards off of 10 rushes — headlined by a 37-yard scramble within the second quarter that gave Andy Borregales a chance to kick a 35-yard discipline aim simply earlier than halftime.
New England might want to restrict its turnovers transferring ahead if this group desires to hold its turnaround season into early February.
However Maye was grateful that he and his teammates did sufficient to return away with a win in opposition to Los Angeles, with Maye set to have fun together with his household after the victory.
“My dad and mom come to each sport, in order that they’re all the time right here, and my three brothers had been right here, so it was fairly cool, all three of them being right here,” Maye stated. “It’s simply particular, sharing these moments with them, and going residence and, shoot, most likely enjoying ping-pong till 1:30 or one thing. Having them in the home is cool. These are three of my finest mates.”
Maye and the Patriots now transfer on to the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs, with New England set to host both the Steelers or Texans subsequent Sunday, Jan. 18, at Gillette Stadium.
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