New England Patriots
“I believe simply, by the way in which he works, the way in which he loves ball, I’m actually not shocked.”
Patriots QB Drake Maye made his weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons” on Monday, with the second-year signal-caller relating matters that ranged from New England’s upset win over the Bills to the struggles of his alma mater, UNC.
Listed below are three takeaways from his interview:
Delivering in primetime
Sunday represented a large breakthrough for Maye and a rebuilding Patriots staff, with Mike Vrabel’s teaching and imaginative and prescient seemingly validated with an upset win over what was a 4-0 Payments staff in Buffalo.
Whereas New England benefited from some sloppy execution on the a part of the Payments (three turnovers, 11 accepted penalties), the Patriots additionally have been elevated by the play of Maye, who out-dueled Josh Allen on a nationwide broadcast.
Whereas Maye didn’t report any touchdowns within the 23-20 win, he was environment friendly, mistake-free and routinely generated chunk performs via the air by concentrating on Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, and Kayshon Boutte.
He accomplished 22-of-30 passes for 273 yards, together with a 13-for-14 exhibiting within the second half as New England countered — and finally triumphed — over a official Tremendous Bowl contender.
Maye saved his greatest for the top of the sport.
With the sport tangled up in a 20-20 impasse with slightly over two minutes remaining, Maye orchestrated the primary game-winning drive of his profession, placing collectively a seven-play, 37-yard sequence that ended when kicker Andy Borregales booted a 52-yard discipline aim for the ultimate factors of the night time.
“The place else would you moderately be? Sunday Night time Soccer — an opportunity to beat the Payments at their place, and the ball in my fingers … I believe that’s what you’re working for in coaching camp and all these two-minute drills and dealing on throwing hole-shots in opposition to Cowl 2 and little issues like that,” Maye stated of the chance introduced on Sunday. “So I believe that it felt good and 1759798806 going again on the market and regroup and get again after it.”
Sunday was arguably Maye’s greatest efficiency of his profession, however the younger QB has been on the upswing all season as he’s elevated his accuracy and restricted his turnovers.
Coming into Monday night time, Maye is second within the NFL in completion share (73.9 p.c), fifth in passing yards (1,261), fifth in yards per try (9.1) and has posted 9 whole touchdowns to go together with two interceptions.
“I believe simply studying the offense, I believe simply studying [in] this league and studying to simply take what the protection provides you and once they provide you with massive performs, simply go for them,” Maye stated of his development this season. “You’re simply studying this method, attempting to understand it.
“And one other 12 months taking part in with these guys and taking part in an increasing number of video games with [Stefon Diggs] and the brand new guys. So yeah, simply one other 12 months below my belt. And simply attempt to study each week and strategy it as a brand new week.”
Constructing a rapport
One of many major causes for Maye’s ascension this season has been the arrival of Diggs, who’s wanting just like the sought-after No. 1 wideout that New England has been in pursuit of for years.
Diggs twisted the knife in opposition to his former staff in Buffalo on Sunday, reeling in 10 catches from Maye for 146 yards. It marks the second recreation in a row that Diggs has surpassed 100 yards after posting six catches for 101 yards within the staff’s Week 4 win over Carolina.
Diggs is the primary Patriots wideout to have again to again 100-yard video games since Julian Edelman in 2019.
It’s been a formidable turnaround for the 31-year-old Diggs, who tore his ACL final than a 12 months in the past with the Houston Texans. However Maye just isn’t shocked to see Diggs already settle into his function because the Patriots’ high receiving goal.
“You recognize what? I believe simply, by the way in which he works, the way in which he loves ball, I’m actually not shocked. His mindset from the time we signed him was, ‘I’m going to be able to go Week 1.’ And he simply continues to get higher and higher, and look higher and higher on the market on the sphere,” Maye stated of Diggs.
Checking in on the Tar Heels
Whereas Maye and the Patriots are beginning to get on a roll, the identical can’t be stated for Maye’s alma mater at Chapel Hill.
Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels suffered one other setback on Saturday — shedding to Clemson in a one-sided outcome, 38-10.
“I tuned into the sport slightly bit,” Maye stated of UNC. “I do know it’s the primary 12 months with a brand new employees, and numerous new gamers. I do know they’ll determine it out down there.”
Even with two victories, Belichick and his employees haven’t precisely impressed loads of confidence within the path of this system, contemplating these two victories earlier this 12 months have been in opposition to UNC Charlotte and the College of Richmond.
“I’ll help any manner I can,” Maye stated. “There’s guys I do know down there, and simply say, ‘Hey, it’s a protracted season. Maintain going.’ Shoot, I believe it’s robust.”
Join the At the moment e-newsletter
Get every part it’s good to know to start out your day, delivered proper to your inbox each morning.
