FOXBORO — It took three quarters, however the MVP candidate who led the Patriots again to the playoffs arrived in time Sunday to ship them to the AFC Championship Recreation.
Drake Maye hit a 32-yard landing move to Kayshon Boutte within the fourth quarter for the ultimate rating in a 28-16 divisional-round win over the Texans, a highlight-reel play that will dwell without end in playoff franchise lore. Maye’s landing survived a replay assessment and all however ended Houston’s hopes of survival in a recreation that in any other case performed out as a defensive slugfest. He completed 16-of-27 for 179 yards, three touchdowns and an interception towards the AFC’s greatest protection, which sacked him 5 instances.
Maye fumbled on 4 of these 5 sacks, roadblocks the Texans threw on the Patriots’ path to victory. Pats coach Mike Vrabel credited his younger quarterback for overcoming these errors to steer a profitable effort.
“We speak about not going within the blender, and I feel it’s arduous,” Vrabel mentioned. “They put strain on us, and we all know we’ve obtained to maintain the ball. Drake is aware of that. However to have the ability to keep the course and to belief Kayshon and provides him an incredible ball that was (for) him or no person — and people guys have form of achieved that each one yr — after we wanted a play, they’ve been ready to do this for us.”
Maye admitted the snowy climate situations affected his efficiency. It was an atypically inaccurate exhibiting for Maye, who threw just a few passes with no probability of being caught. He additionally fumbled 3 times within the first half however didn’t inflict any hurt along with his interception, a innocent Hail Mary earlier than halftime.
Maye did have his moments, beginning with a 28-yard landing to DeMario Douglas within the first quarter on fourth-and-1. Later, he ripped a 7-yard landing to Stefon Diggs to beat hermetic protection for a 21-10 lead late within the second quarter. As a runner, Maye had one scramble for eight yards.
“I feel the most important factor is getting again there with snow and simply having a very good grip on it and letting it rip,” Maye mentioned. “The climate isn’t any excuse, however there’s positively instances when the ball rolls round on the bottom with the middle earlier than the snap, it will get a bit of moist. So it’s positively robust, however I assumed we made sufficient throws.”
Patriots veterans mentioned Maye remained upbeat by his turnovers. Sunday was the second straight recreation the place he’s thrown a second-half landing move to drag away with a playoff win, having discovered tight finish Hunter Henry for a 28-yard rating within the fourth quarter of the Pats’ 16-3 Wild Card conquer the Chargers.
“I feel he’s studying that quick: how arduous it’s (within the playoffs) and the way you simply have to remain within the recreation,” Henry mentioned. “Nothing’s going to be good, however you need to proceed to battle, to scratch, to claw. Some issues won’t go your means, and also you simply have to come back again and maintain swinging.”
Maye is now 33-of-56 for 447 yards, 4 touchdowns, two interceptions and 10 sacks this postseason.
