New England Patriots
“That belief was constructed up in all probability once I was in center faculty when he was enjoying within the league.”
Drake Maye’s rise to NFL stardom amid the Patriots’ thrilling eight-game profitable streak has deservedly put the second-year quarterback in MVP conversations.
His success, albeit individually spectacular by means of 11 video games, has partially been made attainable by his weapons on offense. New England’s veteran receivers, specifically, have performed an integral position in Maye’s improvement, in addition to reaching a league-best 9-2 report.
Huge receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins together with tight finish Hunter Henry stepped up within the air within the Patriots’ Thursday night victory over the Jets. The trio have been dependable down discipline all evening on a brief week as WR Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) missed a second-straight recreation and TE Austin Hooper (concussion) was equally inactive.
Maye was requested about his belief in Diggs, an 11-year NFL veteran, and the way lengthy it took for them to develop a connection on the sphere, after the sport.
“That belief was constructed up in all probability once I was in center faculty when he was enjoying within the league. It was way back,” Maye said of Diggs.
The 23-year-old signal-caller’s response could have made Diggs really feel previous, nevertheless it’s a testomony to the soon-to-be 32-year-old’s observe report as a playmaker since getting into the league in 2015. It’s additionally a testomony to New England’s entrance workplace for signing Diggs in March after whiffing on free-agent WRs like Chris Godwin and DK Metcalf.
Diggs’s efficiency Thursday was another excuse to be completely satisfied about the truth that he’s in simply the primary yr of his three-year, $69 million contract. He caught 9 passes on 11 targets for 105 yards, his longest reception of the evening being a 22-yard catch within the fourth quarter.
Diggs and Maye’s connection seems to be getting stronger each week, particularly as Diggs just lately handed the one-year mark since his ACL tear in October final yr.
Maye additionally praised Henry, who was the Patriots’ lone energetic TE Thursday. Henry caught 4 passes for 45 yards, who got here up with a 23-yard reception to start an early second-quarter drive with the rating knotted at seven factors.
Henry, a 10-year NFL veteran who has spent half of his profession in New England, had been restricted to only one catch towards the Buccaneers final week. The 30-year-old’s bounce-back evening was much-needed given Hooper’s absence.
“Guys like him and Hunter [Henry] and Mack [Hollins], you belief these guys for what they’ve finished on this league,” Maye stated. “I simply attempt to give them probabilities. … These guys have been nice for us tonight.”
Hollins, a 30-year-old enjoying in his eighth wholesome season, recorded 4 catches for 64 yards. His longest reception of the sport was a 20-yarder to push the Patriots into the pink zone within the second quarter. Rookie operating again TreVeyon Henderson ran for his second landing of the evening to provide New England a 14-7 benefit the next play.
The Patriots, who stand atop the AFC East and your complete NFL, are in place to make the playoffs after profitable solely 4 video games in every of their final two seasons. Drake Maye is clearly a serious a part of that, however the corps round him deserves loads of credit score, too.
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