Drake Maye's first career start is in the books, and despite putting up 21 points offensively and having some very good stretches, four total turnovers, and a lot of bad defense in the second half did the Patriots in for their fifth consecutive loss. Although there is optimism over what we saw with the quarterback, this was different from how I expected them to lose this one, especially after going into the third quarter down only 14-7. With that out of the way, here's what I got this week.
Drake Maye (Negatives)
This isn't a super long section so don't worry, but there were undoubtedly some things I thought Maye could've done better yesterday. The most glaring example of that would be his first-quarter interception.
So Maye had a couple of good secondary reads here in the Antonio Gibson check-down if he wanted that, or the Pop Douglas crosser, which was not a given but certainly there for him. There's nothing else to say here besides that he puts too much air under this and sails it. That's a throw Maye ultimately has to hit, but based on how the rest of the day went, it's not unfair to say there were some early-game nerves.
Now, this one was a positive play, but it is one of those "little things" that jumped out when I looked at it in real-time.
This does end up being a good play and moves the chains, but why settle for good when it could've been perfect? While Maye made the in-game adjustment later on with the slant shot to Douglas, this is the best example I can give you of some ball placement inconsistencies with Maye. I could also mention that high throw to Gibson in the flat.
Obviously, the second pick (to which all you can do is tip your cap to Will Anderson) and the strip sack aren't on Maye, but this was not a perfect game for him. However, I'd be lying to you if I said there wasn't a lot of good.
Drake Maye (Positives)
What you are about to see is every throw Drake Maye made in his first-ever live two-minute drill (81 yards in 20 seconds officially) against one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the entire league.
This is that kind of drive that #RestoresTheFeeling, and while it didn't lead to anything in the second half, that's a pros-pro level of execution on Maye's part, and that's the kind of momentum-shifting drive you're looking for out of a franchise quarterback. Even a day later, I'm stunned that he pulled the trigger on that deep shot to Kayshon Boutte when he was on DEREK STINGLEY, of all people, but it was an absolutely perfect ball in a spot where only Boutte had a shot at it.
Some others pointed out the other big play today: this play in which Stingley makes his own window to Boutte, baiting Stingley with his eyes to draw him onto Hunter Henry underneath, and he realizes too late what's happening.
That's veteran quarterback play by a guy at his first start, and it was on a Pro Bowl-caliber corner.
Elsewhere, Maye was much better than I would've hoped against the blitz. He picked up yards with his legs and definitely held up his end of the bargain in terms of winning this game. The 243 passing yards he put up were the most Houston has given up to a starter all year, and his three passing TDs only trail the four Sam Darnold put up for the Vikings in Week 3. Not a 10/10 performance, but there's a ton of reasons to be excited moving forward.
Catching a Red Eye
If you didn't know who Ben Brown was before this week, you probably do now. After arriving in Foxborough mid-week off a red-eye flight from Vegas, he made Thursday practice, was informed he was starting in this game hours beforehand, and put up a clean sheet in pass protection on Sunday. I don't know if I would go as far as Jerod Mayo in saying he was the Patriots' best lineman yesterday, but he stepped up as much as humanly possible, given his unique situation, for the lack of a better term.
Defensive Lapses
It's hard to fault the defense for the three free possessions the Texans got, which resulted in 17 points. On the other hand, they didn't generate enough timely pressure outside of four Keion White snaps and then sacks from Marte Mapu and Jaqueline Roy. When they got that matchup, Jonathan Jones was repeatedly beaten like a drum by Tank Dell. And then, of course, they gave up those two big runs (which I'd give partial or full credit to Raekwon McMillan). With all that happening at once, regardless of some of the bad penalties, you will lose your football games 100 times out of 100.
Good teams will take full advantage of miscues and bad execution, and that's exactly what the Texans did all day long. Say whatever you want about Ron Torbert's ref crew (which was admittedly horrible), but this was a bad, timely defensive outing for this group. Talking about the passing defense, this team can't afford to have Jon Jones playing as iffy as he was in coverage moving forward. I thought he got annihilated to his inside all game.
Final Score: Houston Texans 41, New England Patriots 21
Gaffney's Three Stars from Patriots-Texans
3rd Star - Ben Brown (Perfect Pass Pro Sheet after Arriving in Foxborough on Thursday)
2nd Star - Pop Douglas and Kayshon Boutte (Combined 9 Catches for 151 Yards, 2 TDs)
1st Star - Drake Maye (20/33, 243 Yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 5 Rushes for 38 Yards)
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