One of the many coaching decisions being heavily scrutinized from Sunday’s 25-24 loss for the Patriots is head coach Jerod Mayo’s decision to attempt a 68-yard field goal with kicker Joey Slye - which would have both won the game and set the record for longest field goal in NFL history - instead of allowing rookie quarterback Drake Maye the opportunity to throw a Hail Mary from the 50 yard line.
We saw fellow rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels complete a Hail Mary pass for-the-win earlier this season, beating the Bears at home 18-15 in late October.
By contrast, we have never seen a made field goal of 68 yards in the history of the NFL, as Justin Tucker holds the record for kicking a 66-yard field goal indoors to beat Detroit at Ford Field back in 2021.
But, alas, Mayo believed his odds of winning were better on the foot of Slye. And if they had been about two yards closer, he may have been right.
So let the second guessing continue, as the Patriots fall to 3-10 on the season after that loss at Gillette Stadium to the Colts.
And to add fuel to the “why’d he kick it” fire, enter Maye from his appearance on the WEEI Afternoon Show on Monday.
WEEI’s Andy Hart asked, “In terms of the way the game ended yesterday, you guys execute an interesting sort of situation there to at least get the opportunity for either a Hail Mary or what would have been a record-setting field goal. I’m assuming you would’ve felt comfortable throwing the ball, whatever it would’ve had to have been, 58-60 yards into the end zone. Is that a club you have in your bag? And would you have been excited to get that opportunity?”
“Yeah,” said Maye. “I think anytime you’re on the 50, you know, midfield - if you can’t make that throw in the NFL, I’m not sure you should be in the NFL.
“You know, we had a chance to ‘Hail Mary.’ But like I said, Joey felt like, and the special teams coordinator and Coach Mayo - I was ready for whatever the team decided. But yeah, if you can’t, probably, make a Hail Mary from 50 yards, I think maybe you’re playing the wrong sport.”
That’s exactly the type of bravado you want the future of your franchise to have, and you have to wonder if Mayo wishes he could have a do-over after hearing this type of confidence from his 22-year-old QB.
Through the course of talking Hail Marys, WEEI’s Nick “Fitzy” Stevens asked Maye about a viral video from his time at North Carolina, where the QB could be seen throwing the ball 83 yards, hitting the cross bar at the Tar Heels’ home stadium.
Maye didn’t even remember making the throw, obviously making him unable to confirm if there was any help given to that ball in post-production.
“80 yards is a stretch,” said Maye, still racking his brain to remember the toss. “But it depends on how I’m feeling that day. I think with some adrenaline flowing, I can definitely, you know - I could definitely feel like I throw it pretty good.”
The dude doesn’t even remember throwing the ball 83 yards. What a stud.
(that leads me to believe the video isn’t real, but let’s not let logic get in the way of fun following a frustrating loss for the Pats)
Maye will return to Gillette Stadium on Tuesday for one more practice before hitting the bye week for Week 14.
Week 15 will see the UNC-product hitting the road for a game against the 6-6 Arizona Cardinals.