Driving down to Gillette Stadium from the WEEI studios Sunday, I went from using my windshield wipers on a stereotypically dreary New England day to spotting a tiny patch of blue sky over Route 1, a mile from Foxboro.
That’s how Drake Maye Day felt, as the Patriots offense started out, once again, mostly lumbering and limping down the field through the first half. Run, run, throw it away. Check down, run, interception. Snooze, snooze, barf.
For the first hour, the only meaningful difference between Jacoby Brissett’s offense and Maye’s was the extra level of chaos the comes with any rookie quarterback debut. Maye was able to extend a couple early plays with his legs, but he also struggled with field vision and accuracy.
But late in the second quarter, the offense began to string something together. DeMario Douglas looked like the slot receiver binky the Patriots have desperately lacked in recent years, fighting for yards after the catch and drawing defensive pass interference. Then, Maye threw the best touchdown pass New England has seen since Tom Brady moved down to hurricane country. That’s no exaggeration. Maye tossed a 40-yard pass right in the basket for Kayshon Boutte like he was in the backyard on Thanksgiving morning.
The offense’s execution was similarly disjointed coming out of halftime. Demontrey Jacobs allowed his second sack of the game and Maye picked up a silly false start penalty. He more than made up for it, connecting another drive that ended with his second touchdown pass, this time, to Hunter Henry.
In two quarters, Maye recorded as many touchdown passes as Jacoby Brissett posted through five weeks. He added another in the fourth.
Maye’s game had plenty of other warts: he threw two interceptions and at one point, he literally ran into one of his own teammates. Not ideal.
But he was thrust into the league’s worst situation among his rookie quarterback class, made even tougher than usual by an inactive Rhamondre Stevenson and left tackle Vederian Lowe leaving the game early with an ankle injury. With Stevenson out, there was no balance in the Patriots’ offense. Antonio Gibson, although useful in the passing game, rushed for just 19 yards total. All phases of the team devolved into the disorderly conduct that’s become their identity this season, be it screwing special teams from Marcus Jones’ chunk play or players in the secondary drawing pass interference in the red zone.
Maye has lots of room to grow. Where former first-rounder Mac Jones came in with a polished professional floor, Maye’s has some haunted house-worthy trap doors.
Whatever. He’s undeniably the best talent on the team. The 15-yard scramble for a first down in the fourth quarter was simply exhilarating.
In a single game he also proved himself able to utilize the talent around him. New England’s pass catchers have been bemoaned as some of the worst in the league. Maye made them look like untapped talent. It was no coincidence that Boutte and Douglas both recorded their first touchdowns with Maye leading the huddle.
The game never felt in reach for New England – even when it was 14-7. Houston is too good. New England picks up penalties tying their shoes. But even among all the team’s flaws and Maye’s rookie mistakes, the young quarterback gave you a reason to jump out of your chair and pump your first. It’s been a while since a Patriot quarterback did that, and it’s a reason to exercise a little hope for the Patriots’ future. There might be blue skies ahead.