Sunday 7: Drake Maye-nia takes London

1. It may not have the global fever pitch of Beatlemania when it hit stateside in 1964, but there’s no denying that there’s much more hype about two 1-5 teams facing off against each other thanks to Drake Maye-nia. The Patriots’ decision to start their rookie QB last week against the Texans, leading to the second start of his career, which happens to be on the road in London, during the solo morning broadcast slot, lends to a buzzier affair across the pond. Drake Maye as well be playing Tupac for his walkout music, “All Eyez On Me” a worthy choice.

If this were Jacoby Brissett starting against the 1-5 Jaguars in Jacksonville, then CBS probably would send their broadcast Z-Team to cover it. The fact that the Jags are as bad as the Pats, maybe worse given their talent and preseason outlook, didn’t help the sell factor. Maye being the focal point of the Pats definitely helps the draw to Sunday’s game, and he certainly helped his cause with his debut last Sunday.

Maye was solid in his debut, a 41-21 home loss to a very good Houston team with a feisty defense that at times gave him fits, and he at times got the best of as well. According to Pro Football Focus, his was the best debut performance of any rookie QB from an impressive 2024 class, topping the likes of Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, who have both since shown why they were the first and second picks, respectively, of last April’s draft.

Displaying poise, arm strength, improvisational ability and a solid understanding of the offense, Maye never looked overwhelmed, even in the face of pressure (he was under duress on over 40% of his dropbacks), turnovers and a constant deficit to a superior team. He delivered what fans had been hoping for from him or any Pats QB for the last few years: the threat of scoring and the idea that the offense has a higher ceiling.

Perhaps most impressive was his demeanor after the game, saying he felt good to be out there but because the team didn’t win he wouldn’t call his debut a big success. Humble and hungry are two quality adjectives to add to the Drake Maye profile for sure. His desire to improve is a positive attribute not lost on his teammates either.

Teammates are impressed, with some like Kendrick Bourne going so far as to say Maye has “aura” about him. Pop Douglas said he likes Maye’s confidence as well. Maye’s presence is part of the renewed energy coach Jerod Mayo talked about on the practice field last week. All of the reviews and hyperbole and analysis are coming in positively, but the big questions now are…will Maye be able to continue developing, stay upright and ultimately lead the team to victory?

Whether the scheme deployed by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is the best fit for Maye seems to be nearing the front burner of discussion in terms of the team’s overall success and Maye’s development. Critics of AVP’s offense have said it’s too run-centric, a bit plodding and not dynamic enough. Others have noted the receiver routes rely too heavily on isolated matchups which require winning one-on-ones, possibly not the best for a team that lacks elite receiver speed and experience.

Above all, it seems the players want the offense to be more aggressive and get off to a faster start. Kayshon Boutte, the recipient of Maye’s first NFL touchdown pass, said the offense needs to be more aggressive (and most agree). Douglas said the team needs to get off to a fast start in practice and bring that to the game. Again, the fans and analysts tend to agree. And if you asked Maye under oath we’d bet our bottom dollar he would like the team to play faster, more aggressively and not play “try not to lose” football.

Grinding out wins was the Jacoby Brissett at QB formula. His manner suited Van Pelt’s playcalling well, and the team found early success with a Week 1 win in Cincinnati. After that, sadly, the offense stalled out and found less success and more defeats, thus necessitating the switch to Maye. Now, hopefully, the manner in which AVP calls plays and the way the team gets after it on offense mirrors the way it seems these Patriots want to play; up-tempo, fearless and aggressive. Of course there’s more risk involved with that playing style, especially with a QB making his second start, and on the road in another country, no less. But as Tom Brady’s second NFL coach said famously, “No risk it, no biscuit!”

Now it’s up to Maye to show the early praise was merited and the success no fluke. And it’s up to his OC to loosen the reins and increase the tempo. The Pats did score a season high 21 points last week, but that hardly seems like their ceiling, especially this week against a porous Jacksonville secondary. Losers of five straight, there almost should be a “What do we have to lose?” all out approach and attack by the Pats. We’ll see if AVP lets Drake cook, because it seems like his fans and his teammates really want that biscuit. Or crumpet, or Yorkshire pudding since they’re in London this week.

2. As Jerod Mayo is finding out on the fly, being a head coach in the NFL is more than just building a roster and overseeing playcalls. He had plenty of NFL experience at multiple levels, from eight years playing time as a linebacker with the Pats to five seasons as a defensive assistant with the team, not to mention real world business experience with companies like Optum. Add all that to his intelligence and demeanor and you can see how and why he would be a desirable candidate for coaching football at any level. But even he has to wonder if he was prepared for everything being thrown at him in his rookie head coaching campaign. Talk about trial by fire!

Mayo has spoken often of wanting to loosen things up from the previous regime under coach Bill Belichick, creating a collaborative environment and new contemporary culture. That all sounds great…when you’re winning. When you’re losing, mired in a long-term rebuild, smaller issues get magnified, and larger ones begin to raise questions about behavior, culture and discipline.

Between players like Javon Baker grousing about a parking ticket on social media, another player in Christian Barmore this week caught on camera arguing with police after being pulled over by Providence police after midnight, and the unfortunate and upsetting circumstances surrounding Jabrill Peppers’ arrest, one could wonder aloud if Mayo has so much on his plate that things are getting a touch out of control early on. This doesn’t even address the alleged “mutiny” in the locker room that was described by Evan Lazar from Patriots.com a few weeks back. That situation was denied by one and many players, but then again the players haven’t been shy in saying they want the offense to be more aggressive. Mayo has said he wants his players to have a voice in the team’s operation and success, but learning how and when to use that voice might be an important lesson.

Back when he was hired Mayo said he wanted to teach his players how to think, not what to think. Creating a healthy culture of hard work and positive results will go a long way in keeping players focused during hardship like this season, and hopefully convince players to choose the Patriots come free agency. Signing on to a losing team can be a tough choice unless you believe in their vision and culture, or they pay you a whole lot of money, or both. As we saw earlier this year the extra money didn’t matter for receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who turned down a trade to the Pats to stay for less money in San Francisco.

Defensive lineman Davon Godchaux said the players in the locker room had Mayo’s back and would “run through a brick wall” for him. Godchaux is the same player who last week called out fellow defenders for lackluster effort in the second half of the loss to Houston. Though it's probably reassuring to him that he’s liked and appreciated, as we saw before, and as a book about the Pats was titled, sometimes it’s better to be feared than liked.

The takeoff seemed pretty smooth for Mayo’s inaugural coaching voyage, but to say seas have been rough and the flight has experienced some turbulence would be an understatement. Taking over for Bill Belichick and shepherding a rebuild for one of the NFL’s marquee franchises was more than task enough for someone who’d never been a head coach. Getting his players in line, behaving appropriately and avoiding the headlines for the wrong reasons will be a challenge for sure. A lot has to be placed at the feet of the players to be mature and represent the franchise accordingly. But if Mayo wants to teach players how to think and be successful he’ll need to tweak that culture he’s building, for right now the culture of the 2024 Patriots seems a bit disjointed. Drake Maye can help with the energy and possibly the final score, but he can’t fix everything else on coach Mayo’s very full plate.

3.  The overseas NFL experience is always a unique and enjoyable one for fans and teams alike. A chance to take in new sights, history, culture, food and of course the fans themselves, who are underrated in their devotion and dedication to their favorite NFL teams. Consider that British NFL fans consume the games five hours later than the east coast of the US and many never miss a game! Their experience as soccer fans makes their energy at NFL games a whole new element that fans from the US and players absolutely cherish.

The UKPatriots is the team’s official English fan club, and they are a significant lot, hosting parties when the team come across the pond, and visiting en masse to Gillette Stadium frequently, too. While their welcome party for Pats Nation in London Saturday night is sold out, they are worth a follow as they make recommendations for visiting fans to meet up, tailgate and celebrate the experience. It goes without saying there’s plenty to see, plenty to do and pubs galore for the Foxboro Faithful overseas…plus a chance to meet fellow Pats fans from around the world as fan clubs from all over Europe descend upon London for the game and social occasion.

The Pats have had success in London, going 2-0 at Wembley Stadium, a grand site that serves as England’s national football stadium. Their first win was 2009 against Tampa Bay, the second in a 2012 blowout versus the St. Louis Rams where Gronk cemented his status not only as a Pats legend but an international star.

Author’s note - having attended that Pats-Rams game at Wembley amidst a weekend of gatherings, pub hangs and “tailgates,” I can comfortably say it is an experience every fan should attempt to take in. The in-game experience alone, with the NFL game being treated like a Premier League soccer match, full of rivalrous chants, cheers, songs and more…it’s truly spectacular. And considering these fans get so few games in-person they bring an unparalleled energy to the match. With the success the Patriots experienced in the 21st century and a significant global fanbase, even if the Jags are technically the “home team,” don’t be surprised if Sunday sounds like a home game for the Pats.

4. Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s pursuit of enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, something he has been very outspoken about wanting, took another small step in the right direction this week when it was announced he made the list of 25 nominees for the Contributor spot in next year’s Hall of Fame class. From this diverse and accomplished list of nominees only one person will make it, and seeing the names Kraft is up against, even with his impressive resumé, he faces an uphill battle.

Truth be told it may not just be a talented group of writers, broadcasters and former players (not to mention legendary NFL Films voice John Facenda) that keep Kraft out of the HOF this go-round. There are those that say the scandals that were a part of the Pats’ double-dynastic run should keep him out as it taints their legend (though a lot of those claims reek of jealousy, too). Some say it’s too soon as he is still active as an owner and has great influence on the league. Others say his outward want and pining for the spot turns voters off potentially, though there’s no proof of anyone intentionally not voting for Kraft due to his saying how much he would want it. And then some feel he has tweaked his and the team’s history with podcast appearances, speeches, “The Dynasty” book and series and more.

ESPN published a lengthy piece back in September detailing the intense efforts behind Kraft’s more than decade long quest to gain entry into the Hall of Fame. There’s not enough time to go into all the efforts made publicly and privately to convince voters that Robert Kraft belongs in Canton with a bronze bust and yellow jacket. He likely will get that honor one day, and if Jerry Jones is in there then someone who has negotiated labor deals, established a marquee franchise and won more Super Bowls as an owner than any other in league history certainly deserves to be in there, too. However it may be a case where less is more for Mr. K. Voters know what he’s done and how much he’s meant to the league and New England and the great game itself. Letting those tremendous accomplishments do the talking this contributor cycle and beyond might be the best course of action for a man who's done more for the game regionally than just about anyone save for the legendary coach and QB with whom he formed the greatest triumvirate in NFL history.

5. Whatever side of the “tank for picks” or “losing breeds losing” debate you find yourself on, there’s no getting around the need for the Patriots to hit a home run in the 2025 NFL Draft. If Drake Maye develops quickly into a legit top-tier starter and the team plans on maximizing the value of his five-year rookie deal, then they best be well into their prep for next year’s draft and free agent class. It’s a short window to capitalize on before agents start talking a quarter of a billion dollars as an opening contractual negotiation. What a time to be a stud QB.

The grades haven’t been finalized on the 2024 Patriots draft class as we’ll need at least a full NFL season to consider proper professional evaluation. If Maye is a hit then the rest of the class is almost gravy. Even if Maye is a bonafide stud the Pats will still carry the same needs of offensive tackle, wide receiver and defensive end or line into next year’s draft. Should the team be looking for a north star of recent comp to aim for then look no further than the Detroit Lions’ 2021 draft.

In his first year as head coach, Dan “The Dude” Campbell, working with GM Brad Holmes, absolutely crushed the draft, landing their franchise linemen on both sides of the ball in offensive tackle Penei Sewell and defensive tackle Alim McNeil (who got PAID this week) and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a true No. 1 receiver in the fourth round no less. Rare is a draft class chock full of cornerstone players like this. The Patriots have landed two cornerstone players in some drafts but never three blocks like this, all of which have been signed to lucrative second deals.

It should be noted the Lions did not make it to the playoffs for two seasons following this draft. Not until 2023 did the team break through, motoring their way to the NFC championship game in San Francisco last January. Now the Lions are Super Bowl contenders, poised to compete at the top of the league for years to come.

Should the Patriots emerge from 2024 with a franchise QB and perhaps 1-2 other building block players (let’s say one receiver between Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker and one offensive lineman between Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson), then they’ll be on their way. A 2021 Lions-esque draft would definitely have the arrow pointing up…but again, it’s best to temper expectations for the turnaround to fully take shape, yielding a postseason berth and continued playoff potential.

A lot of people have their work cut out for them in Foxboro, Eliot Wolf chief among them.

6. If you feel the need to avert your eyes and look away it’s totally understandable, because the following is just plain weird, if not a little…gross.

This week it became official: Tom Brady is now an NFL owner. His minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders was approved by the league and he now is part of the braintrust that hopes to return the Raiders back to their former glory…or at least out of the basement in the AFC West.

Brady shared a letter on social media this week saying what an honor it is for him to be part of one of the NFL’s top franchises and he’ll do what he can to help them “Just win, baby.” Eww.

Brady wanting to be an owner of a team makes sense. But his role with the Raiders now begs two questions…

**Were the Patriots ever in play to let Brady get a small stake, thus keeping the whole “I am Tom Brady, and I am a Patriot” pledge in line? The Kraft family loves owning the team, and loves Brady, but you’d have to wonder if they couldn’t have shaved off a tiny slice of the pie for the GOAT to keep him in the extended Foxboro family? Perhaps Brady wanted to be involved elsewhere, or just jumped on the first possible option on a team that was kind of cash strapped to begin with?

**And can Brady really keep up his broadcasting responsibilities as FOX’s lead NFL analyst with so many things he’s now prohibited from doing since he is an NFL owner now?

Brady’s experience, relationships and breadth of football knowledge are likely enough to keep him in the know for calling games. But most analysts attend practices or take meetings and do interviews with players at the site of the game they’re calling, and Brady can't do any of that since it would be seen as a competitive imbalance. The NFL is a better place for each and every bit of Brady’s involvement, but this seems like a situation where it should be one OR the other, not both, with the broadcasting (for which he is paid a wild amount of money) being compromised now due to his Raiders title. We’ll see if Brady can work his way past some negative feedback in the booth and deliver as a proper analyst. Would make sense to not be critical of certain players because, well, one day Brady could very well be their boss! Weird.

7. And as always we can’t send you gently into that good kickoff without all the Need To Knows (NTKs) surrounding Pats “at” Jags (we don’t have the smartest fans in all the lands by accident!) for the home fans looking to make the most of the occasion.

BROADCAST - The game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. EST from Wembley Stadium, broadcast nationally on NFL Network, seen locally on WCVB-TV Channel 5. Chris Rose will be on the call with former Browns lineman Joe Thomas as his lead analyst, with Steve Wyche on sideline duty. Pats vs. Jags concludes the NFL’s 2024 London series.

WEATHER: Wembley is an open-air partially covered stadium with a sliding roof that does leave the pitch/field exposed, like many soccer stadiums (this one just happens to be massive), so weather can factor into the equation a bit. London’s forecast is very London: windy, some rain, and a high of 60 degrees.

ALL-TIME - Sunday marks the 15th overall meeting, and 10th regular season affair, between the Patriots and Jaguars. The Pats hold an 8-1 regular season advantage, and a 12-2 all-time mark when factoring in their five postseason clashes. The last regular-season game was Jan. 2, 2022, when Mac Jones and the Pats smashed the interim coached Jags, still reeling from the Urban Meyer debacle, 50-10, in Foxboro. Jones went off against what would become his future team, throwing for a very similar stat line to Drake Maye last week vs. Houston: 22/30, 227 yards and 3 TD performance (just no INTs.) The teams have shared some memorable postseason tilts as well - who could forget Otis “My Man” Smith’s late fourth-quarter fumble return for a TD to seal the 20-6 victory at Foxboro Stadium to send the Pats to Super Bowl 31…or the most recent being that epic 2017 AFC championship game comeback that featured two fourth-quarter TD passes from an injured Brady, who wasn’t performing open heart surgery but was dealing late to Danny Amendola…an epic pass breakup late from Stephon Gilmore…and a Dion Lewis fumble blown dead by officials that Myles Jack would have returned for a TD, a play that in many ways is their “Tuck Rule,” one even Brady admitted years later about Lewis, “Oh, I don’t think he was down.” Some guys get all the calls.