Jerod Mayo was clearly encouraged by Drake Maye's starting debut in the Patriots loss

FOXBORO – Moments after being manhandled by the Texans defense in his rookie debut, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye beat himself up even further in the 41-21 loss.

Maye was hard on himself and took the blame for putting his four-goal defense in a bad spot as the Patriots approached the red zone.

“Given how good our defense is, that’s the last thing we can do,” Maye said after the game. “We can’t do that. If the ball is in the red zone, giving the other team the ball in the red zone only makes things more difficult. It starts with me, and I feel like I wish I could get some throws back.

However, head coach Jerod Mayo was there to lift Maye up after the game. And while it’s great for Maye to be hard on himself, Mayo was more accurate in his portrayal of the rookie’s performance. For a rookie debut, Maye was damn good, going 20 of 33 for 243 yards with three touchdowns, two touchdowns, a lost fumble and five rushing attempts for 38 yards.

“I thought he showed a lot of poise. I thought he went out there and controlled the huddle, took those guys out of the huddle and made some plays again,” Mayo said. “It’s certainly encouraging. From a team-wide perspective, we have let him down at the moment. It was his first match and I feel like I let him down. I’m sure all the coaches feel like we’ve let everyone down. We just have to get better.”

Mayo later clarified that answer when asked to follow up on it, likely doing some damage control to protect much-maligned offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt by saying, “Yeah, not really the coaching staff. Look, we feel like crap right now, and I would say if a rookie quarterback went out and did some good things, did some good things – I just felt like we could have supported him better.

Maye’s first interception was high to DeMario Douglas and was easily picked off by Texans safety Calen Bullock on the Patriots’ second drive. He was sacked to start the second half when Texans defense Danielle Hunter beat right tackle Demontrey Jacobs. The third turnover came when Patriots tight end Austin Hooper lost a fumble on a 7-yard completion from Maye. Maye threw another interception early in the fourth quarter when a pass was tipped to the line and caught off Hooper’s back by safety Eric Murray.

Maye also gave the Patriots an offensive jolt they didn’t get through the first five weeks of the season. He set season highs for Patriots quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdowns. In a game where the Patriots weren’t plagued with as many mistakes, Maye would at least keep it close with a performance like Sunday’s.

“Yes, and look, we fully anticipate or expect him to be better in the future,” Mayo said. “It was his first start. It was clear that a lot was expected of him here at home. I thought he handled it well. I have to build on it.”

Maye’s best throw was a 40-yard bomb to Kayshon Boutte for a touchdown to cap a two-minute drill to end the first half.

.@DrakeMaye2‘s first @NFL TD is on @KayshonBoutte1 🏈

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Oi7BpFvq6H

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 13, 2024

“If we’re busy, I think we have to step on the gas, give him a chance,” Maye said. “That was kind of my thought process: ‘give him a chance.’ I thought the Texans were squatting on us a little bit. They came out and challenged us and played in man, so tried to run one and give Boutte a chance. He made a nice play, and it was pretty cool. I think both of our first touchdowns are a pretty cool moment. I felt like in this group we can push the ball down the field and make plays in the passing game, so we just have to keep repeating it and see what you like and I have to make the throws, that’s the bottom line. line. Making better throws.”

Maye’s second touchdown pass went to a wide-open Hunter Henry on a 6-yard completion. His third and final touchdown pass hit wide receiver DeMario Douglas on an angle.

.@popshotta3 goes 3️⃣5️⃣ yards for his first NFL TD!

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/NZt5GxcULw

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 13, 2024

It was also Douglas’ first career touchdown reception.

“His readings were good all day,” Mayo said of Maye. “I thought his lectures were good. I’m obviously going to watch the movie, but I thought it did a good job.”

The starting quarterback can’t keep turning the ball over three times a game, but the Patriots’ passing attack has been anemic under Jacoby Brissett. Even if the Patriots don’t win, Maye gives the team a glimmer of hope for the future if the rest of the roster is talented enough to better support him.

Jerod Mayo was clearly encouraged by Drake Maye’s starting debut in the Patriots loss

By Sheisoe

You Missed

No cases can be filed against participants in the mass uprising: Ministry

Whoopi Goldberg tells Donald Trump: “Wie blöd bist du?”

Who in fashion doesn’t like Size Zero? – Column: Der letzte Schrei

Couple evicted from home before baby’s body was found, court hears

Jerod Mayo was clearly encouraged by Drake Maye’s starting debut in the Patriots loss

By Sheisoe

Related Post

No cases can be filed against participants in the mass uprising: Ministry

Whoopi Goldberg tells Donald Trump: “Wie blöd bist du?”

Who in fashion doesn’t like Size Zero? – Column: Der letzte Schrei

You Missed

No cases can be filed against participants in the mass uprising: Ministry

Whoopi Goldberg tells Donald Trump: “Wie blöd bist du?”

Who in fashion doesn’t like Size Zero? – Column: Der letzte Schrei

Couple evicted from home before baby’s body was found, court hears