Drake Maye’s rebound at Highmark Stadium earned him a new piece of hardware on Wednesday: AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
The Patriots quarterback put together his best showing of the season in New England’s 29-26 AFC East upset over the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, going 22-of-37 for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the Patriots on the ground with 54 rushing yards, a season high and a team high, while finishing as the AFC’s top quarterback by the end of Week 4.
Maye’s day was not spotless. He entered the divisional matchup with one touchdown and seven turnovers on the season, then was picked off once and lost a fumble after being sacked in Orchard Park. But he still found enough big throws to swing the game, connecting with Romeo Doubs for two scores and then hitting the right glove of Efton Chism III for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter.
The result left Buffalo at 3-1 and moved New England to 2-2.
This is the second time Maye has won AFC Offensive Player of the Week in his career, and it puts him in select company inside the Patriots record book. He became the fifth quarterback in franchise history to earn the honor more than once, joining 30-time winner Tom Brady, six-time winner Drew Bledsoe and two-time winners Matt Cassel and Tony Eason.
The North Carolina product also now shares a small Tar Heels distinction with running back Willie Parker and tight end Alge Crumpler as the only UNC players to win AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice.
Maye, a reigning second-team All-Pro who led the NFL in passer rating and completion percentage on the way to Super Bowl LX, next gets the Las Vegas Raiders. The Patriots will host them at Gillette Stadium next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
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