The Patriots needed a spark, and Drake Maye gave them one in a win over the Bills that felt bigger than the final score. It wasn’t clean, and it wasn’t easy, but New England found enough big moments down the stretch to pull it out against a division rival.
Maye’s day wasn’t flawless. He threw one interception, which made him the first Patriots quarterback to throw at least seven picks since Tom Brady did it 23 years ago in 2003. But the game also gave Maye a chance to look more like the quarterback who finished last season as the MVP runner-up.
That comparison to Brady doesn’t come out of nowhere. Brady had his own rough patches early in 2003, including four interceptions against the Bills and three more three weeks later. Even so, New England turned that season around, won 12 straight after a 2-2 start, and Brady finished with 354 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and Super Bowl MVP honors.
Maye is a long way from that point, but this was the kind of performance the Patriots needed. Against a Buffalo defense that made life difficult and disrupted his rhythm, he still managed to keep the offense moving.
He finished 22 of 37 for 269 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He was sacked just once, showed better decision-making, and added 54 rushing yards on eight scrambles.
There’s been no shortage of reasons why the offense has looked uneven. The running game hasn’t gotten going, which has made the attack one-dimensional.
On top of that, with A.J. Brown out, Mack Hollins leaving the game, and Hunter Henry the only reliable source of separation, Josh McDaniels’ group hasn’t given its quarterback much help.
Still, Maye found a way through it. He’s already shown what he can do, and it was far too early to write him off after a shaky start to the season.
And if there was a single moment that could stick, it was the highlight touchdown catch by Efton Chism II. That play may end up being the kind of jolt that gets the Patriots moving again.
In Other News...
Patriots Have A Gabe Jacas Opportunity They Can't Ignore
The Patriots pass rush has been thin enough to make every possible reinforcement worth a look, especially with losses and injuries already testing the depth chart. In that kind of spot, the idea of adding a veteran edge rusher like Khalil Mack from the Chargers carries obvious appeal for New England, not just for what he could still bring on the field, but for the kind of experience he could pass along in the room.
Gabe Jacas is part of why this conversation matters in the first place. The Patriots appear to have a young player whose game shares some traits with Macks, and pairing him with a proven pro could accelerate that development in a hurry. Whether New England decides the price is worth it remains the real question, but the fit is easy to see, and the need is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Be Eyeing A Veteran Fix For Their Run Game
The Patriots are still looking for help in the backfield, and that search brought veteran free-agent running back Jamaal Williams to Foxborough for a workout. New England evaluated Williams along with other free agents as it continues to sort through possible depth options for an offense that could use more stability behind its top runners.
Williams brings eight NFL seasons of experience and a resume that includes a strong 2022 campaign with the Detroit Lions, which makes him the kind of established option teams often check on when they want insurance at running back. The Patriots have not signed him yet, but they have kept roster spots open for exactly this kind of addition, leaving the door open as they weigh whether a veteran presence fits their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Are Getting Early Proof They Made The Right WR Call
The Patriots spent the offseason reshaping their wide receiver room, bringing in A.J. Brown in a trade and signing Romeo Doubs while moving on from Stefon Diggs and dealing Kayshon Boutte. It was the kind of aggressive reset that can look smart on paper and awkward on the field early, especially after Brown landed on injured reserve and Doubs had a rough start before finding his footing over the last few games.
Romeo Doubs recent improvement has given New England at least a little early validation for how it handled the position, even if the full picture is still developing. Across the league, former Patriots target Michael Pittman Jr. has not exactly stormed out of the gate after being traded to the Steelers, with his production lagging behind the expectations that came with his extension, and that contrast only sharpens how much these receiver decisions matter for a team trying to get the room right. [Read more 🡒]