Drake Maye Eyes Growth Ahead of Divisional Matchup: “He’s Preparing His Butt Off”
Drake Maye’s playoff debut wasn’t perfect - but it didn’t need to be. The Patriots got the job done with a 16-3 win, and now the rookie quarterback is turning the page, focused on cleaning up the miscues before round two. And if you ask offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, there’s no doubt Maye is up for the challenge.
Let’s be clear: Maye made a few rookie mistakes in that first postseason outing. He lost a fumble and put another ball on the turf - not the kind of ball security you want in January football. But the Patriots still walked away with a convincing win, and more importantly, Maye showed the kind of accountability and bounce-back mentality that coaches love.
“There’s a balance we’ve talked about all year,” McDaniels said this week. “We love that he ran for 66 yards, handled the ball in key situations, converted third and shorts - all of that.
But I’ve tried not to send mixed messages. It’s not ‘Hey, don’t do this, but also do that.’
You can’t clap when it works and get mad when it doesn’t.”
That’s the challenge with a young dual-threat quarterback. You want him to use his legs, you want the aggression, but you also want to protect the football. McDaniels knows that Maye gets it - and he trusts him to make the right decisions.
“He knows the priority. He knows how important it is to take care of the football,” McDaniels said.
“Ending every drive with a kick - whether it’s a punt, field goal, or extra point - that’s the goal. He understands that.
I trust him implicitly. He’s preparing his butt off right now, and he’ll be ready to go.”
That preparation is going to be put to the test in a big way this weekend. The Patriots are staring down a Texans defense that McDaniels called the best and fastest they’ve seen all season - and it’s not just coach-speak.
Houston’s defense is anchored by a pass-rushing duo that’s been terrorizing quarterbacks all year long: Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. McDaniels didn’t hold back in his praise, calling them the best edge duo in the league.
“They’ve got length, speed, power - all of it,” McDaniels said. “But what really stands out is the effort.
That’s elite. They play harder than you.
They play longer than you. You see it on tape - just turn on any Texans game.
They don’t stop.”
That kind of relentless pressure means Maye’s pocket awareness and decision-making will need to be sharp. Ball security won’t just be a talking point - it’ll be the difference between extending drives and giving Houston short fields to work with.
To pull off a win at Gillette on Sunday, McDaniels said the Patriots offense needs to play its best game of the season. That’s a tall order, but there’s a quiet confidence in the building - and it starts with the guy under center.
“With him at quarterback, anything is possible,” said wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
It’s a big stage for a rookie. But if Maye’s shown anything this season, it’s that he learns fast - and he’s not afraid of the moment.