Drake Maye’s Legs Could Be the X-Factor in Patriots-Texans Playoff Clash
There’s no more room for error. With a trip to the AFC Championship on the line, the New England Patriots are set to host the Houston Texans in what promises to be a high-stakes, hard-hitting playoff showdown.
Both teams come in riding momentum, but in a game where every inch matters, the smallest edge could swing the outcome. For the Patriots, that edge might just be Drake Maye’s legs.
Let’s be clear-this Texans defense isn’t just good; it’s elite. They finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in both total defense (277.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (17.4 points per game).
They don’t give you much, and when they do, it’s usually because you earned it. They’re sticky in man coverage, and their pass rush-headlined by Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter-is relentless.
Just ask the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In Houston’s Wild Card win over Pittsburgh, they made life miserable for 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers. The Texans held the Steelers to just 175 total yards, sacked Rodgers four times, and forced two turnovers-one of which turned into a 33-yard scoop-and-score for defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins.
Rodgers, never known for his wheels, couldn’t escape the pressure. That’s where Maye changes the equation.
The rookie out of North Carolina brings a different dimension. He’s mobile, athletic, and unafraid to take off if the defense gives him space.
And against a Houston unit that plays a lot of man coverage-where defenders often have their backs turned to the quarterback-those rushing lanes can open up fast. If Anderson and Hunter crash hard off the edge, Maye might find daylight up the middle or off the edge.
That’s where he can do real damage.
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte didn’t mince words when talking about Houston’s defensive tendencies this week. “At the end of the day, we know we're going to get man coverage.
We've gotta beat it. It's that simple,” he said.
“We're going to do the same things we've been doing. At the end of the day, we want to make them try to adjust to how we play.
They're not too complicated on defense. Not too many different looks.”
Translation: The Texans are fast, physical, and aggressive-but they’re also predictable. And that opens the door for a smart, athletic quarterback to take advantage.
The numbers back it up. Since Week 13, Houston has allowed the fourth-highest expected points added (EPA) per carry on quarterback runs (excluding sneaks and kneels), and they’re giving up 7.8 yards per attempt to QBs on the ground-ninth-worst in the league.
That’s not a fluke. It’s a trend.
Of course, no one wants to see their franchise quarterback taking unnecessary hits in January. But this isn’t about reckless scrambling-it’s about calculated aggression.
Maye doesn’t need to run wild; he just needs to keep the defense honest. If he can pick up a few key first downs with his legs, it could be the difference between punting and scoring.
Maye knows the risk. He’s well aware of the speed and physicality waiting for him at the second level.
“Those guys, especially at the linebacker level, they're going to try to take your head off,” he said. “I respect them for it.
They do it at a really high level. They tackle the ball-carrier hard.
They'll punish them. They'll make you pay for it."
But respect doesn’t mean fear. And Maye’s shown he can take a hit and keep moving.
In the Patriots’ win over the Chargers, he ran for a season-high 66 yards, including a 37-yard burst that helped set up a field goal before halftime. He totaled 450 rushing yards during the regular season-not eye-popping, but enough to make defenses think twice.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans certainly isn’t sleeping on it. “His ability to escape the pocket doesn't get talked about much,” Ryans said.
“But his athletic ability, his ability to escape the pocket has been really clutch for them. He's made some big runs to really hurt a lot of defenses, so we have to be conscious of that."
The Patriots don’t need Maye to be Lamar Jackson. But in a game where every possession will be magnified, his mobility could be the hidden weapon that tips the scales. If he can extend plays, move the chains, and force Houston to adjust, it opens up everything else for the offense.
This Texans defense is built to dominate the pocket. Maye’s job? Make sure they can’t find it.