Drake Maye had a simple message after the Patriots survived the Jets: the guys up front earned every bit of praise.
New England’s offense spent Sunday in scramble mode, and not by choice. Morgan Moses exited with a hamstring injury, Ben Brown later left with a knee injury, and Maye was left operating behind a line that had already been thinned out by injuries. Even with the shuffling, the Patriots kept the Jets off him all day and didn’t allow a sack for the first time this season.
Maye made sure the offensive line got its flowers afterward.
While speaking to reporters after the game, he said, “Clap. Have to clap it up right there.”
He added, “I said I gotta bring them some more treats. Shoutout Ann Michael.
Gotta keep on bringing some more treats. Those guys are doing a heck of a job in there… They’re coaching them…"
That kind of protection mattered in every phase, but especially in the run game. The Patriots were able to lean on Corey Kiner late in the fourth quarter and drain the clock, something that would have been hard to pull off earlier in the season. For a group that entered the year viewed as one of the offense’s weakest spots, the performance stood out.
The line’s depth has been tested from the start. Mike Onwenu went down with a broken ankle in Week 2, his backup was hurt after that, and now the Patriots are down to their fourth backup right guard.
That made Sunday’s showing against a strong Jets defense even more notable, and it came at a time when Maye has started to look more like himself over the last three weeks. With the quarterback steadier and the protection holding up better than expected, New England has at least found a way to stay afloat through the chaos.
Now the challenge gets even tougher. Brown and Moses both have uncertain futures, and the Patriots will need another patchwork effort this week when they face the Bears on Thursday Night Football.
In Other News...
Patriots Rookie Suddenly Has A Veteran Starter Under Real Pressure
The Patriots have spent the first six games of the 2026 season patching together an offensive line that has been hit by injuries to Mike Onwenu, Ben Brown, Morgan Moses and Alijah Vera-Tucker, and the latest solution has come from an unexpected source. Rookie Caleb Lomu has been pressed into duty at right tackle and, despite limited experience at the spot, has looked far more ready than most first-year linemen are when they are thrown into the fire.
Lomus play has put real pressure on the veteran starter ahead of him on the depth chart, especially with Moses status still unclear. If the injury keeps Moses sidelined much longer, the Patriots may have to make a decision they probably hoped to avoid this early in the year, because Lomu has already shown enough to make the conversation more than theoretical. [Read more 🡒]
Rex Ryan's A.J. Brown Roast Gave Patriots Fans A New Debate
A sloppy afternoon for A.J. Brown became one of the more talked-about side stories around the Patriots' narrow home win over the Jets, with the receiver back in action after an ankle injury but still searching for rhythm. New England's 4-2 start was the bigger takeaway, yet Brown's return carried its own share of drama as he made multiple costly mistakes in a game that stayed tight into the closing stages.
Rex Ryan added fuel afterward with a pointed ESPN critique that had Patriots fans buzzing nearly as much as the final score. The segment turned Brown's rough outing into a wider talking point about how much pressure comes with trying to reestablish yourself quickly after an injury, and why even one bad night can linger when it comes in a game that close. [Read more 🡒]
A.J. Brown's Return Leaves Patriots Facing One Immediate Concern
A.J. Brown was back on the field for the Patriots in their Week 6 win over the Jets after sitting out more than a month, and the overall result offered a useful reminder of how much this offense can still function with other pieces carrying the load. New England got enough from its passing game to win, with multiple players chipping in for receiving yards and touchdowns even as Brown worked his way back into the mix.
Still, the return did not look especially clean on Browns end, which is where the immediate concern comes in. He was heavily involved but did not turn that volume into much production, a sign there is still some rust to knock off as the Patriots turn quickly to a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Bears. [Read more 🡒]