Drake Maye gets to do battle with a fellow rookie quarterback for the first time this season.
When the Patriots travel to Chicago Sunday, Maye will be squaring off with Caleb Williams, who was taken first overall by the Chicago Bears.
Maye was taken two picks later by the Patriots.
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“Any time you go up against somebody in your class, especially another rookie, I think you want to come up on the winning side,” Maye said during his radio appearance Monday on WEEI.
Maye, however, is more focused on leading the Patriots to wins, as opposed to dueling with Williams.
“This is the most important week of the year because it’s this week,” Maye said. “That’s what Coach Mayo says in the team meeting, that’s what he’s preaching. That’s the biggest thing.”
Maye has gotten into five games, with four starts. He’s thrown six TD passes with six picks. During Sunday’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans, he rushed for 95 yards on eight carries. He nearly pulled off a miracle win after throwing a last-second touchdown in regulation sending the game into overtime.
Williams, who has made all eight starts for the 4-4 Bears, has thrown nine TD passes with five interceptions.
“I think the rookie-rookie matchup is cool for the league, it’s cool for me and Caleb,” Maye said. “We grew up going to camps and seeing each other in high school, and college and now, so it’s a pretty cool dynamic. But I think the biggest thing is coming out with a win.”
