Drake Maye went home to North Carolina to spend a few days of the Patriots bye week at home. But after that brief break, Maye was on to Arizona.
He told reporters he was focused on the mission ahead.
For the rookie quarterback, that means continuing to learn and grow in the remaining four games. It means eliminating turnovers, and trying to get some of the younger receivers going, namely Ja’Lynn Polk.
It also means trying to build some positive momentum toward next season.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
During his eight previous starts, Maye had faced defenses that were among the best at generating pressure and getting to the quarterback. By comparison, the Cardinals didn’t pose the same type of threat.
Before the bye, Maye backboned one of the team’s better offensive efforts, with 24 points against the Indianpolis Colts.
How did he fare out in Arizona?
Maye was fine. The rest of the offense not so much in the 30-17 loss to the Cardinals. There was no positive momentum from this game for the offense, or defense for that matter.
Maye: Many of the problems that plagued the Patriots offense before the bye, came out in spades after the bye.
Poor offensive line play, questionable play-calling, receivers unable to get open, unforced errors, they were all on display in the loss.
Maye, once again, was the least of the team’s worries. He was credited with an interception, but it was a ball that flew right through Kayshon Boutte’s hands, and into the defender.
The rookie quarterback still kept at it, still tried to overcome mistakes and made more plays that continue to cement the belief that he’s special.
Down 20 in the fourth quarter, Maye threw a perfect ball to down the right sideline to Kendrick Bourne for a 37-yard gain.
He then made a circus play, rolling left, and at the last second, shoveling a pass to DeMario “Pop” Douglas in the end zone.
Ross Tucker, doing the commentary on TV, said it “looked like a Larry Bird pass.” The reference was spot on.
Maye’s heroics aside, the defense couldn’t hold.
Maye did engineer one more drive, running in for a score with 1:55 to play, but it was too little, too late. He finished completing 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards. He threw a touchdown, ran for one, and had the one pick.
The run game was pretty good (Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson combined for over 100 yards), until it came time to gain a yard down by the goal line. on third and fourth down. Twice, runs were stopped.
Even with Maye starting out 10-for-10 for 71 yards, the first half couldn’t have gone much worse.
Bad snaps and holding penalties killed drives. Horrible play by the offensive line, receivers not getting open and conservative play-calling didn’t allow Maye to do much.
One might have thought after the bye, the play might have been cleaner. Only, the offense couldn’t get out of its own way.
Maye was left to try and navigate third-and-10, third-and-19, third-and-seven and third-and-16 situations in the first half alone.
There were just too many screens, checkdowns, and shallow crosses called by Alex Van Pelt.
The best play was an 18-yard screen pass to Marcus Jones, who flipped over from the defense to make a cameo on the offensive side.
Maye did manage to get the team in Arizona’s end a few times, but not into the red zone. All they could muster was two field goal attempts, with Joey Slye making one of two, as the Patriots trailed the Cardinals 13-3 at the half.
The second half produced more offense, but it still was far from being enough.
