FOXBORO, Mass. -- Patriots wideout Kayshon Boutte saw the Houston Texans not respecting New England's downfield passing game and called his own shot.
Boutte approached the coaching staff on the sideline and asked to be on the receiving end of a deep ball from rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Maye and Boutte ultimately connected for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the first half to cut New England's deficit to one score.
"Going into the second quarter, we didn't have momentum from the first quarter," Boutte said after the 41-21 loss. "A couple of three-and-outs, back-to-back-to-back. Defenses start sitting on routes when we weren't throwing it deep.
"I went to Coach, and I was like, 'We need to take a shot, I want the ball,'" Boutte said. "That was the opportunity, and it presented itself. Drake threw a great ball. Great pass from him."
It marked one of three Maye touchdown passes. The rookie quarterback led the struggling New England offense to its most passing yards (209) on the season, but also was responsible for three of the team's four turnovers.
"I think we've got to give gas, give him a chance," Maye said of the touchdown. "That was kind of my thought process; give him a chance."
The 1-5 Patriots will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in an international contest in Week 7.
