New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn’t receive much help after a fast start and ultimately was handed a 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Maye finished 26-for-37 for 276 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots dropped to 1-6 on the season, including 0-2 in games the third overall pick started.
Here’s how Maye graded in the contest:
HIGH MARKS
Downfield passing
It might look like a few meaningless completions midway through the fourth quarter during a two-possession loss, but Maye’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive had more to it than that. He threw a 32-yard completion to tight end Hunter Henry down the seam. He dropped a 33-yard completion into the bucket for Kayshon Boutte, which marked the second time in as many weeks the two were on the same page. And while that one didn’t go for a touchdown, it set it up as Maye threaded one to K.J. Osborn for a 22-yard touchdown three plays later. Maye’s preseason and Week 6 start showed glimpses, but that possession confirmed the Patriots have a legitimate downfield passing attack for the first time in years.
Playing in control
Maye looked more confident and in control of the offense, especially during New England’s first two drives. He completed eight of his first 10 passes, six of those completions during the first drive. He beat Jacksonville blitzes on three consecutive snaps, the catch-and-run by JaMycal Hasty giving the Patriots a rare early lead. There were multiple times Maye took what the defense gave him, an improvement from his first start. He hit a a few short completions to Rhamondre Stevenson out of the backfield. Even his short completion to Hasty on third-and-15 was an example of checking it down when nothing else was available downfield. Maye didn’t force it. So while some those didn’t go for explosive plays, they still served as small wins and either got the offense moving in the right direction or prevented a mistake.
Mobility
For the second time in as many weeks, no running back rushed for more yardage than Maye did. Disclaimer: No, that’s not good for the offense. But it does show Maye’s ability to avoid negative plays with his legs. Maye finished with three carries for 18 yards, including a drive-extending 15-yard scramble on third-and-4 during New England’s second scoring drive. It didn’t seem there were many designed runs for Maye, though that’s to no fault of the quarterback. Maye took two sacks despite being pressure nine times, confirming his improved mobility from years past.
Making connections
Maye found a trusted target in Hunter Henry, who caught eight of the nine balls thrown his way for 92 yards. Henry led all pass-catchers in receptions, targets and yardage. Perhaps it fair to think DeMario Douglas (two catches, thee targets, 14 yards) would have had something to say about that he wasn’t limited due to illness. But Maye’s ability to connect with nine different pass-catchers (!) was another positive sign. Wide receivers accounted for six catches for 87 yards. Ja’Lynn Polk was the only one who saw a target and didn’t catch a ball from Maye, and that’s because the second-round rookie had his hands on two balls and couldn’t haul either of them in.
IMPORVED MARKS
Turnovers
Maye turned the ball over three times in his starting debut against the Houston Texans in Week 6. It was far and away the most underwhelming part of his game, though one of his two interceptions could be chalked up to an incredible defensive play rather than Maye miscue. Regardless, Maye did not turn the ball over against the Jaguars. He had a near-interception when targeting Austin Hooper, though it seemed that was due to a miscommunication with the tight end.
Overcoming the lack of run game
You know what would have helped a rookie quarterback? If the offensive line blocked in the run game and if running backs found positive yards on the ground. That didn’t happen. The Patriots totaled 38 rushing yards on 15 attempts for an average of 2.5 yards per carry against the Jaguars. And it hasn’t happened through two games. New England rushed for 120 yards on 41 attempts in Maye’s first two starts (2.9 per carry). That’s horrendous.
OVERALL GRADE: B+
