The New England Patriots struggled again offensively in their Week 15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. That included a failed trip to the red zone in the second half at State Farm Stadium.
New England needed just one yard on third down to set up a goal-to-go scenario to cut into a then-16-3 lead for the Cardinals. A pair of interior runs got nowhere and Arizona took over on downs.
Running Drake Maye on a quarterback sneak seemed like a good idea in that scenario. The Patriots quarterback has been one of the league’s more efficient rushers this season and his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame makes him a threat in short-yardage situations. Obviously, there is the argument to protect the quarterback and not put him in dangerous spaces, but the Patriots have to put Maye’s athleticism on the line.
New England offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt did not call plays in that pattern Sunday.
So, how did head coach Jerod Mayo respond to a question suggesting running Maye on those downs would have been the better option for the Patriots?
“You said it, I didn’t,” Mayo told reporters, per team-provided video.
“It’s always my decision,” Mayo added. “I would say the quarterback obviously has a good pair of legs and does a good job running the ball. We just chose not to do it there.”
The Patriots go back on the road in Week 16 to Western New York for an AFC East matchup and the season’s first meeting with the Buffalo Bills.
