Dan Orlovsky appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” to share his insights on rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s performance in the New England Patriots’ rainy preseason debut.
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, Maye, selected as the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, participated in one series during his first game with the Patriots. This matchup also marked the team’s first game in 24 years without Bill Belichick as head coach, resulting in a victory over the Carolina Panthers with a score of 17-3.
New England’s new head coach, Jerod Mayo, who is 38 years old, became the youngest coach in the NFL when he was hired on January 12, right after Belichick’s departure from the organization. This game was significant as it was the first time since January 2, 2000, that the Patriots played without Belichick on the sidelines, the coach credited with leading them to six Super Bowl titles.
Mayo explained that the decision to limit Maye to one series was intentional. “That was always the plan,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Panthers also had a new coach debuting, Dave Canales, who emphasized the importance of giving his younger players the chance to showcase their skills. “Tonight was about our first-time guys,” Canales said, noting the absence of his first-string players.
Carolina’s top draft pick from 2023, quarterback Bryce Young, did not play, and backup Andy Dalton was unable to participate due to a quadriceps strain.
Maye took the field during light rain and received applause from the small crowd. He completed his first pass, a screen to Antonio Gibson, for a 13-yard gain, but overthrew his initial deep throw and finished his night with two completions out of three for 19 yards. “I think I was a little nervous,” Maye reflected on his debut. “Nerves are a good thing. After you get that first snap, you kind of settle in.”
When Bailey Zappe entered for the Patriots’ third series, he was met with boos, contrasting with the crowd’s earlier support for Maye. Zappe, who had been a fan favorite previously, responded nonchalantly. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 108 yards during his time on the field, while rookie Joe Milton III, a sixth-round pick from Tennessee, added excitement with his performance, finishing 4 of 6 for 54 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown pass.
For the Panthers, Jack Plummer completed 11 of 21 passes for 86 yards, and Mike Boone, one of seven running backs on the roster, had eight carries for 34 yards.
Some fans noted the unusual absence of Belichick. “It is different. That’s why we’re here tonight because I want to see what we’ve got,” said Fran Vicino, who has held season tickets for a decade.
In a matchup of last season’s lowest-scoring teams — both averaging 13.9 points — the Patriots took an early lead with a 2-yard touchdown run from Kevin Harris, following a 28-yard pass from Zappe to Kayshon Boutte.
The Panthers had the worst record in the previous season at 2-15, while the Patriots tied for second-worst with a 4-13 record.
Notably, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a first-round pick in 2023, returned to play after suffering a shoulder injury that cut his rookie season short, participating in the initial two series.
Injury updates revealed that Panthers defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy suffered an ankle injury and right tackle Badara Traore sustained a knee injury. No injuries were reported for the Patriots.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will host the New York Jets for their next preseason game on August 17, while the Patriots will face the Philadelphia Eagles on August 15.