FOXBORO – Drake Maye made his first career start, but the outcome for the New England Patriots was unchanged in their Week 6 matchup against the Houston Texans. The Patriots suffered their fifth consecutive loss, going down 41-21, and dropped to a 1-5 record for the season.
Despite the defeat, there were several positive takeaways as Maye threw three touchdown passes, leading the team in scoring this season. The Patriots managed to score more points this Sunday than in their previous five games. With Maye now at the helm, the team appears to be laying the groundwork for the future with their young quarterback.
However, the Texans proved to be too formidable for New England on this day. Houston scored on each of their first two drives and capitalized on three second-half turnovers by the Patriots, converting them into 17 points. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud also threw three touchdowns on 20-for-31 passing, while running back Joe Mixon marked his return with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Overall, the Patriots committed four turnovers: two interceptions and a fumble from Maye, along with a fumble by tight end Austin Hooper. The team’s running game struggled significantly without Rhamondre Stevenson, averaging just 3.2 yards on 26 carries and totaling 82 rushing yards.
“Drake made some good decisions out there. I thought he had some good reads, I thought he tried to get the ball out of his hands, I thought he did a good job extending plays with his legs to get first downs. We just gotta be better,” said Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo after the game. “We let him down. I feel like I let him down.”
In Maye’s debut, he showcased a range of plays, including a touchdown pass and an interception. His performance included some struggles typical for a 22-year-old rookie, such as a quick three-and-out on the first drive and a poor interception on the second. Thankfully, the Texans failed to capitalize on that turnover.
Maye connected with Kayshon Boutte for a beautiful 40-yard touchdown just before halftime, narrowing the Texans’ lead to 14-7. The Patriots seemed to gain momentum in the second half, but it was quickly halted when Maye was strip-sacked by Danielle Hunter, leading to another Houston touchdown.
Maye orchestrated another touchdown drive late in the third quarter, throwing for 64 yards and wrapping up the series with a six-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry, making the score 27-14. He continued to perform well, scrambling and throwing for another touchdown to DeMario Douglas early in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 34-21 with just over nine minutes left. However, the Texans countered with a quick touchdown drive, featuring a 54-yard score from Dameon Pierce.
While the Patriots did not secure a win, the offense appeared functional for most of the game, particularly highlighting the deep threat with Maye as quarterback. He finished with 20 completions out of 33 attempts for 243 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and one lost fumble. Additionally, he led the team in rushing with 38 yards on five carries.
Turnovers played a critical role in the Patriots’ chances of victory in Week 6. With four turnovers that led to 17 points by the Texans, New England’s mistakes proved costly. The Texans, who entered the game with a negative turnover differential, flipped the scenario to a plus-three during the contest.
Looking ahead, the Patriots are set to face the 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars next week at Wembley Stadium in London. The Jaguars are already in the UK following a 35-16 loss to the Chicago Bears, where Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw four touchdown passes against Jacksonville’s defense.