FOXBORO — Drake Maye showcased his talent in his first NFL start for the Patriots on Sunday, marking a significant moment for the 22-year-old rookie. Maye threw his initial career touchdown pass, delivering a remarkable 40-yard connection to Kayshon Boutte just before halftime, which helped reduce the Patriots’ deficit against the Houston Texans from 14-0 to 14-7.
“Pretty cool moment,” Maye remarked about scoring his first touchdown. He emphasized the ability of his teammates to make plays and the importance of taking risks in the passing game.
However, the game took a turn for the worse in the second half as turnovers and defensive struggles resulted in a 41-21 defeat for New England, marking their fifth consecutive loss.
Taking over for veteran Jacoby Brissett, Maye experienced some growing pains. He committed a couple of rookie errors, including two interceptions—one of which was a deflection—and a fumble due to a strip-sack, alongside being sacked four times throughout the match.
Nevertheless, Maye excelled in several aspects, throwing two additional touchdowns in the second half and accumulating 243 passing yards with a completion rate of 20 out of 33 attempts. He also led the team in rushing with 38 yards from five scrambles and even recorded a tackle after his first interception.
Looking ahead, Maye is set to make his second career start in London against the 1-5 Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in Week 7.