5 things to keep an eye on in Drake Mayes’ first NFL start

FOXBOROUGH – The future is now.

On Sunday, fans will get a look at the most promising rookie to play for the Patriots in decades when Drake Maye takes on the Houston Texans. The No. 3 overall pick’s first NFL start sparks a sense of excitement for the Patriots.

On Friday, Jerod Mayo said the rookie had a good week of practice, but he also noticed an increase in his team’s energy level.

“He did a good job. I feel like there is a new sense of energy throughout the team. And now it’s just a matter of going out there on Sunday and executing,” Mayo said. “You can feel it before you even see anything. The boys are locked up and ready to go. These guys are running back to the huddle and are ready for the next rep, so that’s encouraging.”

Maye’s first start won’t be easy.

The Texans come to Gillette Stadium with one of the best defensive units in the NFL. Houston ranks third in pass defense, fourth in yards allowed and fourth in sacks per pass attempt.

Here are five things to keep in mind in Maye’s first NFL start:

Maye’s potential

It won’t be perfect. Maye will likely struggle at certain points on Sunday. It’s only natural. Houston has a very good defense – one that held Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen to a 30 completion percentage last weekend. However, when we watch this game, we get a glimpse of Maye’s potential.

This game isn’t just about the offense looking better. It’s all about seeing what Maye brings to the table at quarterback. He is athletic and can run on his own. He also has a big arm. All of this should help the offense. If anything, it would be nice to see the potential unfold at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

Maye’s athleticism

The Patriots offensive line has not been good this season. The team enters this game ranked 30th in the NFL in sacks allowed per pass attempt. That’s not great when you’re facing a defense that has one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. However, Maye’s athleticism should theoretically help the offensive line.

Unlike Jacoby Brissett, Maye can and will play with his legs. This was evident in his NFL debut against the New York Jets when he scored a first down on fourth down after a tackle from the pocket. It will also be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt ignites the offense around Maye. Will he demand quarterback runs in the red zone? Van Pelt did that in the preseason and it led to a rushing touchdown by Maye.

Patriots receiver

The Patriots currently rank last in the NFL in passing yards per game (119.4).

It was almost impossible to analyze the Patriots’ receivers because their passing game was so poor. That should change with Maye in the middle. The rookie quarterback has a very good arm and should make more shots downfield to his wide receivers.

Maye also has a good relationship with fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. This change at quarterback should lead to more success in the passing game and that should lead to more success for players like Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas and Polk. Also keep an eye on Kayshon Boutte, who appears to be on the rise on the Patriots’ receiver depth chart.

Offensive line

Another game for the Patriots means more questions about the team’s offensive line. However, this could be the weekend that the Patriots start two games in a row with the same offensive line for the first time this season.

Through the first five games, the Patriots started a different offensive line in each contest. That’s not what you’re looking for – especially considering how important continuity is on offense.

However, the Patriots think they have found a better combination with Vederian Lowe (left tackle), Michael Jordan (left guard), Nick Leverett (center), Michael Onwenu (right guard) and Demontrey Jacoby (right tackle). This group started last weekend and was scheduled to begin on Sunday. We’ll see if the results get better.

Patriots defense

The Patriots defense needs to step up and help their rookie quarterback. The unit has had to contend with some serious injuries this season, causing their performance to fluctuate. However, they put in a solid performance against the Miami Dolphins, who used a backup quarterback.

This week it doesn’t get any easier. The Texans enter this game with a very good quarterback in CJ Stroud. He won’t have his No. 1 receiver in Nico Collins, but he will still have Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.

The Texans are averaging 20.4 points per game this season. They have the second-largest passing offense in the NFL. The Patriots defense needs to step up and hold them to under 20 points to give Maye and the offense a chance.

Forecast: Texans 20, Patriots 17

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