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Drake Maye reflects on Patriots’ first start and what needs to be improved – NBC Sports Boston

Drake Maye reflects on Patriots’ first start and what needs to be improved – NBC Sports Boston

The New England Patriots suffered their fifth straight loss on Sunday with a 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. But in some ways the end result wasn’t very important.

This Week 6 matchup featured Drake Maye – the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and the Patriots’ potential franchise quarterback for years to come. The University of North Carolina quarterback made his first career start on Sunday, and after a lackluster start to the game that included an interception on the team’s second offensive possession, the rookie quarterback really hit his stride.

Maye completed 20 of 33 pass attempts for 243 yards with three touchdowns, two interceptions and a lost fumble. There were a lot of good pieces on the tape. The passing attack looked much better than it had in previous weeks. In fact, Mayes’ three touchdown passes on Sunday are one more than veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett had in the first five games combined.

But when Maye was asked to assess his performance after the game, the first thing he mentioned was ball losses.

“I think we just got hurt today. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Maye said in his postgame press conference. “I think we put the defense in bad places, and as good as our defense is, that’s the last thing we can do. We can’t – if the ball is in the red zone, give the other team the ball in the red zone.” Zone just makes it difficult for them.

“It starts with me, and I wish I could hold back a few throws, especially the first interception. But yeah, after the touchdown it felt like we were back in the thick of things. There’s another turnover after halftime Red zone has hurt us time and time again, and in this league these teams are too good to do that.

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“But there are great things to see in the film. Sometimes it was a lot of fun on offense. That’s what I told the guys in the huddle at the end, we have the guys in the huddle: We just have to do it.” A few more games and complementary football. That’s what coach (Jerod) Mayo is just going to preach, play complementary football and we didn’t do that today.”

The turnovers hurt – the Texans scored 17 points from those mistakes.

But from the Patriots’ perspective, there was a lot to be happy about. Maye made a lot of good throws, and none better than his 40-yard strike to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte for the Patriots’ first touchdown just before halftime.

It was a phenomenal throw.

“They came out and challenged us and played as a man, so they tried to let one ride along and give Boutte a chance,” Maye said. “He made a nice play and it was pretty cool. I think our first two touchdowns were a pretty cool moment. I felt like in this group we could push the ball down the field and make plays in the passing game, so we did.” “I just have to keep repeating it and see what you like and I have to make the throws, that is the end result.”

The Patriots are 1-5 and in last place in the AFC standings. The chances of this team prevailing and fighting for a playoff spot in the second half of the season are extremely slim, to say the least.

The goal for the remainder of the campaign should be to develop the team’s young players and determine how they fit into the organization’s future plans. Maye is a top priority as the quarterback of the present and future. If he gets a little better every week, the Patriots will be in top shape, even if the losses continue to pile up.