#drake-maye

#drake-maye

Playing quarterback in the NFL's Patrick Mahomes-Josh Allen-Lamar Jackson era must be pretty demoralizing at times. That trinity pulls off the impossible on a regular basis, which makes even very good QB play pale in comparison. To wrest even a bit of the spotlight from the big three takes something magical. On Sunday, Drake Maye did just that, leading his Patriots to a win over Allen's Bills with a game-winning drive that included one particularly awe-inspiring sequence:

The Patriots are underdogs entering this matchup, especially against a reigning MVP in Allen and a Buffalo squad that has won the last five division titles and are 4-0 so far this season. After a promising start to the season, Maye will look to deliver a signature win against one of the top QBs in the game - while New England's defense will have their hands full against a Buffalo offense averaging 33.3 points per game.

The conversation regarding who is the NFL's official greatest quarterback of all time continues to be a debate, despite Tom Brady proving time and time again that the label belongs to him. It should be inarguable at this point, but those outside New England refuse to concede and want to give the name to someone else. When you play for the Patriots, however, you should probably agree that Brady is the ultimate GOAT, and not suggest someone else might be.

It was crucial that the new regime in New England addressed the group this offseason to help put Drake Maye in good position to succeed in his second year, which they appear to have accomplished to a certain degree. Stefon Diggs has been a great addition, along with the rise of Kayshon Boutte, both of whom have had back-to-back 100-yard games over the last two weeks.

From Ben Coates to Rob Gronkowski, the New England Patriots have been spoiled with spectacular tight end play for generations. A lack of productivity at that position was glaring when Gronkowski retired before the 2019 season, but two years later, the arrival of Hunter Henry produced a turbocharge.

I thought bro was like right behind me and that's what made me move.

Between his solid rapport with Drake Maye, his knack for torching defensive backs during training camp, or Josh McDaniels' track record of relying heavily on shifty slot receivers in his offense, DeMario Douglas seemed poised for a breakout season with New England this fall. But through two games, Douglas has looked more like an afterthought than a focal point of New England's revamped offense.

The jitteriness and high throws were gone. He got his share of layups early and used his running ability to compliment his solid decision-making on throws. He scooted away from ex-Patriot Matthew Judon for a touchdown run. He hit Kayshon Boutte for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and also got Mack Hollins involved for his first Patriots touchdown. Maye spread the ball around efficiently and effectively, finishing the game 19-of-23 for 230 passing yards, all without a turnover.