Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots stayed in the win column on Sunday as a trip down to the Superdome resulted in a 25-19 victory over the Saints.
Here is who caught our eye for better or worse upon live viewing.
QB Drake Maye: Another week, another excellent showing from the Patriots young gunslinger. Maye started Sunday with a perfect first half completing 11-of-13 passes for 185 yards and three TDs to produce a perfect 158.3 passer rating and +1.10 EPA/play (100th percentile). Starting the year as an elite, low volume deep ball thrower, Maye unlocked the downfield area of the field going 4-of-5 for 128 yards and all three touchdowns. He also had over 100 downfield yards and a touchdown wiped out by highly questionable penalties and another in-the-bucket throw to Mack Hollins that should have drawn a DPI.
Maye then made key plays with his legs and arm — including a final third down back shoulder completion — to when they needed him to in the second half to secure the victory, while also not committing a turnover worthy play for the third straight week. The 23-year old is playing at an elite level.
WR Kayshon Boutte: Returning to Louisiana, Boutte was Maye’s top receiver on the day hauling in all five targets for 93 yards and a pair of scores. While Boutte worked through contact on both of his first-half scores, his best work may have been on the 21-yard back shoulder fade on third-and-11 to seal the win. Boutte worked through press coverage and adjusted well to the perfectly placed ball from Maye — even coming down in bounds to keep the clock running.
WR DeMario Douglas: Pop got things off to a fast start for the Patriots offense. Running the deep post off a half-boot action, Douglas turned the Saints deep safety, hauled in a pass downfield, and made the last man miss to get on the board with a 53-yard touchdown. Douglas then should have had another 61-yard score the next drive if not for a phantom pass interference penalty on Stefon Diggs. The shifty receiver had been making plays away from the football and as a blocker the last two weeks, and his efforts were rewarded down in New Orleans.
CB Marcus Jones: The Patriots captain finds himself in the ‘winners’ column for the third straight week with another impressive effort on the defensive side of the ball. Recording three pass breakups (including one in the end zone) and his first career sack, Jones became the first Patriot to do so in a single game since Richard Seymour in 2003. On the sack, Jones blitzed from the slot and beat Alvin Kamara allowing him to met Spencer Rattler after K’Lavon Chaisson forced the quarterback up in the pocket.
Run game: New England’s offensive ground game continued to struggle on Sunday and forced Maye and the passing attack to carry the load yet again. The Patriots top two running backs managed just...
