Pats Pulpit
When Drake Maye and the New England Patriots offense entered the field with 1:32 left in the third quarter of their divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans, momentum had started to shift their opponent’s way. Houston had penetrated into Patriots territory on two of its three possession of the half, and thanks to a pair of field goal reduced its deficit to only five points.
For the Patriots, on the other hand, their previous two drives of the second half were more of the same. The first ended in a fumble, the second in a punt.
A spark was needed, and they found it in what will go down as one of the best catches in Patriots playoff history. Going deep down the right sideline against first-team All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr, Kayshon Boutte was able to lay out and haul in a 32-yard touchdown from his quarterback.
The score put the home team up by 12 points, and gave it a much-needed cushion in the early fourth quarter. More importantly, it showed that Maye and the Patriots offense, despite all the challenges they faced, were still able to rise above and deliver when needed the most.
It was championship-caliber resilience on display.
“Nothing’s really going to be perfect. You’ve just got to continue to fight, to scratch, to claw. Some things might not go your way, and you just have to come back, keep swinging,” said tight end Hunter Henry after the game, offer particular praise for his young QB.
“I’m proud of him for continuing to do that. Just continuing to step up today in a major way, and when we needed him. He’s done it all year, but today was pretty, pretty special in those elements, the elements in Foxborough and everything. He’s a special, special player and a lot of fun to play with.”
Left tackle Will Campbell echoed Henry’s thoughts on Maye.
“He is who he is for a reason,” the rookie said. “Nothing can make him flinch, I’ve said it before, and I like our chances anytime he’s in the game. He’s just a heck of a player, even better leader. I wouldn’t want anybody else commanding the huddle.”
Playing at an MVP level during the regular season, Maye went up against two of the better defenses in the NFL in the wild card and divisional rounds. The results have not always been pretty and include six combined fumbles by the Pro Bowl QB as well as five total turnovers (although we need to cut him some slack for his Hail Mary interception on the final play of the first half on Sunday).
And yet, Maye and the entire offense around him continuously found a way to elevate their game in the biggest moments. They did so on last week’s touchdown pass to Hunter Henry, and again versus Houston when Boutte hauled in what turned out to be the final score of the afternoon.
“We talk about not going in the blender,” said head...
