Pats Pulpit
In his first career Monday Night Football start, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was in complete control as he led New England to their tenth straight victory with a 33-15 win over the Giants.
After a shakier game last week in Cincinnati, Maye was decisive throughout the night finishing the game without a turnover-worthy play while generating +0.31 EPA per play (82nd percentile).
Entering the week, Maye had totaled 1,927 passing yards (240 more than any other quarterback) and a 70 percent completion percentage (3rd highest) against single-high safety looks — something the Giants deployed at the sixth-highest rate in football. That success continued for Maye Monday night, as he completed 12-of-13 pass for 174 yards and a touchdown against the structures.
While their were some plays left on the board in the red zone — where the Patriots went 1-of-5 to sink the unit to the 24th-ranked in the NFL — it was a big-time bounce back game that now has the 23-year old as the leader for MVP. Here’s how he got there.
(12:57) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to S.Diggs pushed ob at NYG 23 for 13 yards (A.Phillips). With the run game moving the offense across midfield after a big opening kick return to start the game, a 13-yard completion to Stefon Diggs sets things up outside the red zone. On the play, New England runs a staple with HOSS Juke out of pony personnel (two RBs) which creates a one-on-one matchup with Diggs on a linebacker. With the veteran on the juke series against the linebacker, it’s easy pickings for Maye — something he did throughout the night picking his matchups and operating efficiently from the pocket.
(11:20) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to H.Henry to NYG 7 for 9 yards (C.Flott). Facing a following third-down, New York shows cover-zero pressure pre-snap but bluffs the blitz and instead drops out into coverage. Maye starts to his left on a stick concept before working to Hunter Henry on the backside — where he then moves the safety with a pump fake to his check down option before hitting Henry in the passing window off one leg.
(1:49) D.Maye pass deep right to H.Henry to NYG 3 for 36 yards (T.Nubin). After leading a 12-play opening drive that resulted in a field goal, Maye truly got going on drive two — which started with a 10-0 lead after Marcus Jones’ punt return touchdown. Maye needed just five plays to march the unit downfield, largely thanks to the 36-yard explosive to Hunter Henry. With the veteran tight end running a corner route on a sail concept, Maye pump fakes to move safety Tyler Nubin yet again underneath and creates a passing lane to a wide open Henry.
(1:04) T.Munford reported in as eligible. D.Maye pass short right to K.Boutte for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The very next play, New England finds the end zone as Maye takes the pass option on an RPO to...
