New England Patriots - NESN.com
FOXBORO, Mass. — Drake Maye showed another week of progression for the New England Patriots Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
He learned from a few previous mistakes and directed big gains for the offense. At the same time, he gave the ball away, which stings in a one-possession loss.
Maye finished the day 30-for-40 for 282 yards, two touchdowns and two turnovers.
Let’s grade how the Patriots rookie performed in Week 11.
POSITIVES Ball release
Maye got the ball out quickly early and often for the Patriots. That led to big completions early on to establish a rhythm with a 14-yard gain with Demario Douglas and an 18-yard pickup on a screen to Austin Hooper. He found Kendrick Bourne a few plays later
Distribution
Maye got several receivers the ball and spread the wealth across the Patriots on early drives. The rookie quarterback hit nine different targets in Sunday’s outing.
Mobility and mistake prevention (at times) Maye used his legs to avoid a few more sacks Sunday and ran for a key first down on a second-half touchdown drive.
More importantly when he did scramble out of the pocket, Maye made smarter decisions and threw a few balls away to limit potential gambles or turnovers. That’s a step from Week 10 when Maye forced a ball he should thrown away for an interception against the Chicago Bears.
Maye did however take a bad sack out of the two-minute warning for a seven-yard loss that forced the Patriots to burn their final timeout.
NEGATIVES Turnovers
Maye had a costly turnover with the Rams on their way to ripping away momentum. New England got the ball back after Cooper Kupp’s 5-yard touchdown. On 3rd-and-three, Maye took a sack when Braden Fiske broke through up the middle. The Patriots quarterback fumbled the football and the Rams recovered his fourth fumble of the season.
Los Angeles wasted no time converting the turnover into points when Puka Nacua dove and hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford on the very next play to give the Rams the lead.
The Patriots got the ball back with just over two minutes to go. Maye effectively brought the game to the end with a chance to go win the game until he sailed a pass to Demario Douglas. Rams defensive back Kamren Kinchens intercepted the pass to lock up the game for Los Angeles on another consequential turnover for the Patriots quarterback.
GRADE: B-
Maye made several plays that put the Patriots in position to rack up points Sunday. His turnovers did prove to be detrimental, though that interception came in a do-or-die situation in a two-minute drill where quarterbacks tend to be a bit more aggressive.
There’s no doubt still work with Maye’s decision-making, but the Patriots should once again feel solid about their franchise quarterback after this week.
