Pats Pulpit
The road to seven in a row had to go through Raymond James Stadium. So did the road to remain unbeaten on the road.
The New England Patriots got there on Sunday with a 28-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here’s a glance back on 1 p.m. ET kickoff as head coach Mike Vrabel’s side returns home in the driver’s seat at 8-2.
Drake Maye entered Sunday atop the NFL in completion percentage. He also entered with a 100-or-higher passer rating in every game since the season’s opening loss. Against the leaders of the NFC South, those reference points fell.
The Patriots did not. The 23-year-old quarterback finished 16-of-31 passing for 270 yards with two touchdowns and one interception along the way.
Heading onto the field in “12” personnel with tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, the rainy opening drive featured one first down before punting. The AFC East visitors were sent to the same end result on the next possession. But on the final snap of the first quarter, 4.4 speed was found crossing over the middle against Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison. With pinpoint ball placement as well as afterburners, a 7-7 game it became from 72 yards away.
The score read 14-10 for New England by halftime. A 14-play, 78-yard surge was the reason why. It spanned 7:16 of game clock. On a fourth-and-goal throw to toe-dragging veteran wideout Stefon Diggs, it came to a close in the back left corner of the end zone.
Two plays later, the offense was back in the end zone. Even so, a pair of three-and-outs and a turnover on downs were soon endured. The stagnant third quarter bled into the fourth quarter. It saw the lead cut to 21-16. But Maye, on third-and-14, let it rip on a go ball to bring the offense into the red zone. No points came of that downfield strike. An interception by safety Tykee Smith halted things instead. Answers were found elsewhere.
The Patriots were missing a team-high five touchdowns on Sunday. In the absence of Kayshon Boutte, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury, a rookie broke through.
Kyle Williams crossed over the middle and put the pedal to the floor for 72 yards to end the first quarter. The Washington State product’s first NFL touchdown marked the offense’s longest play in four years. Per Next Gen Stats, a top speed of 21.78 mph was reached down the right sideline. That temporarily stood as fastest of any rookie ball-carrier around the league this fall. He hadn’t caught a pass since September.
A handful wideouts were active for New England. The position group combined for 258 receiving yards and more moments. The aforementioned Diggs caught his third touchdown in three games and recovered the last-gasp onside kick. Fellow elder statesman Mack Hollins started alongside him, went over the shoulder for a 54-yarder and finished with a...
