New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots should have no problem taking care of business against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football — which would help accomplish more than just burying a division opponent.
Drake Maye can lap the field in the race for NFL MVP.
Maye (+275) had the second best odds of anyone at DraftKings Sportsbook on Wednesday, barely trailing Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (+260) but sitting well ahead of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (+500) and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (+550).
It’s an understandable order considering where each player stands in the pantheon of the NFL…
Stafford currently leads the league in yards per game (269.7) and passing touchdowns (25) — the latter of which by a large margin. Mahomes is the league’s golden boy, and has the fledgling young roster surrounding him improving by the minute. Taylor is well on his way to the rushing title, currently leading the league in rushing yards (1,139) and rushing touchdowns (15).
Maye, however, has been doing the most with the least — and isn’t that what the award is all about?
Maye currently ranks No. 1 in completion percentage over expected (+9.3%) — which literally showcases the difference between average and above-average quarterbacks, No. 3 in passing yards (2,555) and No. 5 in quarterback rating (113.9).
The Patriots, on the other hand, aren’t giving him as much help as people like to think.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson pace the rushing attack, which ranks just No. 21 in yards per carry (4.1) despite having that number boosted this past weekend thanks to 55- and 69-yard touchdown runs by the rookie.
Stefon Diggs, who currently leads the team in receiving and has been lauded for shifting the dynamic among that position group, ranks No. 25 in total receiving yards (554) — sitting behind the likes of Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (603) and New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (602). Kayshon Boutte, the club’s next leading receiver (431), ranks No. 46.
Will Campbell has been everything the organization expected, but the offensive line has still given up more sacks (35) than any unit outside of the Tennessee Titans (38).
How about the defense?
K’Lavon Chaisson, Harold Landry III and Milton Williams have been terrific adds, but the pass-rush still ranks No. 17 in sacks (22.0) and No. 23 in pass-rush win-rate (35%).
Mike Vrabel and Zack Kuhn have spent weeks trying to figure out a way to stop teams from scoring once they get in the red zone, but to no avail — as the defense ranks No. 21 in passing defense (227.0) and No. 32 in red-zone touchdown rate (73.9%) — the sixth highest of any team since 2002.
Maye, based on every possible factor, is the most worthy candidate for the award.
The Patriots not only have been elevated across the board by their sophomore quarterback, but will continue to rely on him as they’re without three offensive starters in their second...
