New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots had no margin for error on an early touchdown in Sunday’s 33-27 win over the Miami Dolphins.
During the second quarter, Kayshon Boutte dived to secure a Drake Maye pass for a 16-yard touchdown. Former Patriots cornerback Jack Jones draped the wide receiver, but Boutte somehow made the play in ultra-tight coverage.
NFL Next Gen Stats measured the degree of difficulty on Boutte’s touchdown, noting that he had 0.3 yards of separation from Jones when the ball arrived. Boutte didn’t have more than a yard of distance from Jones throughout the play.
That score, followed by a second missed extra point from rookie kicker Andy Borregales, gave New England a 12-0 lead in the opening quarter. Maye didn’t target Boutte for the rest of the game.
Perhaps that tight coverage shows why Maye found easier plays elsewhere throughout the Week 2 matchup. Patriots receivers combined for just 64 yards, but Maye connected on 12 of 14 targets to his running backs and tight ends for 166 yards.
Boutte has nevertheless shown the ability to make big plays for Maye. He leads the team with 17.0 yards per catch and has converted a first down on six of seven receptions despite registering just three yards after the catch.
Boutte set the stage for a breakout 2025 by opening the season with 103 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 2023 sixth-round pick leads the Patriots in receiving yards despite getting held to the one highlight play on Sunday.
The Patriots can use a combination of Week 1’s volume and Week 2’s acrobatic score when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.
