By R.L. Bynum
After delivering a fiery speech to New England’s offense last week, Drake Maye led the Patriots to their second win in three games, while a pair of wide receivers — Mack Hollins and Josh Downs — matched each others’ big games in Buffalo’s win at Indianapolis.
Maye won a battle with fellow first-round NFL draft pick rookie Caleb Williams, playing much better than the first overall pick in New England’s 19–3 victory in Chicago over the Bears.
Maye was sacked once and completed 15 of 25 passes for 184 yards, with a touchdown, an interception, a 79.4 passer and 12.76 fantasy points.
“I think there are some throws that I’d like to have back,” Maye said during the postgame press conference (his portion starts at 10:44). “That interception is just a bad decision. Trying to throw it away; got to throw away farther.”
Meanwhile, Williams — the top overall selection out of USC — couldn’t produce a touchdown and was 16 of 30 for 120 yards, a 63.2 passer rating and 6.3 fantasy points.
“We’ve got to run the football,” Maye said. “Being able to run the football and first down. I thought that was the big thing today.”
Maye threw for the game’s only touchdown with 1:46 left in the first half to give the Patriots the lead for good at 10–3. On a play-action, Maye found fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk alone in the left side of the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown pass.
Maye asked the coaches last week if he could address the offense and showed uncommon leadership for a rookie, pointing out the little things the team needed to do better.
“These little things that are adding up and hurting us in practice, that are leading [into] game day,” Maye said. “I think sometimes you get into practice mode, where you’re just running plays. Really trying to challenge those guys and challenge myself to take each play and know that when the game comes, this play’s called, it matters. So, I was just trying to get through to them, and I think those guys respected it.”
How did he move on after that frustrating interception? It goes all the way back to battling with his brothers and having confidence in himself.
“That’s not my style of football, turning football over like that,” he said. “Just growing up and playing different sports and having older brothers and being able to bounce back [after] getting dunked on on a mini hoop, and having to come back here and bounce back from older brothers.
“So, whether it’s that or just facing adversity throughout the season, I think more and more, at times, not everything’s gonna go right, and everything’s not going to go perfect,” he said. “And think you saw that from the offense today, we’d be able to bounce back and do we need to do.”
In Hollins’ best game in more than two years, he caught all four passes targeted to him for a team-high 86 yards, including a 44-yard gain, in Buffalo’s 30–20 win at Indianapolis. Downs caught seven passes on 10 targets for 72 yards, including a 21-yard gain.
It was Hollins’ best game since piling up 158 yards and a touchdown on Sept. 25, 2022, for the Las Vegas Raiders at Tennessee. In the last two games, he has caught all nine passes targeted to him for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Downs went over 70 reception yards for the sixth time in his career and the third time this season. He dropped a pass at the Buffalo 4 in the first quarter, though, that likely would have been a touchdown.
Bills quarterback Mitch Trubisky got in and kneeled down on his only play to end the game.
For the second consecutive game, Jaleel McLaughlin started ahead of Javonte Williams at running back for Denver. Williams only got three touches and played 17 snaps in the Broncos’ 16–14 loss at Kansas City, his fewest since getting five on Oct. 1, 2023, at Chicago. Williams had one carry for one yard and two catches on two targets for six yards.
In Minnesota’s 12–7 win at Jacksonville, Vikings running back Ty Chandler had four carries for 18 yards, including an eight-yard run.
Dyami Brown caught two passes, both going for losses (for 11 yards and two yards) in Washington’s 28–27 home defeat against Pittsburgh.
In the New York Giants’ 20–17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany, linebacker Tomon Fox had one assist on kickoff coverage and offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu played off the bench.
Mike Hughes had one assist before leaving Atlanta’s 20–17 loss at New Orleans in the second quarter with a neck injury.
In Baltimore’s 35–34 home Thursday win over Cincinnati, Tez Walker played 20 special-teams snaps.
Amari Gainer and the Las Vegas Raiders, as well as Sam Howell and the Seattle Seahawks had the weekend off.
Linebacker Cedric Gray came off Tennessee’s injured reserve last week after recovering from a shoulder injury but wasn’t active for the Titans’ 27–17 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Arizona offensive lineman Charlie Heck and New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt both played off the bench in the Cardinals’ 31–6 home victory.
Asim Richards started at left tackle for Dallas and played all 60 offensive snaps in the Cowboys’ 34–6 home loss to Philadelphia and drew praise from observers on X (formerly Twitter) for his performance. He started in place of Tyler Guyton, who was inactive with a neck injury.
M.J. Stewart played off the bench for Houston with no statistics in the Texans’ 26–23 Sunday night home loss to Detroit.
Storm Duck was inactive Monday night for Miami’s 23–15 road win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–0, 195 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 10 games, 13 catches, 145 yards (41 longest), 11.2 average, 1 TD
28–27 loss vs. Pittsburgh — Didn’t start; 2 catches on 3 targets, -13 (-2 longest); 10 offensive snaps (16%), 5 special-teams snaps (16%)
Week 11 — 8:15 Thursday at Philadelphia, Prime Video
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 204 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — First-string kick returner behind Kene Nwangwu; second-string running back behind Aaron Jones
Season statistics — 9 games, 48 rushes, 169 yards (25 longest); 6 catches, 42 yards (10 longest); 6 kick returns; sacked once for a 1-yard loss
12–7 win at Jacksonville — 4 carries, 18 yards (8 longest); 12 offensive snaps (14%), 8 special-teams snaps (42%)
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, CBS
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver ahead of Anthony Gould
Season statistics — 8 games, 45 catches, 483 yards (69 longest), 10.7 average, 3 TDs; 1 carry, 12 yards; 11 punt returns, 120 yards (23 longest); 1 tackle; 1 fumble recovery
30–20 loss vs. Buffalo — Started; 7 catches on 10 targets, 72 yards (21 longest); 1 fair catch on punt; 1 fumble recovery; 44 offensive snaps (69%), 2 special-teams snaps (8%); 14.2 fantasy points
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, CBS
Storm Duck, Miami Dolphins cornerback
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Third-string right cornerback
Season statistics — 6 games, 7 tackles, 3 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 pass defended, 2 tackles on kickoff coverage
23–15 win at Los Angels Rams — Inactive for the game
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Las Vegas, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 310 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Starting left tackle
Season statistics — 9 games, 62 offensive snaps, 30 special-teams snaps
20–17 loss vs. Carolina in Munich, Germany — Played 1 offensive snap (1%), 4 special-teams snaps (13%); reported tackle-eligible once
Week 11 — Open date; in Week 12: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, vs. Tampa Bay, CBS
Tomon Fox, New York Giants linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 245 | third NFL season | UNC 2016–21
Roster situation — Third-string right outside linebacker
Season statistics — 5 games, 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
20–17 loss vs. Carolina in Munich, Germany — 1 assist on kickoff coverage; played 12 defensive snaps (20%), 20 special-teams snaps (67%)
Week 11 — Open date; in Week 12: 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, vs. Tampa Bay, CBS
Amari Gainer, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker
Age 24 | 6–3, 235 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Fourth-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 9 games, 1 special-teams tackle, 2 special-teams assists
The Raiders were off this weekend
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Miami, CBS
Charlie Heck, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman
Age 27 | 6–8, 311 | 5th NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle behind Paris Johnson Jr.
Season statistics — 7 games, 30 offensive snaps, 25 special-teams snaps
31–6 win vs. New York Jets — Played 10 offensive snaps (17%) off the bench, 5 special-teams snaps (28%); reported as tackle-eligible three times
Week 11 — Open date. In Week 12: 4:25 Sunday, Nov. 24, at Jacksonville, Fox
Mack Hollins, Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | 8th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting left wide receiver ahead of Keon Coleman
Season statistics — 10 games, 16 catches, 197 yards (44 longest), 12.3 average, 3 touchdowns; 1 tackle; 1 special-teams tackle; 1 special-teams fumble recovery
30–20 win at Indianapolis — Started; 4 catches on 4 targets, 86 yards (44 longest); 1 tackle after a second-quarter interception; 65 offensive snaps (88%); 13.6 fantasy points
Week 11 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Kansas City, CBS
Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | 3rd NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Geno Smith
Season statistics — 1 game, one snap
The Seahawks were off this weekend.
Week 11 — 4:05 p.m. Sunday at San Francisco, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 27 | 5–10, 191 | 7th NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback ahead of Clark Phillips III
Season statistics — 10 games, 34 tackles, 8 assists, 3 tackles for losses, 3 passes defended
20–17 loss at New Orleans — Started; 1 assist; left game in the second quarter with a neck injury; 13 defensive snaps (25%)
Week 11 — 4:05 Sunday at Denver, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett
Season statistics — 6 games, 97 of 150 (64.7%), 954 yards (40 longest), 7 TDs, 5 INTs, 14 sacks for 95 yards, 84.1 passer rating; 25 carries, 233 yards (26 longest), 1 TD; 1 tackle
19–3 win at Chicago — Started; 15 of 25, 184 yards (28 longest), 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 sacks for 0 yards, 79.4 passer rating; 4 carries, 24 yards (19 longest); 64 offensive snaps (100%);12.76 fantasy points
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
24 | 6–4, 307 | 2nd NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 8 games; 22 offensive snaps, 25 special-teams snaps entering weekend
34–6 loss vs. Philadelphia — Started at left tackle; regular starter Tyler Guyton was inactive with a neck injury; 60 offensive snaps (100%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%)
Week 11 — 8:15 Monday vs. Houston, ABC, ESPN
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 28 | 5–11, 205 | 7th NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string strong safety
Season statistics — 8 games, 1 tackle, 1 fumble recovery, 1 special-teams tackle, 1 special-teams assist
26–23 loss vs. Detroit — Played off the bench with no statistics
Week 11 — 8:15 Monday at Dallas, ABC, ESPN
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 27 | 6–2, 233 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string middle linebacker
Season statistics — 9 games, 10 tackles, 1 assist, 2 tackles for losses, 1 QB hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
31–6 loss at Arizona — Played off the bench with no statistics
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Indianapolis, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–2, 220 | 8th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 5 games, 2 of 3, 5 yards; 7 carries, -7 yards (seven kneel-downs)
30–20 win at Indianapolis — 1 carry, -1 (kneel down on final play); 1 offensive snap (1%)
Week 11 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Kansas City, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–1, 198 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 special-teams tackle
35–34 Thursday win vs. Cincinnati — Played 20 special-teams snaps (71%)
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Pittsburgh, CBS
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 24 | 5–10, 220 | 4th NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
Season statistics — 10 games, 103 carries, 388 yards (20 longest), 2 TDs; 31 catches on 39 targets, 222 yards (34 longest); 2 fumbles
16–14 loss at Kansas City — Didn’t start; 1 carry, 1 yard; 2 catches on 2 targets, 6 yards (5 longest); 17 offensive snaps (29%); 2.7 fantasy points
Week 11 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Atlanta, Fox
On PUP list
Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb (recovering from left knee injury)
On injured reserve
Houston running back British Brooks (had season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus)
Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder)
Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green (concussion)
Las Vegas defensive tackle Tomari Fox
Off IR but inactive
Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (shoulder)
On practice squad
Arizona running back Michael Carter
Waived during training camp
Offensive lineman Marcus McKethan by the New York Giants
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Defensive end Myles Murphy by the Arizona Cardinals
Offensive lineman Spencer Rolland by the Minnesota Vikings
Linebacker Andre Smith by the Denver
Photo via @Patriots
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