By R.L. Bynum
No matter what numbers Drake Maye puts up, he just keeps winning.
Maye led New England to a 28–16 victory Sunday at Tampa Bay for the 8–2 Patriots’ seventh consecutive win, giving them a 1½-game lead atop the AFC East.
His streak of eight consecutive games with at least 200 yards passing and a passer rating of 100 ended. The streak tied Tom Brady’s as the longest in franchise history and was the longest for a player younger than 24.
Maye finished 16 of 31 for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating of 89.5 was his lowest since an 80.6 in a Week 1 home loss to the Los Angeles Raiders.
The Patriots trailed early before Maye tied it on a 72-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams late in the first quarter — the longest pass of Maye’s career and the longest Patriots touchdown play this season.
“Kyle got out the back door. You know, he’s fast. You’re not gonna catch him,” Maye said. “He only got maybe one target and made it count. Just proud of him for getting in there.”
On the last play of the first half, facing fourth-and-goal at the Bucs’ 1, Maye lofted a pass in the corner of the end zone to Stefon Diggs, who got his toes inbounds for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 14–10 halftime lead.
“Shoot, didn’t get in the first three times,” Maye said. “Stef made a great play. That was a toe tap extraordinaire.”
New England coach Mike Vrabel said that moment was pivotal.
“That was a huge, huge play for us. On fourth down, I’ve got confidence in our guys,” Vrabel said. “I was really excited and proud of Stef and Drake for scoring where we were and being able to end the half with the football in our hands.”
Maye, although only sacked once, took a beating late during a drive in which he connected on a third-and-14 for 56 yards to Hollins, becoming the first Patriot to throw two passes of at least 50 yards since Brady did it in 2017.
Hollins, who came into the game with 16 catches for 208 yards on the season, caught six passes on 10 targets for 106 yards. It was his best game since catching eight passes for 158 yards in a 24-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans in 2022 while playing for the Los Angeles Raiders.
That drive ended with Maye throwing an interception in the end zone on third-and-goal at the Bucs’ 2.
“You gotta be mad at yourself,” Maye said. “But you know that you have a chance either to go on a two-minute drill to win the game, or go in a five-minute scenario to win the game. That’s this league — just bouncing back from it, flipping the page.”
Maye said the win was about grit.
“Just so proud of this team. Every week we’re fighting, some things aren’t going our way. We’re handling adversity. Battle adversity, defense is stepping up,” Maye said.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Patriots, who host the New York Jets at 8:15 Thursday night (Prime Video).
| Week | C–A–TDs–I– Yards | C% | QB rating | Rushes– Yards–TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30–46–1–1–287 | 65.2 | 80.6 | 4–11–0 |
| 2 | 19–23–2–0–230 | 82.6 | 137.3 | 10–31–1 |
| 3 | 28–37–2–1–268 | 75.7 | 102.1 | 7–45–0 |
| 4 | 14–17–2–0–203 | 82.4 | 155.6 | 3–11–1 |
| 5 | 22–30–0–0–273 | 73.3 | 101.1 | 3–12–0 |
| 6 | 18–26–3–0–261 | 69.2 | 140.1 | 9–28–0 |
| 7 | 21–23–2–0–222 | 91.3 | 135.9 | 8–62–0 |
| 8 | 18–24–3–1–282 | 75.0 | 135.8 | 7–50–0 |
| 9 | 19–29–2–1–259 | 65.5 | 102.5 | 8–20–0 |
| 10 | 16–31–2–1–270 | 51.6 | 84.4 | 7–13–0 |
| 11 | 25–34–1–0–281 | 73.5 | 107.6 | 4–2–0 |
| 12 | 22–35–1–1–294 | 62.8 | 87.1 | 5–22–0 |
| 13 | 24–31–2–1–282 | 77.4 | 126.0 | 6–12–0 |
| 14 | 14–23–0–1–155 | 60.8 | 62.87 | 4–43–2 |
| 15 | 31–44–2–1–380 | 70.5 | 102.5 | 10–25–0 |
| Totals | 321–453– 25–8–3,947 | 70.9 | 108.5 | 95–387–4 |
Week 1: 20–13 loss to L.A. Raiders; Week 2: 33–27 win at Miami; Week 3: 21–14 loss to Pittsburgh; Week 4: 42–13 win over Carolina; Week 5: 23–20 win at Buffalo: Week 6: 26–19 win at New Orleans: Week 7: 31–13 win at Tennessee; Week 8: 32–13 win vs. Cleveland; Week 9: 24–23 win vs. Atlanta; Week 10: 28–23 win at Tampa Bay; Week 11: 27–14 win vs. New York Jets: Week 12: 26–20 win at Cincinnati; Week 13: 33–15 win vs. New York Giants; Week 14: 35–31 loss vs. Buffalo; Week 15: 28–24 win at Baltimore
Houston safety M.J. Stewart suffered what appeared to be a significant left knee injury with 7:59 left in the first half of the Texans’ 36–29 home win over Jacksonville. He was carted off with his left leg in a cast.
Stewart had started since the Texans released C.J. Gardner-Johnson after Week 3.
Elsewhere around the league:
— Colts wide receiver Josh Downs had one catch on two targets for three yards and two punt returns for 32 yards.
— Bills quarterback Mitch Trubisky played in relief of Josh Allen in a blowout loss at Miami, getting one carry for four yards in three snaps.
— Jacksonville wide receiver Dyami Brown had no catches on one target.
— Tampa Bay offensive lineman Charlie Heck played one offensive snap and three special-teams snaps.
— New Orleans’ Asim Richards started at right tackle. Richards has 137 total snaps going into the game, but played 71 on Sunday.
— Arizona running back Michael Carter had three carries for four yards in eight offensive snaps.
— Seattle’s Chazz Surratt had one tackle on kickoff coverage in 17 snaps, all on special teams.
— Houston running back British Brooks had two offensive snaps and 18 special-teams snaps with no statistics.
— Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes (neck injury), Baltimore wide receiver Tez Walker, Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb and Philadelphia quarterback Sam Howell all were inactive for their games.
Getting the weekend off were Cedric Gray’s Tennessee Titans and Javonte Williams’ Dallas Cowboys.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fifth-string running back
Season statistics —10 games, 4 carries, 15 yards (9 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Week 16: Texans 23, Raiders 21 — 2 tackles on kickoff coverage; 2 offensive snaps (3%), 20 special-teams snaps (67%)
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday at Los Angeles Chargers, NFL Network
Dyami Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–0, 195 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 15 games, 7 starts, 22 catches, 212 yards (39 longest), 9.9 average, 1 TD, 1 fumble (lost); 5 carries, 26 yards (9 longest); 4 kickoff returns, 106 yards (31 longest)
Week 16: Jaguars 34, Broncos 20 — Played 6 offensive snaps (9%) and 1 special-teams snap (3%(
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 26 | 5–8, 201 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Fourth-string running back
Season statistics — 11 games, 3 starts, 78 carries, 286 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 28 catches on 32 targets, 232 yards (18 longest); 1 kickoff return, 27 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16: Falcons 26, Cardinals 19 — Started; 11 carries, 65 yards (5.9 average; 22 longest); 0 catches on 2 targets; 30 offensive snaps (53%)
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 14 games, 9 starts, 52 catches, 471 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 rush, 3 yards,;5 punt returns, 55 yards; 1 tackle; 47 offensive snaps (78%)
Week 16: 49ers 48, Colts 27 — Started; 5 catches on 9 targets, 65 yards (18 longest), 1 rush, 3 yards
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting left inside linebacker
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 82 tackles, 57 assists, 6 tackles for losses, 1 sack for 7 yards, 3 passes defended, 2 quarterback pressures, 1 quarterback hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 fumble recoveries
Week 16: Titans 26, Chiefs 9 — Not active after suffering a concussion
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 22 | 6–0, 220 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — No. 2 running back
Season statistics — 8 games, 5 starts, 110 carries, 516 yards (54 longest), 4.7 average, 3 touchdowns; 24 catches, 161 yards (22 longest), 6.7 average, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Week 16: Chargers 34, Cowboys 17 — Didn’t start; 16 carries, 85 yards (18 longest), 1 touchdown (5-yard run, 4:48 left, fourth quarter); 1 catch on 2 targets, 10 yards; 35 offensive snaps (55%)
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday vs. Houston Texans, NFL Network
Charlie Heck, Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman
Age 28 | 6–8, 311 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Backup right tackle behind Luke Goedeke
Season statistics — 16 games, 1 tackle; 698 offensive snaps, 63 special-teams snaps
Week 16: Panthers 23, Bucs 20 — Reported as tackle-eligible four times; 4 offensive snaps (6%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Miami, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 28 | 6–1, 240 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 12 games, 3 starts, 19 tackles, 11 assists, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
Week 16: Steelers 29, Lions 24 — 1 assist on kickoff coverage; 15 special-teams snaps (54%)
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 15 games, 11 starts, 43 catches, 519 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 1 carry, 4 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16: Patriots 28, Ravens 24 — Started; 4 catches on 5 targets, 38 yards (9.5 average, 20 longest); 49 offensive snaps (66%), 5 special-teams snaps (21%)
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
Sam Howell, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Third-string quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); hasn’t played this season — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 16: Eagles 29, Commanders 18 — Not active for the game
Week 17 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 28 | 5–10, 191 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 32 tackles, 9 assists, 4 passes defended, 2 tackles for losses; 1 interception
Week 16: Falcons 26, Cardinals 19 — Not active for the game (ankle sprain)
Week 17 — 8:15 Monday vs. Los Angeles Reams, ESPN
Alijah Huzzie, Houston Texans cornerback
Age 24 | 5–10, 195 | rookie season | UNC 2023–24
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
Week 16: Texans 23, Raiders 21 — Played 1 special teams snap
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday at Los Angeles Chargers, NFL Network
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Joshua Dobbs
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 321 of 453, 3,947 (72 longest, 8.7 average), 70.9%, 25 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 46 sacks (200 yards in losses, 108.5 passer rating; 95 carries, 387 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 6 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Week 16: Patriots 28, Ravens 24 — Started; 31 of 44 for 380 yards (37 longest), 2 touchdowns (1-yard pass to Hunter Henry with 11:17 left in the second quarter; 37-yard pass to Kyle Williams with 9:01 left in fourth quarter), 1 interception, 3 sacks for 6 yards in losses, 2-point conversion completion, 102.5 passer rating; 10 carries, 25 yards (16 longest); 74 offensive snaps (100%); 24.7 fantasy points
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 24 | 6–4, 307 | third NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 13 games, 4 starts, 295 offensive snaps, 42 special-teams snaps
Week 16: Saints 29, Jets 6 — Not active for the game (ankle injury)
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 of 6, 54 yards; 4 carries, 1 yard
Week 16: Bills 23, Browns 20 — Didn’t play
Week 17 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–1, 198 | second NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Third-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 9 games, 2 starts, 4 catches, 90 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hit, 2 special-teams assists
Week 16: Patriots 28, Ravens 24 — 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble , 1 QB hit, all on a Patriots fake punt; 6 offensive snaps (11%), 9 special-teams snaps (17%)
Week 17 — 8 p.m. Saturday at Green Bay, Peacock
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 25 | 5–10, 220 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Miles Sanders
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 239 carries, 1,147 yards (4.8 average; 66 longest), 10 touchdowns; 35 catches, 137 yards (3.9 average; 14 longest), 2 touchdowns
Week 16: Chargers 34, Cowboys 17 — Started; 9 carries, 34 yards (8 longest); 2 catches on 3 targets, 9 yards (5 longest); 33 offensive snaps (57%)
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Thursday at Washington, Netflix
Out for season
Miami Dolphins defensive back Storm Duck, knee injury (season statistics: 2 games, 1 start, 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 pass defended)
Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart, quadriceps injury (season statistics: 9 games, 4 starts, 10 tackles, 8 assists, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists)
On injured reserve
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, knee injury
New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezudu (IR with designation to return), undisclosed injury
Philadelphia Eagles center Willie Lampkin, leg injury (Rams released him in camp)
Seattle linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle injury)
On practice squads
Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker
New England linebacker Amari Gainer
Minnesota tight end Bryson Nesbit
Waived from practice squads
Linebacker Power Echols by Chicago
Linebacker Tomon Fox by the New York Giants
Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie by New England
Released during training camp
Linebacker Eugene Asanti by Miami
Tight end John Copenhaver by Jacksonville
Linebacker Desmond Evans by Tennessee
Wide receiver Nate McCollum by Arizona
Defensive back Kyler McMichael by Pittsburgh
Photo via @Patriots
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