By R.L. Bynum
Drake Maye didn’t just manage the game Thursday night. He commanded it, and the Gillette Stadium crowd let him know it.
The second-year quarterback walked off the field after another efficient performance, and chants of “MVP” echoed through the stands after he led the New England Patriots to a 27–14 victory to extend their win streak to eight.
Maye smiled when asked about it and tried first to suggest the chants were for running back TreVeyon Henderson.
“Our fans have been great with me since I got here, as soon as I got drafted,” Maye said. “I just appreciate them for embracing me, just trying to embrace this city and give these fans, this team and [my all], just leave it all out there and give them everything I got.”
Maye gave them plenty to cheer about, completing 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots improved to 9–2 and extended their AFC East lead to two games.
On a short week, Maye said the focus was simple.
“I think just a quick turnaround, the goal these Thursday nights [is] just to come out with the win. And that’s what happened,” Maye said. “Things we would look back on … didn’t have much time to prepare for. Some things that I could look back at myself and wish I had plays back. But just proud of these guys for the effort, the win.”
The Patriots’ lone passing touchdown came midway through the third quarter when Maye found Henderson on a 6-yard swing route to make it 20–7. Henderson scored three times in the game, and Maye praised his backfield mate.
“Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke,” Maye said. “I think just him stepping up. I think it’s a big time for him stepping up, and it’s been great for him to get all these reps. He wants to be great. He’s just showing up every day and asking questions and getting out here.”
Maye spread the ball around, connecting with veterans like Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry in key moments.
“That trust was built up, probably when I was in middle school, when he was playing in the league,” Maye said of Diggs. “It was long ago. Guys like him and Hunter and Mack [Hollins], you trust those guys for what they’ve done in this league. And I just try to give them chances.”
Hollins had four catches on five targets for 64 yards, including a 20-yard reception.
Maye’s poise stood out again, even when plays didn’t go as planned. Having a short memory about those sorts of plays is important.
“That’s huge,” Maye said. “I think that’s what we’re trying to build. Having short memories in this league as a quarterback, that’s what it is. You’re gonna get sacked. You’re gonna have plays that you want back.”
Maye’s accuracy and ball placement were evident on several third-down conversions, including a strike to Diggs in the fourth quarter.
“In the zone, you try to see where defenders are at,” Maye said. “I’ve got the best view of throwing to them, so try to put it on the right shoulder. There are times tonight where I feel like I did that, and there were some times where it needs to be better.”
The Patriots now turn their attention to a Week 12 matchup on Nov. 23 at Cincinnati as they continue their push toward the playoffs. For Maye, the formula remains the same.
“When you put the work in, and we’ve got good players and good coaches, you’re going to get a result that you want,” Maye said.
| 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 |
| 16 | 19–21–4–0–256 | 90.5 | 157.0 | 3–22–0 |
| Totals | 340–474– 30–8–4, 4,203 | 71.7 | 112.9 | 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; Week 16: 42–10 win at New York Jets.
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 —11 games, 4 carries, 15 yards (9 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Week 17: Texans 20, (at) Chargers 16 — Played 3 offensive snaps (5%), 21 special-teams snaps (72%)
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Indianapolis
Dyami Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–0, 195 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 16 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 17: Jaguars 23, (at) Colts 17 — Played off the bench
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Tennessee
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 26 | 5–8, 201 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 13 games, 4 starts, 85 carries, 313 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 30 catches on 36 targets, 246 yards (18 longest); 1 kickoff return, 27 yards; 1 tackle
Week 17: Bengals 37, Cardinals 14 — Started; 7 carries, 29 yards (11 longest); 2 catches on 4 targets, 14 yards (8 longest)
Week 18 — Sunday at Los Angeles Rams
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 27 | 5–11, 204 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — Second-string kickoff returner; third-string running back
Season statistics — 2 games, 7 carries, 24 yards (5 longest); 1 assist on punt coverage
Week 17: Vikings 23, Lions 10 — 7 carries, 24 yards (5 longest); 1 assist on punt coverage; 13 offensive snaps (24%); 8 special-teams snaps (31%)
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Green Bay
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 — 15 games, 10 starts, 54 catches, 505 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 rush, 3 yards; 6 punt returns, 55 yards; 2 tackle
Week 17: Jaguars 23, Colts 17 — Started; 2 catches on 5 targets, 34 yards (18 longest); 1 punt return, 0 yards; 1 tackle after an interception
Week 18 — Sunday at Houston
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting left inside linebacker
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 91 tackles, 60 assists, 7 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 17: Saints 34, Titans 26 — Started; 9 tackles, 3 assists, 1 tackle for a loss
Week 18 — Sunday at Jacksonville
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 22 | 6–0, 220 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 9 games, 6 starts, 124 carries, 545 yards (54 longest), 4.4 average, 4 touchdowns; 32 catches, 192 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Week 17: Texans 20, Chargers 16 — Started; 14 carries, 29 yards (5 longest), 1 touchdown (5-yard run, 2:52, 4th quarter); 8 catches on 8 targets, 31 yards (17 longest); 51 offensive snaps (81%)
Week 18 — Sunday at Denver
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 — 17 games, 1 tackle; 698 offensive snaps, 63 special-teams snaps entering Week 17
Week 17: Dolphins 20, Bucs 17 — Played off the bench
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Carolina
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 17: Browns 13, Steelers 6 — Played off the bench
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Baltimore
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 17: Eagles 13, (at) Bills 12 — Wasn’t active for the game
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Washington
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 17 — Will miss the 8:15 Monday game against the Los Angeles Rams (ESPN) with an ankle injury
Week 18 — Sunday vs. New Orleans
Alijah Huzzie, Houston Texans cornerback
Age 24 | 5–10, 195 | rookie season | UNC 2023–24
Season statistics — 2 games, no statistics
Week 17: Texans 20, (at) Chargers 16 — Not active for game
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Indianapolis
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 — 16 games, 16 starts, 340 of 474, 4,203 (72 longest, 8.7 average), 71.7%, 30 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 47 sacks (201 yards in losses, 108.5 passer rating; 98 carries, 409 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 6 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Week 17: Patriots 42, (at) Jets 10 — 19 of 21 (90.5%), 256 yards (31 longest), 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 1 sack (1-yard loss) 157.0 passer rating; 3 carries, 22 yards (11 longest); 32.33 fantasy points
Touchdown passes: 2 yards to Austin Hooper (10:42, 1st quarter), 22 yards to Rhamondre Stevenson (14:55, 2nd quarter), 3 yards to Stefon Diggs (3:01, 2nd quarter), 13 yards to Hunter Henry (31 seconds left, 2nd quarter) and 10 yards to Efton Chism III (8:17, 3rd quarter)
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Miami
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 — 14 games, 4 starts, 295 offensive snaps, 42 special-teams snaps entering week 17
Week 17: Saints 34, (at) Titans 26 — Played off the bench
Week 18 — Sunday at Atlanta
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 17: Eagles 13, Bills 12 — Didn’t play
Week 18 — Sunday vs. New York Jets
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–1, 198 | second NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Third-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 starts, 4 catches, 90 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hit, 2 special-teams assists
Week 17: Ravens 41, (at) Packers 24 — 20 offensive snaps (26%), 14 special-teams snaps (56%)
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Pittsburgh
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 — 16 games, 16 starts, 252 carries, 1,201 yards (4.8 average; 66 longest), 11 touchdowns; 35 catches, 137 yards (3.9 average; 14 longest), 2 touchdowns
Week 17 — Started; 13 carries, 54 yards, 1 touchdown (4-yard run, 12:06, 2nd quarter); 0 catches on 2 targets; hurt late in second quarter; 25 offensive snaps (27%); 11.4 fantasy points
Week 18 — Sunday vs. Indianapolis
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
New England wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen 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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