By R.L. Bynum
Drake Maye said his game Sunday was about battling back from adversity.
He threw for a career-high 294 yards and a touchdown in New England’s 26–20 come-from-behind win over Cincinnati to extend the Patriots’ win streak to nine. But his day started with an interception that was returned for a touchdown on the opening drive, the first pick-six of his career.
“Shoot, I gave them one early in the game,” Maye said. “Just battling back that next drive, and I’m just trying to get next-play mentality. That’s what coach is preaching all the time — battling back from good plays, battling back from bad plays.”
The Patriots, 10–2 with a 3½-game lead on Buffalo in the AFC East, fell behind 10–0 after Maye’s early struggles (3 for 7 for 16 yards in the first quarter) but surged with 17 consecutive points to take a halftime lead.
Maye admitted his accuracy was off early.
“Sometimes just not trusting, just gotta let it go,” he said. “That’s when I’m throwing it the best and on time. I know I wasn’t very accurate early on and found a groove.”
Maye’s lone touchdown pass came on a 28-yard strike to Hunter Henry, who finished with seven catches for 115 yards.
Red-zone execution was a glaring issue as New England settled for four field goals and failed twice inside the 5-yard line. Maye didn’t dodge responsibility:
“I’ve got to be better at the line of scrimmage,” he said. “Helped us play cleaner football and punch it down in the red zone. I take it to heart, and I’m gonna be better.”
With a 10-yard third-quarter completion to Henry, he went over 3,000 passing yards in a season for the first time and now has 3,130.
His best pass of the day was a 37-yard completion to wide receiver DeMario Douglas, who made a terrific diving catch.
Despite the uneven day, Maye leads the NFL in passing yards (2,836) and has 20 touchdowns with a 71.9% completion rate through 11 games.
“Probably middling, not his best performance,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said, though he credited Maye for key throws late.
Mack Hollins had two catches on six targets for 30 yards, including a 24-yard reception.
| 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.
Dallas running back Javonte Williams had another productive day, collecting 94 total yards with 80 rushing yards and 14 passing yards as the Cowboys rallied from 21 points down to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24–21.
In other NFL action:
— Linebacker Cedric Gray had six tackles and one assist in Tennessee’s 30–24 loss to Seattle.
— Arizona running back Michael Carter had five carries for 28 yards and three catches for 30 yards
— Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs had two catches on six targets for 10 yards.
— In Thursday’s 23–19 Houston win over Buffalo, Texans running back British Brooks had one tackle on punt coverage, playing 19 of his 20 snaps on special teams.
— Atlanta’s Mike Hughes started at cornerback and had six tackles and defended a pass.
— Baltimore wide receiver Tez Walker caught the only pass targeted to him for 30 yards and had one assist on kickoff coverage
— New Orleans offensive lineman Asim Richards started for the third time this season and the second straight week. After getting in for only 175 offensive snaps before Sunday, he played all 80 offensive snaps in the loss to Atlanta.
— Tampa Bay offensive lineman Charlie Heck played six offensive snaps and one special-teams snap.
— Jacksonville wide receiver Dyami Brown played off the bench with no statistics.
— Chazz Surratt left Seattle’s game with an injured ankle while on kickoff coverage in the first quarter and didn’t return after only playing two special-teams snaps.
— Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb had one tackle on kickoff coverage, playing only 10 special-teams snaps.
— Neither Philadelphia quarterback Sam Howell nor Buffalo quarterback Mitch Trubisky played.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 26 | 5–11, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Third-string running back
2025 statistics —13 games, 17 carries, 787 yards (20 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 5 special-teams assists
Week 1 — Bills 36, Texans 31 | played off the bench with no statistics
Week 2 — Bengals 20, Texans 6 | 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 20 special-teams snaps; 57.1 PFF special-teams grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas, Fox
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
2025 statistics (Jacksonville) — 17 games, 7 starts, 23 catches, 220 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 1 — Eagles 24, Commanders 22 | didn’t start: 0 catches on 2 targets; 37 offensive snaps (53%); 48.3 PFF offensive grade
Week 2 — Cowboys 37, Commanders 20 | started: 4 catches on 6 targets, 21 yards (18 longest); 1 of 1 passing, 0 yards, 79.2 passer rating; 1 fumble (lost); 39 offensive snaps (55%); 4.1 fantasy points; 47.1 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Seattle, Fox
Week 4 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Indianapolis in London, NFL Network
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
2025 statistics — 16 games, 11 starts, 58 catches, 566 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 2 rushes, -2 yards; 7 punt returns, 68 yards; 2 tackles
Week 1 — Ravens 41, Colts 23 | didn’t start: 2 catches on 4 targets, 37 yards (25 longest); 2 fair catches on punt returns; 48 offensive snaps (89%); 3 special-teams snaps (10%); 6.7 fantasy points; 66.0 PFF offensive grade, team-leading 65.8 pass grade
Week 2 — Chiefs 33, Colts 30 | didn’t start; 7 catches on 9 targets, 72 yards (20 longest); 54 offensive snaps (83%); 14.20 fantasy points; team-leading 83.2 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston, CBS
Week 4 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Washington in London, NFL Network
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
2025 statistics — (with New York Giants) Missed the season with a severe calf injury suffered during training camp (played 17 games in 2024)
Week 1 — Chiefs 31, Broncos 10 (Monday) | 3 offensive snaps (4%)
Week 2 — Chiefs 33, Colts 30 | 1 offensive snap (1%), 1 special-teams snap (3%); 60.0 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Miami, CBS
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday at Las Vegas, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
2025 statistics — 16 games, 15 starts, 94 tackles, 65 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 1 — Jets 23, Titans 10 | not active for the game (concussion)
Week 2 — Eagles 24, Titans 20 | didn’t start; 3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 tackle for a loss; 30 defensive snaps (39%), 14 special-teams snaps (61%); 3.5 fantasy points; 56.3 PFF defensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
2025 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 1 — Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 | started: 12 carries, 43 yards, (14 longest), 1 touchdown (8-yard run); fumbled, and it was lost; 58 offensive snaps (58%); 8.3 fantasy points; 57.6 PFF offensive grade; 72.6 PFF pass-blocking grade
Week 2 — Raiders 26, Chargers 14 | started; 23 carries, 94 yards (17 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard second-quarter run); 2 catches on 2 targets, 21 yards (18 longest); 1 fumble (lost); 43 offensive snaps (63%); 17.5 fantasy points; 61.7 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, Fox
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday at Seattle, CBS
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
2025 statistics — 12 games, 3 starts, 19 tackles, 11 assists, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
Week 1 — Steelers 20, Falcons 13 | didn’t start: 1 assist; 3 defensive snaps (5%), 17 special-teams snaps (57%); 64.3 PFF special-teams grade
Week 2 — Patriots 20, Steelers 3 | didn’t start: 1 tackle on punt coverage; 18 special-teams snaps (72%); 58.2 PFF special-teams grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cincinnati, CBS
Week 4 — 8:15 Thursday at Cleveland, Prime Video
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 32 | 6–4, 221 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
2025 statistics — 15 games, 47 catches, 550 yards, 12.0 average, 54 longest, 2 touchdowns
Week 1 — Seahawks 13, Patriots 10 (Wednesday) | Started: 4 catches on 5 targets, 51 yards (19 longest); 50 offensive snaps (70%), 8 special-teams snaps (36); 9.1 fantasy points; 72.9 PFF offensive grade (second-highest on the team)
Week 2 — Patriots 20, Steelers 3 | didn’t start: 2 catches on 2 targets, 18 yards (10 longest); 38 offensive snaps (71%), 1 special-teams snap (4%); 3.8 fantasy points; 61.8 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Jacksonville, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, CBS
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 1 — Giants 28, Cowboys 20 | Didn’t play
Week 2 — Cowboys 37, Commanders 20 | Didn’t play; last played in a regular-season game on Jan. 7, 2024, for Washington against Dallas
Week 3 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Baltimore in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Season statistics — 3 games, 11 tackles, 4 assists, 2 passes defended; 47.2 defensive grade
Week 1 — Steelers 20, Falcons 13 | started: 3 tackles; 67 defensive snaps (100%); 57.9 PFF defensive grade
Week 2 — Panthers 34, Falcons 3 | started: 2 tackles, 3 assists; 66 defensive snaps (100%); 51.8 PFF defensive grade
Week 3 — Falcons 35, Packers 14 | started: 6 tackles, 1 assist; 56 defensive snaps (85%); 43.2 defensive grade; 6.5 fantasy points
Week 4 — 8:15 Monday at New Orleans, ESPN
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
2025 statistics — Didn’t play; went on injured reserve in late August
Week 1 — Eagles 24, Commanders 22 | 4 special-teams snaps (13%); 55.3 PFF special-teams grade
Week 2 — Eagles 24, Titans 20 | 4 special-teams snaps (17%); 58.2 PFF special-teams grade
Week 3 — 8:15 Monday at Chicago, ESPN
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Rams, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
2025 statistics — 17 games, 17 starts, 354 of 492, 4,494 (72 longest), 71.9%, 31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 47 sacks (201 yards in losses), 113.5 rating; 103 carries, 450 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 3 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Week 1 — Seahawks 13, Patriots 10 (Wednesday) | started: 23 of 33, 178 yards (19 longest), 178 yards, 1 touchdown (two-yard pass to Eli Raridon), 3 interceptions, 3 sacks (10 yards), 54.9 passer rating; 7 carries, 47 yards (16 longest); 71 offensive snaps (100%); 12.82 fantasy points; 55.1 PFF offensive grade; 50.7 PFF offensive grade
Week 2 — Patriots 20, Steelers 3 | started: 13 of 22, 208 yards (63 longest), 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, 3 sacks (17 yards), 75.6 passer rating; 4 carries, 17 yards (13 longest); 55 offensive snaps (100%); 9.02 fantasy points; 54.4 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Jacksonville, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Buffalo, CBS
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
2025 statistics — 15 games, 4 starts, 359 offensive snaps, 53 special-teams snaps
Week 1 — Lions 31, Saints 30 | didn’t start: played 5 special-teams snaps (15%); 60.3 PFF special-teams grade
Week 2 — Saints 24, Ravens 17 | didn’t start: played 28 offensive snaps (41%), 4 special-teams snaps (17%); 54.9 PFF offensive grade; 60.3 PFF special-teams grade
Week 3 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Las Vegas, CBS
Week 4 — 8:15 Monday vs. Atlanta, ESPN
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
2025 statistics — 11 games, 4 tackles
Week 1 — Seahawks 13, Patriots 10 (Wednesday) | 1 tackle on kickoff coverage, 1 assist on kickoff coverage; called for a roughing-the-kicker penalty; 17 special-teams snaps (77%); 1.5 fantasy points; 46.8 special-teams grade (second-lowest on the team)
Week 2 — Seahawks 31, Cardinals 7 | didn’t start: recovered a fumble on kickoff coverage; 2 defensive snaps (4%), 17 special-teams snaps (74%); 62.8 PFF special-teams grade
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Washington, Fox
Week 4 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
2025 statistics (Buffalo) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Week 1 — Jets 23, Titans 10 | didn’t play
Week 2 — Eagles 24, Titans 20 | didn’t play
Week 3 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Giants, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Baltimore, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
2025 statistics — 11 games, 2 starts, 6 catches, 136 yards (38 longest), 3 touchdowns; 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hit, 2 special-teams assists
Week 1 — Ravens 41, Colts 23 | not active for game (groin injury)
Week 2 — Saints 24, Ravens 17 | didn’t start: 1 catch on 2 targets, 47 yards; 17 offensive snaps (29%), 8 special-teams snaps (35%); 69.7 PFF offensive grade; 61.2 special-teams grade
Week 3 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Dallas in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
2025 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 1 — Giants 28, Cowboys 20 | started: 12 carries, 41 yards (8 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard touchdown run; 37 seconds left in the third quarter); 5 catches on 5 targets, 31 yards (17 longest), 1 touchdown (17-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott, 5:21 left in the fourth quarter); 41 offensive snaps (71%); 24.2 fantasy points; team-leading 78.0 PFF offensive grade; 79.4 PFF pass-blocking grade second on the team
Week 2 — Cowboys 37, Commanders 20 | started: 12 carries, 30 yards (9 longest); 3 catches on 4 targets, 20 yards (8 longest); 44 offensives snaps (80%); 8.0 fantasy points; 80.6 PFF offensive grade
Week 3 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Baltimore in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, CBS
Week 4 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, Fox
On season-ending injured reserve
— New Orleans running back Ty Chandler; suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game; ran for 45 yards in two preseason games
On injured reserve
— Minnesota cornerback Marcus Allen; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
On PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three preseason games
— Tennessee running back Michael Carter by Tennessee; had three catches for 20 yards and a 43-yard kickoff return in the last preseason game
— Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie
— Minnesota defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie; had four tackles and three assists in 77 total preseason snaps
— Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker; had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 tackles for losses and 1 quarterback hit in their 41–3 preseason win Friday
Waived in camp
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 28 tackles and 13 special-teams tackles in two preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and two assists in three preseason games
— Offensive lineman Charlie Heck by the Miami Dolphins
— Defensive end Smith Vilbert by Minnesota; had one tackle in 47 preseason snaps
Waived with injury designation
— Tight end Bryson Nesbit by Minnesota after collecting 3 catches for 29 yards in two preseason games; had been listed as fifth string
Photo via @PatriotsComm
