By R.L. Bynum
On a day when Omarion Hampton outdueled fellow former Tar Heels running back Javonte Williams, Drake Maye made more history when his first career 300-yard passing game helped New England rally Sunday night to clinch a playoff berth.
The Patriots trailed by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but Maye threw one touchdown pass and engineered a second scoring drive in a 28–24 victory Sunday night on the road against the Baltimore Ravens.
Maye moved to 4–0 in prime-time games this season, completing 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns, one interception and a 102.5 passer rating to make him one of the favorites to be the league’s MVP.
According to OptaStats, Maye became the first player in NFL history in a road game to complete at least 30 passes and at least 70% of them while throwing for at least 300 yards and rushing for at least 25 yards while completing a fourth-quarter comeback of at least 10 points.
Maye said the comeback reflected a collective effort.
“So proud of this team. Man, took everybody,” Maye said, adding that the team isn’t satisfied with securing a playoff berth and wants to win the AFC East. “It felt good getting that one.”
Maye threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry with 11:22 left in the second quarter. He eclipsed 300 yards for the game with a 37-yard scoring pass to Kyle Williams with 9:07 left in the game. After that play, he connected with Ramondre Stevenson on a two-point conversion pass.
Even with the big numbers, Maye pointed to moments he wanted back, saying there were “plays and times where I feel like I put the team in a bad spot,” but emphasized the importance of responding by “bouncing back and next man up and going out the next drive and trusting your guys around you.”
That late push was unfamiliar territory for a team that has often played with the lead.
“Just being down in the fourth quarter and having a must-need touchdown drive, that feeling is good,” said Maye, who became the first Patriot to throw for at least 300 yards since Mac Jones on Sept. 10, 2023, against the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was New England’s first rally from a fourth-quarter deficit that big since beating Atlanta 34–28 in overtime in Super Bowl LI, giving the Patriots 12 wins for the 14th time in franchise history.
Maye called the Patriots’ 35–31 loss the weekend before to the Buffalo Bills, which ended a 10-game win streak, “a wake-up call,” and summed up the mindset in Baltimore: “Let’s not have that same feeling two weeks in a row.”
Through it all, Maye kept his focus on anything but his impressive numbers.
“I care about winning,” said Maye, who connected four times with Mack Hollins for 38 yards, including a 20-yard reception. “If that’s what it takes, then, hopefully, I’ll do whatever it takes. That’s what I’m trying to do for this team, and I won’t change that.”
| 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
Maye wasn’t the only UNC player to make a big play in the game. When the Patriots were trying to pull off a fake punt, Baltimore’s Tez Walker got a sack and forced a fumble.
Walker, who played nine of his 15 snaps on special teams, also had a key block on Zay Flowers’ 18-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Hampton powered the Chargers’ ground game in their 34–17 road victory Sunday, delivering one of his most efficient performances of the season after running back Kimani Vidal left the game with a neck injury.
The rookie carried the ball 16 times for 85 yards and punched in a five-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter as Los Angeles seized control of the game. It was his third consecutive week with double-digit carries and first game with a per-carry-average of at least five yards (5.3) since Week 4.
Hampton didn’t start, but his role is growing in his third week back after going on injured reserve in early October with a fractured left ankle. He has 431 rushing yards on 94 carries, with two rushing touchdowns, plus 151 receiving yards and a touchdown reception.
The Chargers bottled up Williams in his limited workload as he had nine carries for 34 yards, although he caught two passes for nine yards. The 43 scrimmage yards were his second-lowest of the season.
Michael Carter started again for Arizona and had another productive game in the Cardinals’ 26–19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Carter had 11 carries for 65 yards, including a season-high 22-yard run, but he had no catches on two targets.
He became Arizona’s starter after the Cardinals placed Bam Knight on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Elsewhere among UNC alums in the NFL this week:
— Tennessee linebacker Cedric Gray (concussion), Atlanta cornerback Mike Hughes (ankle sprain) and New Orleans offensive lineman Asim Richards (ankle injury) weren’t active for their games.
— Tampa Bay offensive lineman Charlie Heck played five of his nine snaps on special teams, reporting tackle-eligible four times.
— Houston’s British Brooks had two tackles on kickoff coverage, playing 20 of his 22 snaps on special teams.
— Pittsburgh’s Cole Holcomb had one assist on kickoff coverage, playing all 15 snaps on special teams.
— Jacksonville wide receiver Dyami Brown (six offensive snaps and one special-teams snap) and Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie (one special-teams snap) played off the bench with no statistics.
— Philadelphia quarterback Sam Howell, who hasn’t played this season, wasn’t active, and Buffalo quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who has only gotten into three games, didn’t play.
— New England signed linebacker Amari Gainer on Wednesday to its practice squad.
Week 16 concludes Monday night with Josh Downs and the Indianapolis Colts hosting the San Francisco 49ers at 8:15 (ABC, ESPN)
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 — 13 games, 8 starts, 47 catches, 406 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 5 punt returns, 55 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 8:15 Monday vs. San Francisco, ABC, ESPN
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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