By R.L. Bynum
Drake Maye strung together a third consecutive strong game Sunday, throwing three touchdown passes in a 26–19 win over the New York Jets, but he and his coach are focused more on what went wrong than on the result.
Maye completed 18 of 32 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions (110.8 passer rating), and added 24 yards on four carries.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was not overly pleased with how the team played, and Maye agreed. Maye said the win was not the kind of performance the offense wants to build on.
“It was sloppy. It wasn’t clean,” said Maye, who had a 110.8 passer rating. He then spoke about balancing enjoying a victory with wanting more. “Coach always says you’ve got to take wins in this league and enjoy them.”
The performance extended a stretch in which Maye has been consistently productive. He threw three touchdown passes against Buffalo in Week 4 and four against Las Vegas in Week 5, and he now has 1,463 passing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season (117 of 183) with seven interceptions. ‘
He has at least 23 fantasy points the last three weeks (27.16 against Buffalo, 39.46 against Las Vegas and 23.8 against the Jets) after collecting fewer than 13 in the first three games.
Asked what has gone right during the run, he pointed to trust in his preparation and his reads. “I think trusting what I see on film,” Maye said. “I feel like I’m seeing it well and trying to throw it to the open guy and missed a few times today.”
He connected with Romeo Doubs on a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter, found DeMario Douglas from 9 yards out with 14 seconds left in the second quarter, and hit tight end Hunter Henry from 7 yards in the fourth quarter. He played all 68 offensive snaps for the Patriots (4–2).
Maye said he also is learning to be more patient in the pocket, a point that came up because opponents have dropped eight defenders into coverage at times or rushed only three or four to muddle his reads. He acknowledged that his instinct is to move.
“I feel like if I’ve got time, I’m still a little bit antsy in there and antsy to move,” Maye said. The result in recent weeks has been better, he said. “When I got time in there the past two weeks, we’ve had 2 good plays when I’ve sat in there and just kept my eyes downfield.”
One of those plays was the touchdown to Doubs, which came when the Jets appeared to break down in coverage. Maye said he decided against throwing over the middle late and instead saw Doubs raise a hand and start running.
“Romeo made a great catch,” Maye said. He added that he would have liked to place the ball better. “I could have put it more on him and not have him dive.”
For the first time this season, Maye wasn’t sacked. He credited the group up front, which is playing through injuries.
“Those guys are playing through injuries. We got 3 go down today. Some of these guys are fighting hard. They’re fighting their butts off,” said Maye, who joked that his thank you would come in the form of food. “I’ve got to keep on bringing some more treats. Those guys are doing a heck of a job in there.”
Maye also spoke about receiver A.J. Brown, who was back on the field, catching three passes for 27 yards. He said Brown had a few plays he wishes he could have back, but he told his teammate not to worry.
“Just great to see him back out there,” Maye said. “He’s going to be one of the best players on the field every time he steps on it.”
You can watch Maye’s next game at 8:15 Thursday against Chicago on Prime Video.
Elsewhere in the league for former UNC players:
—Javonte Williams scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, his seventh rushing touchdown of the season, but Dallas lost 23–13 at Green Bay. He had 11 carries for 41 yards and two catches for nine yards.
—Willie Lampkin started and played all 64 offensive snaps in Philadelphia’s 25–14 loss to Carolina, posting season highs in offensive, pass-blocking and run-blocking grades.
—Omarion Hampton started in a 22–6 home loss to Kansas City, finishing with seven carries for 18 yards and four catches for 21 yards. He has 289 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season.
—Joshua Ezeudu did not start but played 30 offensive snaps (49%) in Kansas City’s win at Los Angeles. He earned a 64.0 offensive grade and a 59.4 run-block grade.
—Josh Downs caught four of eight targets for 40 yards (23 longest) and ran once for 7 yards as Indianapolis lost 20–7 to Tennessee. He played 71 snaps (86%) and earned a 57.3 offensive grade.
—Cedric Gray had two tackles and three assists, plus two special-teams tackles, in Tennessee’s win over the Colts, and his season-high 71.6 defensive grade came in 38 defensive snaps (46%). Michael Carter played three special-teams snaps (11%).
—Mike Hughes started and played every defensive snap in Atlanta’s 31–23 loss to Chicago, finishing with five tackles (one for a loss) and two assists.
—Asim Richards played 70 offensive snaps (97%) in New Orleans’ 34–17 road win over the New York Giants but was called for holding twice.
—Cole Holcomb was called for an illegal blindside block on a kickoff during Pittsburgh’s 26–19 win at Tampa Bay and played 23 special-teams snaps (64%).
—Tez Walker started but had no catches on two targets as Baltimore lost 13–10 at Cleveland.
—Alijah Huzzie made his season debut in Jacksonville’s 34–31 loss to Houston in London, playing 13 special-teams snaps (45%).
—Chazz Surratt was inactive for Seattle’s 17–14 loss to Denver on Thursday because of a calf injury. The Seahawks host Kansas City at 8:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC.
—Neither Sam Howell of Dallas nor Mitch Tribisky of Tennessee, both backup quarterbacks, have played yet this season.
—Week 6 concludes Monday night with Dyami Brown and Washington playing at San Francisco at 8:15 on ESPN.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 2 starts, 8 catches, 88 yards (48 longest); 47.5 offensive rating, 50.3 pass game rating, 37.1 run-blocking rating
Week 5 — Commanders 27, Giants 27, OT (home) | didn’t start: 1 catch on 2 targets, 2 yards, 1 fumble (recovered); 1.2 fantasy points; 23 offensive snaps (37%), 37.2 offensive grade, 37.5 pass-game grade, 62.8 run-block grade
Week 6 — 8:15 Monday at San Francisco, ESPN
Week 7 — Open date
Michael Carter, Tennessee Titans running back
Age 27 | 5–8, 201 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string running back
Season statistics — 1 game, 3 special-teams snaps
Week 6 — Titans 20, Colts 7 (road) | 3 special-teams snaps (11%)
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 6 games, 4 starts, 24 catches, 289 yards (42 longest); 1 carry, 7 yards; 72.0 offensive grade, 71.5 pass grade, 63.1 run grade, 58.4 run-block grade
Week 6 — Titans 20, Colts 7 (home) | started: 4 catches on 8 targets, (23 longest), 40 yards; 1 rush, 7 yards; 71 offensive snaps (86%); 57.3 offense grade, 55.7 pass grade, 63.1 run grade, 58.4 run-block grade; 8.7 fantasy points
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Minnesota, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 5 games, 34 offensive snaps and 10 special-teams snaps; 66.2 offensive grade, 68.6 pass-blocking grade, 59.4 run-blocking grade; 61.1 special-teams grade
Week 6 — Chiefs 22, Chargers 6 (home) | didn’t start; 30 offensive snaps (49%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%); 64.0 offensive grade, 68.6 pass-block grade, 59.4 run-block grade; 60.3 special-teams grade
Week 7 — 8:30 Sunday at Seattle, NBC
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 5 games, 2 starts, 15 tackles, 14 assists, ½ sack; 68.2 defensive grade, 71.6 run grade, 58.7 pass-rush grade, 65.3 pass coverage grade
Week 6 — Titans 20, Colts 7 (road) | didn’t start: 2 tackles, 3 assists; 2 special-teams tackles; 38 defensive snaps (46%), 18 special-teams snaps (64%); season-high 71.6 defensive grade, 71.6 run defense grade, 79.2 tackle grade, season-high 58.7 pass-rush grade, 65.4 pass coverage grade; 5.5 fantasy points
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 6 games, 4 starts, 80 carries, 289 yards, 3.6 average, 3 touchdowns; 9 catches, 56 yards (18 longest); 2 fumbles (2 lost); 62.2 offensive grade, 65.2 pass game grade, 80.5 pass-block grade, 60.9 run grade
Week 6 — Chiefs 22, Chargers 6 (road) | started: 7 carries, 18 yards (4 longest); 4 catches on 4 targets, 21 yards (15 longest); 34 offensive snaps (50%); 58.6 offensive grade, 65.9 pass grade, season-high 80.4 pass-block grade, 53.1 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade; 7.9 fantasy points
Week 7 — Open date
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 6 games, 4 tackles (all solo), 3 assists; 55.1 special-teams grade
Week 6 — Steelers 26, Bucs 19 (road) | didn’t start: called for illegal blindside block on a kickoff; 23 special-teams snaps (64%); season-low 42.5 special-teams grade
Week 7 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans in Saint-Denis, France, NFL Network
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics with Seattle (didn’t play last season; hasn’t played this season); 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 6 — Packers 23, Cowboys 13 (road) | didn’t play
Week 7 — 8:15 Sunday at Philadelphia, ESPN
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Season statistics — 6 games, 6 starts, 22 tackles, 10 assists, 3 passes defended; 44.6 defensive grade, 89.7 run grade, 41.8 tackle grade, 41.5 coverage grade
Week 6 — Bears 31, Falcons 23 (home) | started: 5 tackles (1 for a loss), 2 assists; 77 defensive snaps (100%), 6 special-teams snaps (21%); 49.1 defensive grade, 75.7 run grade, 41.8 tackle grade, 41.5 coverage grade; 6.0 fantasy points
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. San Francisco, Fox
Alijah Huzzie, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Reserve
Week 6 (season debut) — Texans 34, Jaguars 31 (in London) | 13 special-teams snaps (45%); 46.1 special-teams grade
Week 7 — Open date
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Season statistics — 6 games, 2 starts; 128 offensive snaps, 19 special-teams snaps; 54.2 offensive grade, 44.8 pass-blocking grade, 63.9 run-blocking grade
Week 6 — Panthers 25, Eagles 14 (home) | started: 64 offensive snaps (100%); season-high 66.4 offensive grade, season-high 66.9 pass-block grade; season-high 63.9 run-block grade
Week 7 — 8:15 Sunday vs. Dallas, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
Season statistics — 6 games, 6 starts, 117 of 183, 1,463 yards, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 11 sacks (48 yards in losses), 92.8 passer rating; 34 carries, 185 yards, 5.4 average; 5 fumbles (2 lost); 78.3 offensive grade, 76.1 pass grade, 70.6 run grade
Week 6 — Patriots 26, Jets 19 (home) | started:18 of 32, 235 yards, 3 TDs (42-yard pass to WR Romeo Daubs, 4:10 1st; 9-yard pass to WR DeMario Douglas 0:14 2nd; 7-yard pass to TE Hunter Henry, 14:10, 4th), 0 INTs, 110.8 passer rating; 4 carries, 24 yards (21 longest); 68 offensive snaps (100%); 92.1 offensive grade, 92.1 pass grade, 59.5 run grade; 23.8 fantasy points
Week 7 — 8:15 Thursday at Chicago, Prime Video
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 6 games, 260 offensive snaps, 16 special-teams snaps; 51.0 offensive grade, 47.2 pass-blocking grade, 59.2 run-blocking grade; 61.4 special-teams grade
Week 6 — Saints 34, Giants 17 (road) | started: called for holding twice; 70 offensive snaps (97%); season-low 47.4 offensive grade, 43.6 pass-blocking grade, 47.3 run-blocking grade; season-high 60.5 special-teams grade
Week 7 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Pittsburgh in Saint-Denis, France, NFL Network
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
Season statistics — 3 games, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist; 52.6 special-teams grade
Week 6 — Broncos 17, Seahawks 14 (road on Thursday) | not active for game (calf injury)
Week 7 — 8:20 Sunday vs. Kansas City, NBC
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 with Buffalo (hasn’t played this season) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Week 6 — Titans 20, Colts 7 (road) | didn’t play
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cleveland, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 5 games, 2 starts, 4 catches, 75 yards (47 longest), 1 touchdown; 54.3 offensive grade, 51.7 pass grade, 52.9 run-block grade, 61.9 special-teams grade
Week 6 — Browns 13, Ravens 10 (road) | started: 0 catches on 2 targets; 37 offensive snaps (65%), 6 special-teams snaps (21%); season-low 47.1 offensive grade, season-low 51.7 pass grade, 52.9 run-block grade, season-high 62.7 special-teams grade
Week 7 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Cincinnati, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Season statistics — 6 games, 6 starts, 85 carries, 317 yards (3.7 average), 7 touchdowns; 19 catches, 103 yards (17 longest), 5.4 average, 1 touchdown; 1 fumble (recovered); 69.8 offensive grade, 81.9 pass rating, 58.4 pass-block rating, 70.2 run grade
Week 6 — Packers 23, Cowboys 13 (road) | started: 11 carries, 41 yards (8 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard run, 9:19, 3rd quarter); 2 catches on 2 targets, 9 yards (9 longest); 57 offensive snaps (73%); 67.7 offensive grade, season-low 63.4 pass grade, 54.6 pass-block grade, 70.2 run grade; 13.0 fantasy points
Week 7 — 8:15 Sunday at Philadelphia, ESPN
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
— Houston running back British Brooks (hamstring injury)
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
— New England wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf injury)
On PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason; estimated return Oct. 11
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three preseason games
— 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
— Cornerback Marcus Allen (with injury settlement) by Minnesota; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— 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 @Patriots
