New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn’t obtain a lot assist after a quick begin and finally was handed a 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Maye completed 26-for-37 for 276 yards and two touchdowns because the Patriots dropped to 1-6 on the season, together with 0-2 in video games the third general decide began.
Right here’s how Maye graded within the contest:
HIGH MARKS
Downfield passing
It’d appear to be just a few meaningless completions halfway by means of the fourth quarter throughout a two-possession loss, however Maye’s fourth-quarter landing drive had extra to it than that. He threw a 32-yard completion to tight finish Hunter Henry down the seam. He dropped a 33-yard completion into the bucket for Kayshon Boutte, which marked the second time in as many weeks the 2 had been on the identical web page. And whereas that one didn’t go for a landing, it set it up as Maye threaded one to Ok.J. Osborn for a 22-yard landing three performs later. Maye’s preseason and Week 6 begin confirmed glimpses, however that possession confirmed the Patriots have a legit downfield passing assault for the primary time in years.
Taking part in in management
Maye seemed extra assured and in charge of the offense, particularly throughout New England’s first two drives. He accomplished eight of his first 10 passes, six of these completions in the course of the first drive. He beat Jacksonville blitzes on three consecutive snaps, the catch-and-run by JaMycal Hasty giving the Patriots a uncommon early lead. There have been a number of occasions Maye took what the protection gave him, an enchancment from his first begin. He hit a just a few brief completions to Rhamondre Stevenson out of the backfield. Even his brief completion to Hasty on third-and-15 was an instance of checking it down when nothing else was obtainable downfield. Maye didn’t power it. So whereas some these didn’t go for explosive performs, they nonetheless served as small wins and both obtained the offense transferring in the correct course or prevented a mistake.
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Mobility
For the second time in as many weeks, no working again rushed for extra yardage than Maye did. Disclaimer: No, that’s not good for the offense. But it surely does present Maye’s skill to keep away from detrimental performs along with his legs. Maye completed with three carries for 18 yards, together with a drive-extending 15-yard scramble on third-and-4 throughout New England’s second scoring drive. It didn’t appear there have been many designed runs for Maye, although that’s to no fault of the quarterback. Maye took two sacks regardless of being strain 9 occasions, confirming his improved mobility from years previous.
Making connections
Maye discovered a trusted goal in Hunter Henry, who caught eight of the 9 balls thrown his approach for 92 yards. Henry led all pass-catchers in receptions, targets and yardage. Maybe it truthful to suppose DeMario Douglas (two catches, thee targets, 14 yards) would have had one thing to say about that he wasn’t restricted resulting from sickness. However Maye’s skill to attach with 9 totally different pass-catchers (!) was one other constructive signal. Extensive receivers accounted for six catches for 87 yards. Ja’Lynn Polk was the one one who noticed a goal and didn’t catch a ball from Maye, and that’s as a result of the second-round rookie had his fingers on two balls and couldn’t haul both of them in.
IMPORVED MARKS
Turnovers
Maye turned the ball over thrice in his beginning debut towards the Houston Texans in Week 6. It was far and away probably the most underwhelming a part of his recreation, although one in every of his two interceptions may very well be chalked as much as an unimaginable defensive play moderately than Maye miscue. Regardless, Maye didn’t flip the ball over towards the Jaguars. He had a near-interception when concentrating on Austin Hooper, although it appeared that was resulting from a miscommunication with the tight finish.
Overcoming the dearth of run recreation
You already know what would have helped a rookie quarterback? If the offensive line blocked within the run recreation and if working backs discovered constructive yards on the bottom. That didn’t occur. The Patriots totaled 38 speeding yards on 15 makes an attempt for a mean of two.5 yards per carry towards the Jaguars. And it hasn’t occurred by means of two video games. New England rushed for 120 yards on 41 makes an attempt in Maye’s first two begins (2.9 per carry). That’s horrendous.
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OVERALL GRADE: B+
