The Patriots are on fire. Drake Maye is on fire.
In my preview article, I wrote about how coming off a big-time win against a Super Bowl contender, it was vital that the Patriots came away from the Superdome with a W.
It was not pretty but they got the job done, beating the New Orleans Saints 25-19.
The Drake-down
Each week, I seem to be writing about how impressive it is to see Drake Maye improve game by game. This was a continuation of that pattern.
Maye is rapidly rising from impressive young talent to potential MVP candidate. Now, that may sound like hyperbole, but the performance on the field and the numbers make a compelling case.
After six games, an admittedly small sample size, Maye ranks:
- 2nd in adjusted completion percentage (82.0%)
- T6th combined passing and rushing TDs (12)
- 4th in PFF passing grade (83.7)
- 3rd in NFL passer rating (112.5)
- 3rd in EPA per dropback (+0.33)
I highlight all these stats to say that he is not only playing well, he is exceeding expectations to a degree that has me incredibly excited for the future of this organisation.
Spreading the love
After the emergence of Stefon Diggs dominated Weeks 4 and 5, Week 6 saw the Patriots offense share the wealth a little more.
Seven different pass catchers were targeted at least twice in this game. Kayshon Boutte had a steller game, notching five catches on five targets for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
However, despite the passing offense’s success, the run game still appears stuck in the mud. The Patriots currently rank dead last in PFF’s team rushing grade (55.8) and 26th in run blocking grade (54.1).
They are also 32nd in the league in EPA per rush, with an output on Sunday of -0.38. This means that every time they handed the ball off, they became less likely to score points on that drive.
Drake Maye is proving that he can have games where he can don the red cape and take over. However, it is likely not sustainable to expect a young quarterback to keep doing this with no help on the ground.
