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Drake Maye has earned it.
In his 17th career start, ironically the exact mark of a full season, the Patriots quarterback earned his first signature win. Maye’s five career wins prior to the 23-20 victory against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday night pale in comparison to his first primetime start.
“I would say it’s an even bigger moment for Drake Maye,” Patriots insider Phil Perry said on Patriots Postgame Live following the Week 5 verdict. “You get the ball with two minutes left. It’s a tie game against a team that everybody thinks is going to the Super Bowl and you make two special throws, in my opinion.”
Maye and the offense took the field with 2:12 remaining in a tie game and proceeded to lead a crunch-time scoring drive, as the Patriots gained 37 yards on seven plays before rookie Andy Borregales hit a game-winning 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds left.
Maye opened the possession with a hard-earned completion to wide receiver Stefon Diggs (10 catches, 146 yards) all while being dragged to the ground by Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. It reset the chains. Maye followed it up and connected with Kayshon Boutte on a 19-yard pass down the sideline two plays later. Boutte’s reception set New England up at the Buffalo 39-yard line.
“This is a Josh Allen-level play,” Perry said. “Two special, special throws from your young quarterback in a two-minute situation to go win a divisional game on the road.”
Maye (22-for-30) completed 73.3 percent of his passes for 273 yards without a turnover. In the second half, he went 13-for-14 for 184 yards. In the fourth quarter, the second-year signal-caller went 6-for-6 for 90 yards.
Perry wasn’t the only member of the Patriots Postgame Live crew to laud Maye for outdueling Allen (22-for-31, 253 yards passing).
“He just planted his flag on a new summit,” Patriots insider Tom E. Curran said.
Ted Johnson added: “This, to me, was kind of a coming out party from a national standpoint for Drake Maye. … It’s a very gutsy performance from the kid.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel agreed, too. Vrabel said he was proud of his quarterback and referred to it as a “gutty” performance.
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Sean T. McGuire
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