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NFL Power Rankings roundup: How Maye’s first start impacts Patriots originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
It’s not often that a 41-21 loss can be deemed as a step forward, but that would be an accurate description of the New England Patriots’ Week 6 game against the Houston Texans.
That’s because rookie quarterback Drake Maye made his first career start and played well. It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, but the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft completed 20-of-33 pass attempts for 243 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Patriots don’t need to win a ton of games for this season to be considered a success. What they need is to develop Maye and help him become a franchise quarterback.
Maye showed a lot of potential against a very good Texans defense. He made a lot of great throws, including a 40-yard touchdown strike to wideout Kayshon Boutte, and he also showed off his athleticism with a team-leading 38 rushing yards.
The toughest part of the Patriots’ schedule is over. In fact, New England’s remaining schedule is third-easiest in the league, per Tankathon. It’s very unlikely that the Patriots will make the playoffs after a 1-5 start, but the easy upcoming schedule does give Maye plenty of opportunities to make meaningful improvement and get the team’s offense headed in the right direction.
How did Maye’s first start impact where the Patriots stand in the league hierarchy entering Week 7? Here’s a roundup of expert NFL power rankings.
“We knew the Patriots would eventually slip, but few expected this kind of slide.” — Mike Florio
“Maye’s debut starting performance Sunday included a beautiful 40-yard touchdown pass that stood out in part due to its rarity. Since 2020, the Patriots have had just two passing touchdowns of 35 or more air yards — one from Cam Newton and another from Mac Jones. Maye accomplishing the feat in his first career start, which included three touchdowns and a lost fumble, gives the Patriots something to build on.”…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-roundup-mayes-181018917.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-10-15 18:34:41
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