The New England Patriots offense took a major step forward last Sunday in Buffalo.
The unit looked different, scoring a season-high 29 points as the four touchdowns it scored doubled the amount they previously had through the first three weeks. According to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, however, not much changed.
“I just think staying consistent. I know this is hard to believe, but we didn’t really do a whole lot different from week one to two to three to four,” McDaniels said. “We knew we hadn’t
played our best brand of football that we could play. And again, I keep saying this, it’s about the group. The group has to play well in order for us to play well as an offense, and believe it or not, we didn’t, that was far from perfect also, so there was much to improve on that we’re going to work hard to try to make better and hopefully we can do that.”
Entering the week last in motion rate and 29th in play-action rate, the Patriots increased both in Buffalo. That included running motion on 75.3% of their plays, their highest rate in a single game since Week 15, 2023.
But McDaniels noted that it’s not simply about playing fast. The Patriots have to play fast and execute to see results.
The results were there for Drake Maye, who played his best game of the season. Maye threw for a season-high 269 yards and three touchdowns while adding 54 yards on the ground.
“I think his approach being consistent with the things we’re trying to improve on for himself, but also the group as a whole,” McDaniels said. “There are just so many areas where we can do better and make better decisions, use better techniques and fundamentals and produce more offense. And so hopefully we’ll see that again Sunday.”
Maye and the Patriots offense will hope to keep building on that performance Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s the next step toward reaching their full potential as a unit.
“I think we’re just starting up the mountain,” Maye said. “I think you would like to think that, and we have to go and prove that, but it’s a race for us to improve, knowing that you have to improve throughout the season and throughout the year for these teams. These teams, once you get closer to the end, are going to be at their best at the end, and I think that’s one of the things that you strive to do throughout the year.
“Knowing that, you would like to say everybody – especially on offense – you’d like to say that the first three weeks weren’t what we wanted to put out there. You have to try to build off last week, knowing that it’s not just going to do it for you. You have to put the work in and the focus, and hopefully continue to catch a trend and catch a stride.”
