A divisional matchup against an elite Texans defense was expected to be a slugfest for quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots offense.
In a snowy Gillette Stadium, Maye took his fair share of punches as he delivered his lowest EPA per drop back (-0.27) of the season and lost a pair of fumbles as ball security issues remain in the spotlight.
But, Maye also threw his fair share of counters as well, topped by three touchdown passes that helped the Patriots punch their ticket to the AFC Championship Game
with a 28-16 win over the Texans.
Here’s how he did so on Sunday.
Drive 2
(10:25) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to S.Diggs to HST 28 for 13 yards (J.Pitre). Behind the sticks on 3rd-and-14, Hunter Henry runs off the middle linebacker to open space for Stefon Diggs to fill in underneath. The ball is out quick — something Maye, who posted his fourth quickest time to throw of the season, did throughout the day to beat the Texans pass rush — and on target to Diggs to set up a mangabey 4th-and-1.
(9:41) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to D.Douglas for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Going for it on 4th-and-1, DeMario Douglas motions to the right side of the formation which helps signal Houston’s intentions to blitz as safety Jalen Pitre is capped in the slot by Calen Bullock. The Texans then do send a blitz zero, where a double slant flat concept holds Pitre in the flat for just a second before Maye finds Douglas over the middle one-on-one against Bullock, who can’t log the pass breakup as Douglas takes it to the house.
Drive 3
(4:34) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 12 for -10 yards (D.Hunter). FUMBLES (D.Hunter), recovered by NE-W.Campbell at NE 3. Throughout Sunday, Maye fumbled four times (losing two) a week after putting the ball on the ground twice (one lost). Not all fumbles are created equal, however, as a second-half strip sack came with Will Anderson firing off the line of scrimmage with an insane .41 second get-off and hitting Maye’s blindside as he went to throw.
But, Maye was also at fault at times such as a first-half fumble that New England was fortunate to recover. With pressure flashing off the left interior, Maye drifts all the way into right tackle Morgan Moses and goes to uncork one downfield (despite no receiver appearing to be open), but fellow star pass rusher Danielle Hunter is there to knock the ball loose. Will Campbell was then able to jump on it near the goal line to avoid a complete disaster for the Patriots.
Drive 7
(5:23) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to K.Boutte to HST 28 for 25 yards (H.To’oTo’o). With a four point due to Marcus Jones’ pick six, New England’s offense saw four straight drives end with a turnover or punt. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels then got things going by leaning on the same concept. On a straight slant flat concept with a simulated power action in the backfield, Maye takes a look to his running back in the flat to move Pitre just a step to the safeties right. That opens a second passing window for Maye to find Kayshon Boutte filling in behind the safety for a big gain to get the drive moving.
(4:01) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to K.Boutte to HST 7 for 18 yards (K.Lassiter). Two plays later, New England goes back to a double slant flat concept with Douglas running a bluff screen underneath. Houston matches in man coverage this time which leaves Boutte one-on-one out wide. The receiver wins and Maye hits him to move the chains again.
(3:17) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to S.Diggs for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The drive caps off with… you guessed it: a double slant flat concept. Stefon Diggs starts as No. 3 on Maye’s right and motions across the formation where he’s followed by Jalen Reed. With Henry’s slant and Henderson’s flat opening a tight passing window to Diggs, Maye drives one into the veteran receiver who makes an incredible hands catch through contact for the touchdown.
Drive 12
(1:22) D.Maye pass short right to A.Hooper to NE 43 for 14 yards (A.Al-Shaair). The Patriots did not move the pocket often for Maye throughout the day, but they start a drive late in the fourth quarter by booting him out to the right. Hooper then delays his release and Maye is able to flick him a ball for a 14-yard drive starter.
(13:05) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep right to K.Boutte for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands. The drive then ends with the play of the game, as the Patriots dial up the same play Maye and Kayshon Boutte connected on last season against the Texans for the duo’s first career touchdowns. Against straight man-to-man with a single-high safety, Maye takes his shot down the same sideline into the same end zone against the same All-Pro cornerback, and puts it only where Boutte can get it as the receiver makes an incredible one-handed catch.
“We talk about not going in the blender, and I think it’s hard,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “They put pressure on us, and we know we’ve got to take care of the ball. Drake knows that, but to be able to stay the course, to trust Kayshon and give him a great ball that was him or nobody. Those guys have kind of done that all year. When we needed a play, they’ve been able to do that for us.”
