It was another MVP like performance for Drake Maye on Sunday as the quarterback left New York completing 19-of-21 passes for 256 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-10 dismantling of the Jets.
While it’s
worthwhile to point out the quality of opponent, Maye continued to etch his name in record books as he posted a 99.8 quarterback rating — tying the highest single-game mark since the metric began tracking in 2006 — and generating +1.28 expected points per drop-back (100th percentile), the best single-game EPA output of any quarterback in the league this season.
Behind his first five touchdown performance and a rough Monday night outing from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, FanDuel Sportsbook now has Maye as the odds-on favorite to win the MVP award this season entering Week 18.
Here’s how he continued to build his case in just two-and-a-half quarters of football vs. the Jets.
Drive 1
(10:46) T.Munford reported in as eligible. D.Maye pass short right to A.Hooper for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. With a pair of wide receivers injured, Josh McDaniels turned to eight different personnel packages which included a season-high 25.8 percent of snaps in their jumbo package. After working to the goal line on their first drive, New England comes out with two running backs, two tight ends, and a sixth o-lineman (22 Rhino). With Hunter Henry motioning across the format to signal man-to-man coverage, Austin Hooper is left with leverage over the safety to left of the formation. A well-placed play-action pass over the defensive line finds the veteran tight end in the back of the end zone for a first-drive touchdown.
Drive 2
(7:20) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to E.Chism to NYJ 42 for 30 yards (J.Clark) [M.Clemons]. New England’s second drive is kickstarted by an explosive play to rookie WR Efton Chism III, who was elevated into a larger role on Sunday. The Jets bring a Cover-0 blitz which leaves each receiver in a one-on-one matchup and Drake Maye hot as left tackle Vederian Lowe is forced to slide down to block a blitzing linebacker. Chism, who notices the second-level blitz, runs a strong slant to cross the cornerbacks face and win to the inside against leverage while Maye stands in against an extra unblocked rusher to hit the rookie in stride.
Drive 3
(3:35) D.Maye pass deep right to S.Diggs pushed ob at NYJ 35 for 31 yards (Q.Stiggers). A simple stick concept turns into a big out of structure play for New England on the first play of their next possession. With the quick game concept covered, Maye begins the scramble drill as he extends the play to his right as Diggs notices and takes off up the sideline. A throw on the run allows Diggs to go up-and-over the cornerback and keep his feet in bounds to haul it in. Mossed.
S”cramble drill rules. I try not to make it more than what it is. Scramble drill rule. He gave me a chance. I try to make a play for him,“ Diggs said.
“When you’re trying to make plays for your quarterback and you end up coming down with them, they usually trust you a little bit more. So, I’m just trying to make the plays that come to me and hopefully in the future he won’t even have to second guess.“
(15:00) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep left to R.Stevenson for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Motioning Stevenson into the formation signals the Jets are in man coverage as they also show pressure in the A gaps. With Stevenson responsible for the edge rusher in the protection plan, the Patriots instead send him out on a scissor concept (corner – post) which leaves the back wide open for a touchdown.
Drive 4
(5:41) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles left end ran ob at NYJ 9 for 11 yards (J.Sherwood). Back in the high red zone on fourth-down, the Jets cover New England’s concept well by trapping wide receiver Stefon Diggs to jump his route at the sticks to take away Maye’s first read. Maye does not fall for the trap and pulls the ball down to work through his progressions before escaping the pocket to pick up the first-down with his legs. Four plays later, a screen to Stefon Diggs — with the same design as Danny Amendola’s two-point conversion in Super Bowl 51 — results in another touchdown.
Drive 5
(1:44) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short right to K.Williams (M.Moore). The ball did not hit the ground until there was 1:44 left in the second quarter — and it came by a drop from Kyle Williams. With the Jets rotating into Tampa 2 post snap, Maye stares down the seam before quickly coming back to Williams and hitting him in the cover-two hole between zone defenders. Unfortunately, the rookie could not haul it in.
(1:09) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep middle to D.Douglas (J.Johnson). Maye’s second and final incompletion of the day came later that drive, but the QB was close to another big play as well. With the Jets again in Tampa 2, DeMario Douglas gets behind the middle of the field defender for what looks to set up a long completion and perhaps touchdown. However, Maye’s leg gets hit as he goes to throw which leads to a wobbly pass that finds the turf.
(:37) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to H.Henry for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Just a handful of plays later, Maye strikes anyway as he tosses his fourth first-half touchdown pass to cap off a two-minute drive. With a pair of Jets defenders covering Diggs, Hunter Henry is left wide open running from Maye’s right to left across the field. As the post safety is occupied by Kyle Williams’ route over top, Maye is able to step up in the pocket and find Henry.
Drive 6
(8:59) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to R.Stevenson pushed ob at NYJ 10 for 17 yards (M.Moore). As he did on his earlier touchdown, Stevenson motions into the formation to signal man coverage but the Jets now get a linebacker on the running back. As Stevenson then releases into the flat on his route, Efton Chism III sets a legal pick play to free the back for a third-down conversion.
(8:21) D.Maye pass short right to E.Chism for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The next play, Chism is rewarded for his dirty work as Maye fires his fifth touchdown to his fifth different pass catcher. As Chism works past his defender off a play-action bootleg, Maye gets outside and delivers an accurate ball on the run that the rookie can haul in through contact while sliding to the turf for his first career touchdown.
