Drake Maye Report Card: How Patriots QB Fared In Frustrating Dolphins Loss
Drake Maye did not have much help around him as the New England Patriots turned in a brutal performance against the Miami Dolphins.
Maye went 22-for-37 through the air for 222 yards with a touchdown and a pair of turnovers. There’s rookie mistakes, and there’s weekly plays that remind New England that position is more than set for the future.
That’s the status of the Drake Maye experience.
Here’s the report card from Maye’s day in Miami for the Patriots.
POSITIVES
“Wow” throws
Maye seems to have at least one play every week that drops jaws for the Patriots. That came this week when the rookie quarterback rolled right and threw off-platform downfield to a wide-open Austin Hooper. The tight end came back to the ball and fell back into the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown.
You can watch the show here.
Distribution
Maye may not have the best group of skill position players, but he’s going to get them the ball anyway. That’s been a growing trend for the Patriots quarterback that continued Sunday as eight different receivers caught passes from Maye in Miami.
NEGATIVES
Ball security
The Patriots did not protect Maye up front at all Sunday as the offensive line regressed to its horrendous early-season form. Maye took four sacks and also did not take care of the ball on his own. His interception came on a tip from pressure by Jalen Ramsey. He also kept the ball out in the open when Zach Sieler strip-sacked the New England quarterback.
Maye also would have had a third turnover if the referees had not overturned another fumble in the second half to an incomplete pass in the second half.
The Patriots have a special talent at quarterback, but he’s certainly had a regular schedule of rookie-style turnovers since taking over as the starter.
Finishing drives
This issue goes far beyond Maye, but the Patriots were anything but threatening offensively Sunday. New England went an abysmal 3-for-14 on third down against the Dolphins and never entered or scored in the red zone.
GRADE: C-
Maye continues to grow, and there’s positives on film on a weekly basis. The priority for the Patriots down the stretch is to get Maye’s decision-making and awareness to a higher level as his turnovers have been remotely concerning over the last several weeks.