Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the New England Patriots in Thursday night’s systematic 24-3 dismantling by the New York Jets.
As Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots’ offense managed just 139 yards of total offense, including the veteran quarterback passing for only 61 against the stingy New York Jets’ secondary, No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye stood on the sideline wearing a baseball hat and headset.
That is, until the game got completely out of hand, and Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo put Maye into the game in the final moments. Maye finished up Thursday’s contest with 22 yards on 4-of-8 passing, and he was sacked twice.
“I’ll be ready when my name is called, when my number’s called, to go out there and make some plays,” Maye told reporters after the game. “I’ve been preparing like I’m the starter.”
New England’s offensive line did neither Maye nor Brissett any favors against a Jets onslaught that wound up producing seven sacks and 14 quarterback hits.
It’s difficult to blame either quarterback for the barrage they were asked to withstand behind what is quickly becoming one of the league’s most porous offensive lines. However, Maye believes he’s capable of doing his part to limit the damage, if he’s asked to take over the reins of the offense.
“I can’t take stupid sacks,” Maye said. “At the same time, we got some first downs, moved the chains, made some plays with my feet.”
Why the New England Patriots Shouldn’t Make the Switch to Drake Maye
Given the Patriots’ sluggish performance on offense and what the franchise has invested in Maye, it would be easy for Mayo to make the switch to the first-round pick.
Mayo should resist that temptation.
The Patriots’ offensive line isn’t anywhere close to competent at the moment, and Thursday night underscored how little separation the receivers are getting on the perimeter.
At this point, the worst thing Mayo and the Patriots could do is throw Maye to the wolves before this offensive line develops any sort of chemistry and cohesion and the receiving corps makes some strides.
In recent years, the NFL landscape has become littered with quarterbacks who were pushed to play too soon and never quite lived up to their potential. New England would be wise to take a different tact with Maye.
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