And boy, did the New England Patriots make their case with poetry in motion! They ended up winning in convincing style 27-14 over the New York Jets. The decisive win pads the Patriots’ strong hold on the NFL’s best team record, now still rolling with an amazing 9-2 mark. Quarterback Drake Maye showcased his talents, further solidifying his status as a frontrunner for the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
The game was notable for the rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson’s breakout performance— 3 touchdowns. This incredible accomplishment puts him in elite company. He joins tight end Rob Gronkowski and running back Sony Michel as the only rookies in franchise history to score three touchdowns in a game. Henderson’s performance contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Drake Maye looked like an early Heisman favorite, as he nailed his first 11 passes. He finished 25 of his 34 attempts in the matchup. Amidst a chaotic scene, he completed 21 of 30 attempts for 281 yards and one touchdown to zero interceptions. This season, Maye has been lights out with a completion percentage of 71.8%. He’s been incredible, throwing 20 touchdowns and only five picks. Last year, he had a hard time with 10 interceptions in 13 games.
They’ve turned themselves into just the fourth team in the last 25 years to win nine of their first 11 games after having won four or fewer games in the prior season. This cohort features historic squads such as the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs and the 2016 Dallas Cowboys.
Especially telling, Drake Maye’s accomplishments put him in elite company. He became only the fourth quarterback in his first or second NFL season to guide his team to eight consecutive victories while scoring at least 20 points in each game. The only players to complete this trifecta after the turn of the century are Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Lamar Jackson.
“I don’t think anything has surprised me,” – Drake Maye
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel praised Maye’s demanding nature and expectations.
“We have high expectations for Drake. He has high expectations for himself.” – Mike Vrabel
Vrabel emphasized the importance of consistency and discipline moving forward.
“He’ll continue to improve. I know that he’ll stay humble through this all. … We just have to continue to focus on the little things, operation, unforced errors throughout the offense. The only thing that really stops us is us offensively.” – Mike Vrabel
Offensive lineman Will Campbell praised Maye’s current level of play.
“He’s playing at an elite level right now,” – Will Campbell
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