Let's cut to the chase: Drake Maye did not grade out well for me over the course of his 45 dropbacks (including penalties).
But much like his debut, there's some good and bad in that.
Let me also point out that I don't grade on a curve. I grade all NFL quarterbacks the same, and each play the same. I don't factor in the level of defense. The Texans are certainly good, especially up front, and fast, but they were not hitting on all cylinders in the secondary (they were down starting safety Jimmie Ward and outside corner Kamari Lassiter). I also do not factor in the age and experience of the QB. If you want to do that, that's fine. It's just something I'm not capable of. I try to grade against NFL average.
The good news?
Maye made plays, many more than the norm for a Patriots quarterback dating back to 2021, Mac Jones' rookie year. Maye's 11 plus plays (he got a half-point boost each for his touchdowns to Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas) were tied for the second-highest in a game since 2021 (Mac Jones had 12 in the 2023 season opener against the Eagles).
Jones did that on 60 dropbacks. By plus-play percentage, Maye's debut ranked 7th since 2021. Jacoby Brissett's performance against the Bengals actually ranked at the top. The others were four from Jones' rookie season and 2022 against the Ravens.
Speaking of Brissett, Maye produced my highest-graded Patriots QB game since Week 2. So as far as the decision to go with Maye because he gave the team the best chance to win this week, that would back that up.
Maye was also very good against the blitz: 6 of 10, 113 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT - rating of 99.2.
Maye also started to settle down more in the final 20 minutes of the game. Before the final drive of the third quarter, Maye was +3.5/-14 for me, so he was +6.5/-3 after that. So that good be a positive indicator going into the Jaguars game.
Bottom line: Maye is a playmaker and came in and made plays immediately. He also handled adversity well, and settled down.
Now for the flip side.
Maye also had the most minus plays I've recorded since 2021 (extra half points for the first interception and the strip-sack fumble that didn't need to be taken). Jones (2021 Week 16 vs. Buffalo) and Brissett (49ers) were next with 14. Maye's minus play percentage (37.8%) was the highest since Jones last year against Dallas (45.8%) and New Orleans (38.5%).
Maye also had that many miscues facing by far the lowest pressure rate allowed this season (35.6%) - and he accounted for 20 percent of that himself (he factored into all four sacks). Maye was not great against pressure: 2 of 6, 26 yards, 4 sacks, 1 throwaway on 14 dropbacks.
Maye's Expected Points Per Dropback of -0.22 ranked 23rd in Week 6 through Sunday, ahead of only Daniel Jones, Spencer Rattler and Dak Prescott - but it was right in line with Brissett's -0.23 in his five starts.
What does all this mean? I don't really know. In a vacuum, you would say that if Maye can keep making plays, even make a few more, and just limit the errors through experience and learning on film, then he's on his way to being a very good quarterback. But we all know things don't happen in a vacuum in the NFL. Pressure and hits can accumulate. Coaching staffs and schemes can change suddenly (ask Jones). My opinion on Jones after his rookie season was "I think he can be a franchise QB" but I didn't know. We all know what happened after that, not all Jones' fault.
I will say this after Maye's debut: I don't see why he couldn't have started the season.
I have no idea where Maye truly was when he got here in terms of learning the scheme and handling NFL defenses, but physically the Maye we saw on Sunday didn't look vastly improved over what we saw over the summer. His footwork was still clunky at times. His motion was long and slow at times. His eyes are not always in the right place. He's quick to run and sometimes runs into pressure. He looks pretty much the same to me, although I'm sure there are many factors I can't account for because I'm not in the room or on the practice field.
But I wouldn't say Maye has been overhauled and is now definitely ready for this. So maybe they just should have started him in Week 1 if they weren't going to do a huge overhaul.
As far as Maye's grade, don't take my word for it. Here's my work, all the plus and minus plays by half before my second half video analysis, offensive grades and 3 up/3 down:
FIRST HALF
Plus plays
1-10-NE 30 (3:07) D.Maye pass short right to K.Bourne pushed ob at NE 38 for 8 yards (H.To'oTo'o).
Throw/pressure - This is the play where the DT jumps the snap, causes Maye to bobble the ball, but he keeps his cool and finds Kendrick Bourne in the flat. Nice play.
2-8-NE 18 (:36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to D.Douglas pushed ob at NE 40 for 22 yards (D.Stingley) [T.Settle]
Throw/pressure - Little bit of happy feet and he didn't see an open Hasty in the right flat, but this flat-footed throw from the left hash across the field to Douglas while getting hit (Onwenu and Jacobs were terrible on this play) was a very nice play to get them going on this drive.
1-10-NE 40 (:28) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short right to J.Polk (D.Stingley).
Throw - This was the first pass Polk dropped. Texans brought a safety from depth that was bearing down on Maye but he threw a perfect pass with anticipation and his receiver let him down.
2-3-HST 40 (:16) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep right to K.Boutte for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. NE 10-Maye 1st NFL TD pass.
Throw +1.5 - Great protection, great job by Boutte stacking his route, perfect throw by Maye before Boutte had even won his route. Glad this worked out well because Douglas (who saved Maye on a high pass the previous play) had dusted Pitre on the same route Henry did earlier, and Douglas will do as well two more times.
Minus plays
3-9-NE 24 (7:48) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep left to J.Polk.
Decsion - On the first third down of the game, Patriots are in max protect. Despite that, Maye has happy feet and throws the ball away. He doesn't see a wide-open Kayshon Boutte right in the middle of the field.
3-3-NE 37 (1:53) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep left intended for D.Douglas INTERCEPTED by C.Bullock at HST 45. C.Bullock to NE 27 for 28 yards(D.Maye).
Interception/decsion (-1.5) - Texans bring six but the Patirots have six in so it's really well-protected. Maye was locked into the Henry/Boutte combo to the left. He misses that Ja'Lynn Polk had beaten his man down the right sideline - more than Boutte does on his TD. Clunky footwork led to high throw to Douglas but he was well-covered.
1-10-NE 30 (14:30) D.Maye scrambles up the middle to NE 41 for 11 yards (E.Murray).
Decsion - There was zero pressure on this play but Maye bailed too quickly. Hunter Henry was coming open against Jalen Pitre (he did the same thing on Pop Douglas three times) but Maye didn't give it a chance. He needs to throw this.
1-10-NE 41 (13:53) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short middle.
PENALTY on NE-V.Lowe, Ineligible Downfield Pass, 5 yards, enforced at NE 41 - No Play.
Penalty - This is a called screen dependent on timing. Maye can't hold the ball here. If the screen is not there, turf it earlier or throw it away. That's on Maye. Boutte was wide open in the middle of the field, but Maye has to throw the screen.
1-15-NE 36 (13:48) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles left end pushed ob at NE 40 for 4 yards (E.Murray).
Decsion/hurry - Would have liked to see Hooper sit in the zone, but he's open and Maye needs to put it on him or quickly to Henry to the left. This pressure is not on Vederian Lowe, it's on Maye.
3-11-NE 40 (12:10) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 33 for -7 yards (W.Anderson). NE-V.Lowe was injured during the play
Half-sack - This play is all kinds of screwed up, and it starts with Maye flipping Ja'Mychal Hasty from his right to his left, where Henry is already chipping on the end. If Maye kept Hasty on his right, he could have helped on Will Anderson. Maye's eyes are never in the right place and he's looking at the rush almost immediately. He doesn't see Henry wide open for a checkdown after his chip that would have given them a chance. No reason to take a sack here, and he nearly fumbled. Half on Maye and Demontrey Jacobs.
3-8-NE 48 (8:09) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short middle to H.Henry (M.Edwards, J.Pitre).
Decision - This is the play where Maye's pass gets deflected into the air going to Henry. He was blanketed, this was not a good decision. There weren't any great options but Hooper was probably the best. I would not have minded if he ran here. Had a little happy feet. Also didn't like the lack of help for the ends. It was five rushing five.
2-7-NE 25 (3:31) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 20 for -5 yards (W.Anderson).
Half sack - After the RPO fake, Hooper is wide open. Maye starts to throw but pumps it and is sacked. If he delivers it on time, it's not a sack.
3-12-NE 20 (2:52) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short middle to A.Hooper.
Throw - Maye throws behind a completely wide-open Hooper due to happy feet and poor footwork.
SECOND HALF
Plus plays
2-8-NE 32 (5:03) (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to H.Henry to HST 38 for 30 yards (E.Murray)
Throw - Up until this play near the end of the third quarter, I have Maye for +3.5/-14. It's been rough to this point, really, outside the Boutte TD. Maye really doesn't have anything on this play, but makes something out of nothing with his athletic ability flipping it to Henry. This was Maye just making a play.
2-5-NE 45 (10:48) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles right end pushed ob at HST 40 for 15 yards (N.Hewitt).
Scramble - There was nothing open and this was a good athletic play by Maye.
3-5-HST 35 (9:31) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to D.Douglas for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Throw (+1.5) - Now he hits the play that's been there all day, this time against S Eric Murray (maybe they shouldn't cover Douglas with a safety?). Perfect pass this time and in stride.
1-10-NE 28 (7:39) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to K.Boutte to NE 41 for 13 yards (E.Murray).
Throw - After faking the flat, Maye makes a great timing throw to Boutte near the sideline.
4-5-HST 39 (2:50) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles up the middle to HST 33 for 6 yards (M.Bryant).
Scramble - Good scramble on fourth down.
4-3-HST 26 (1:23) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to D.Douglas to HST 20 for 6 yards (M.Bryant).
Throw - Good throw that old friend Myles Bryant nearly jumps but Maye's arm strength is too good.
Minus plays
2-9-NE 22 (14:18) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 14 for -8 yards (D.Hunter). FUMBLES (D.Hunter) [D.Hunter], RECOVERED by HST-M.Edwards at NE10. NE-D.Maye was injured during the play
Half sack/fumble (-1.5) - No help again for the tackles but Maye has Bourne open and Hooper as an option to his right, Boutte open on the left. This is a tough play for Maye but he has to know his tackles are not getting help and the ball needs to come out. Also, the pressure is coming from his right, it's not like he's blindsided.
3-9-NE 27 (12:11) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short middle to D.Douglas.
Throw - Throws a half-beat late and wide to Douglas to end the second possession.
1-10-NE 24 (6:51) D.Maye pass short left to A.Hooper to NE 29 for 5 yards (A.Al-Shaair; H.To'oTo'o). FUMBLES (A.Al-Shaair), touched at NE 33,RECOVERED by HST-C.Bullock at NE 31.
Throw - Not blaming Maye for the fumble, but this throw is there and has to be on the outside. Maye made a similar play in the preseason and everyone was all excited because he flipped his hips against pressure. This was easier and it was a borderline terrible throw.
2-6-HST 34 (3:14) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to D.Douglas to HST 17 for 17 yards (J.Pitre).
Throw - This was same play against Pitre that ended up a TD later. This would have been a touchdown if Maye made a better throw. Great catch by Douglas. ... This drive ends with the Henry touchdown but Maye does not get credit for that. It's a complete bust by the Texans - Pitre again! (Boutte also open). ... I also did not dock Maye for the second interception. That was on LT Zach Thomas not executing the cut.
2-5-HST 35 (9:35) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to J.Hasty.
Throw - Shotgun empty with no help again, but Maye throws wide of Hasty near the sideline.
3-11-NE 40 (6:03) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 30 for -10 yards (W.Anderson).
Half sack - Maye wanted a home-run pass to Douglas but Texans had a nice coverage. Maye had two checkdowns open underneath. Didn't need to take a sack.
3-3-HST 26 (1:30) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep right to D.Douglas.
Throw - Maye airmails Douglas rolling out to his right. Lucky it wasn't intercepted.
Here is my commentary on the second half as I graded the film:
Here are the positional ratings against the Texans:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (2 out of 5)
We've been over this, but he made a lot of plays, made some for the other team - the typical rookie experience. He's going to have to take care of the ball better and watch taking sacks that can be avoided.
Running backs (2 out of 5)
Antonio Gibson had some really tough runs, but there wasn't much there to work with. This group is having a really tough time with pass protection and sometimes their alignment makes no sense (like Maye flipping Hasty over to the same side where Henry was already chipping). The pass pro needs to be coached up more.
Receivers (2 out of 5)
This is pretty simple. Douglas was sensational, Henry was pretty good although his touchdown was a complete bust by the Texans (Jalen Pitre was awful in this game). Boutte had the great touchdown and ran some nice routes but missed a run block for a loss. And Polk (two drops) and Hooper (fumble) were awful.
Offensive line (3 out of 5)
The pass blocking was the best it's been this season even though Alex Van Pelt still does not do close enough to help the tackles during much of the game. This is my biggest problem with the offense, aside from his basic shotgun empty package that features nothing but stop routes and slants. If they don't protect Maye better, make that priority (it should have been with Brissett as well), he is going to get injured. He barely lasted one game. ... Michael Jordan, again, was by far the best lineman. ... I didn't like some reps from Mike Ownenu, especially for what they're paying him, but he graded out OK. ... Ben Brown played well for just getting here, but he's not Matt Birk or anything. He seems smart, tough and strong. That's a good start. He's not overly athletic. I assume the release of Nick Leverett was a numbers game and he'll be back on practice squad because I don't believe he deserved to be cast off. ... Jacobs and Thomas tied for the most pressure allowed. Having to go with Thomas at LT for an extended period of time is a scary proposition. He had a really rough time.
THREE UP
WR Demario Douglas: He was terrific and aside from his touchdown, the pass he turned into 30 yards before halftime got the offense going.
TE Hunter Henry: Broke a tackle for a first down, the 30-yarder thanks to Maye and the TD bust.
LG Michael Jordan: One knockdown is all I had for him. Continues to impress.
THREE DOWN
LT Zach Thomas: It's not really his fault being pressed into duty against those edges, but he had a tough time.
WR Ja'Lynn Polk: Look like he's lost his confidence, and even Maye passed on throwing to him after the second drop.
TE Austin Hooper: Just can't have that fumble.