For nearly 21 minutes, the Patriots looked like the best team in the AFC East. Led by Drake Maye, they went to Orchard Park, New York, and repeatedly made the right play, the necessary play, the big play when it mattered (in those moments) against the Bills and their MVP frontrunner, Josh Allen.
But it wouldn't last, and the Pats were complicit in their undoing, as has often happened in recent years. There were three second-half turnovers courtesy of your highly-paid running back and your highly drafted quarterback. Up until their ponderous last drive - urgency, anyone? - they fell into the same bad habits - poor fundamentals, poor execution, and curious decision-making by the coaching staff (that 4th quarter punt from midfield was inexcusable). When you combine that with a thin roster, you get what they got: another loss, their 12th in 15 games, and 8th in Maye's 10 starts.
"It's really frustrating," said Maye. "We keep hurting ourselves. Same thing - same thing repeating."
As has often been the case during the rookie's brief time with the organization, Maye made plays that gave the Pats a chance. But as he giveth, he also taketh away. His red zone interception — he has now thrown interceptions in seven straight games — came with his team down 17-14 in the third quarter and desperately needing some points.
"I gotta be better in the red zone," said Maye, who finished 22-of-36 for 261 yards and two touchdowns. "I gotta be better getting to stuff. Be ready for blitz zero and making plays. At some point down there, it's a reflection of the quarterback. I think it's starting to become that way. Down in the red zone, I gotta do better and do more and make better throws. Give our guys chances because they're playing their butts off."
After the defense forced a punt from their territory, keeping the Pats within 3, 17-14, Maye's swing pass to Rhamondre Stevenson turned out a) to be a lateral and b) perhaps a little hot for running back. He got smoked by defensive end Gregory Rousseau, who avoided a cut block by right tackle Demontrey Jacobs. There was a definite lack of awareness from the Pats offense as the ball rolled around near the goal line. Not that many players were there to rally to the ball, but those who saw it barely moved. Instead, four Bills players fought for the right to score the touchdown (Taron Johnson was the winner). That made it 24-14. I don't know how anyone could have had confidence the Pats could rally from them, and despite a late score, they didn't.
"We've been running that play all season," Maye said of the fumbled lateral. "We didn't get the end. That end is a big dude. A tough player to cut. So, that's really just a tough break. ... (It's) tough play on 'Mondre to catch it and get blown up. I either got to throw it at somebody's feet or do something different."
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Early in the game, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt approached his play calling with some added creativity, which aided Maye in putting together two of his best drives of the season, certainly the best back-to-back, despite playing in cold unlike any he's ever experienced (He mentioned one point where he couldn't feel his feet, and he did drop the ball late in the 4th quarter as he tried to spin it to find the laces, but otherwise...)
On the first series of the game, the 22-year-old showed that veteran feel, turfing the very first play, a screen designed for Stevenson, realizing it had no chance of success. Then, on third down, Maye stood tall under pressure from Von Miller (a recurring theme) and delivered a dart to Hunter Henry for 9 yards, moving the chains. A few plays later, the Pats hit paydirt when Maye saw 1-on-1 coverage on the outside for Kayshon Boutte and dropped the perfect pass down the right sideline for a 28-yard score.
The next drive covered 91 yards over 16 plays, but the Pats didn't see third down until they were on the plus side of the 50. It was Maye who converted it, too, escaping Miller's grasp (he beat Jacobs. That happened a lot). Maye needed nine yards. He got 10, busting out a spin and grin on linebacker Terrel Bernard to get past the line to gain. He delivered on third down again later in the drive, with him and Henry seeing off coverage the same. Stevenson capped the series with an old-school run, and just like that, it was 14-0. Alas, it didn't get any better.
"When you lose, it's tough to think about the positive," said Mayo. "It's so frustrating. I'm gonna hold myself from some anger - at some point it turns from some disappointment into getting frustrated, real frustrated."
The young signal-caller mentioned that Jerod Mayo told the team he was proud of them after the game but that this is not who they want to be. That opened the door for a question about the noise swirling around this coaching staff, especially over the last week.
"I think it's a bunch of conversations about our coaching staff and stuff like that; I think it's some BS, to be quite honest. Coach Mayo - those guys and coach Mayo - we got his back. He coaches us hard. He wants to win. We all to win. We're all frustrated," said Maye, adding, "I think we're building something good. Building something that feels right here. And I'm proud to be a Patriot."
We've seen Maye display all the different emotions you go through during a season filled with some highs and a whole bunch of lows. But we've never had him go there with a passionate - and pointed - defense of his coaches. While much more should go into the decision to keep or part ways with Mayo, Van Pelt, and others, those words - Maye's belief - should definitely be part of the discussion for ownership going forward. They already let the last regime derail the previous first-round quarterback, and while this one is a hell of a lot more talented than that one, that mistake should be treated as a cautionary tale. Whatever they do, don't screw this kid up.