Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Saints in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Drake Maye outstanding again: With the running game again doing nothing, and Spencer Rattler being pretty good on the other side, the Patriots needed him to be brilliant again to emerge with a road victory, and he was. Maye was 18 of 26 for 261 yards (10 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns. He did not rely on Stefon Diggs (3 for 28). He got big plays from Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry as well. He spread it around and didn't rely on his legs (3.1 yards per run).
NFL now on NextGenStats (it could be updated), Maye was projected to have a 50.8% completion percentage. He ended with 72.7% for an absurd CPOE of +21.9%. That's absurd and leads the NFL this week. Spencer Rattler is next at +16.3%, which speaks to the defensive troubles that they had again.
Kayshon Boutte shows out in Louisiana return: Boutte was terrific with 5 catches on 5 targets for 93 yards, two touchdowns and a huge contested third-down catch on 3rd and 11 to ice the game. Other LSU products K'Lavon Chaisson (5 pressures) and Will Campbell also had strong returns.
Refs were brutal: It ended up working for the Patriots in the end, and thank goodness. I didn't want to do a week about the refs. But they were terrible in this game, almost both ways but the Patriots got the short end of the stick on the phantom OPI on Diggs on the first drive (they ended up scoring a TD) and another OPI against Diggs that negated a big 51-yard completion.
TURNING POINT
The iffy offensive pass interference penalty against Stefon Diggs. That was on 3rd and 17 for 51 yards down to the NO's 21-yard line with the Patriots leading 25-19 with about 10 minutes left. If the Patriots punch it in there, it was over. It was a very iffy call as Diggs didn't totally extend his arm to push off. Patriots punted after that.
SECOND GUESS
I'm sure there will be a few complaints about some playcalls as the offense sputtered a bit in the second half, but I don't really have any second guesses from the Patriots (Vrabel and Stretch had a nice sequence near the end of the game with a challenge).
I didn't like either of the Diggs OPI calls, but I also didn't like the fumble overturn in favor of the Patriots. The ball was loose but I thought he possessed it until he hit the ground.
THREE UP
QB Drake Maye: Wondered if he could build off the second half against Buffalo, and the answer was a resounding yes. He was great throughout this game again.
CB Marcus Jones: Had three pass breakups - at least two on third down - and a sack. He was great again.
WR Kayshon Boutte: Caught 5 of 5 passes for 93 yards and two touchdown receptions in his return to the Superdome.
THREE DOWN
RG Mike Onwenu: He had a series of missed blocks that really hurt this team.
LB Jahlani Tavai: Had two penalties.
S Kyle Dugger: Got burned for 53 yards on the first play and had little impact overall. Had a blitz that did nothing.
INJURIES
DE Harold Landry: Appeared to sustain a serious knee injury in a collison with Khyiris Tonga, but returned to the game.
CB Carlton Davis: Had his usual injury timeout per game and, as usual, returned to the game.
CB Marcus Jones: Got shaken up on a big third-down pass breakup, but immediately returned.
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
I can't believe Drake Maye is playing at this level of consistency now. I knew he would have moments of brilliance, but I thought there was little chance of being this consistent (it's now 4 games in a row of high-level play, back-to-back tremendous games on the road. Maye got a little loose in the second half with some iffy plays - he also had a dangerous flip - but instead of being fearful in those situations, I now figure he's going to come out OK and make the big play. And he's doing that a lot now. I thought we might see Maye get here in the second half, but now? Yup, get ready for the MVP talk.
This wasn't pretty, but it was a good sign. I'm sure there will be some who thought the Patriots should have dusted the Saints, but I told you this team wasn't that bad, and that's a tough place to play and the Saints have some dudes. Rattler is playing pretty good with Kellen Moore. For the Patriots to beat the Bills, and then have a mature victory on the road, that's good stuff. Three wins in a row. Patriots haven't done that since 2022.