Copyright MassLive
Drake Maye’s completion percentage wasn’t up to his usual standards. Nor was his passer rating. No matter. He still managed to help extend the Patriots winning streak to seven straight in Sunday’s 28-23 upset of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Patriots are now 8-2 in first place in the AFC East. Maye, who continues to fortify his MVP candidacy, still had the long-ball going, completing bombs to Kyle Williams (72), Mack Hollins (54) and DeMario Douglas (26). He did throw a pick in the end zone, on an ill-advised throw on third-and-goal from the 3. But he was sharp when he had to be, finishing 16-for-31 for 270 yards with two TDs. He spread the ball around to six different receivers. Mack Hollins led the group with six catches for 106 yards. Maye didn’t have his usual passing touch during the first few possessions of the game. It was raining, and he sailed a bunch of throws. Once he settled in, however, it was business as usual. He spread the ball around, mostly to his receivers. He didn’t have his favorite deep threat Kayshon Boutte, who was out with a hamstring injury. But Kyle Williams finally had his moment. Down 7-0, Maye hit Williams in stride on a crosser, and the rookie took it 72 yards to the house. It was the long TD pass for Maye this season. It was a perfect throw from Maye, who put it in a spot no one else could catch it, save for Williams he utilized his speed to go the distance into the endzone. Maye also engineered a scoring drive right before the half, hitting Stefon Diggs with a fade pass in the corner of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play from the one with two seconds to go. That score allowed the Patriots to take a 14-10 lead into the locker room. At the half, he was 11-for-19 for 180 yards with two TD passes. No picks. His passer rating was 124.9. After starting out 2-for-7, Maye blazed going 9-for-12 heading into the third quarter. The first drive of the third quarter, Maye & Co. were at it again. After completing an 11-yard pass to Mack Hollins, rookie TreVeyon Henderson broke one for a 55-yard touchdown run. Entering the game, Maye had already started to rewrite record books. He already tallied the most 200-plus passing yard and 100-plus passer rating games in a single season, breaking Tom Brady’s record from 2007. And, he also produced the most games in NFL history with a completion percentage of 80% or higher through two seasons.
