Copyright The Boston Globe
Now that we’ve dutifully established that Maye (16 of 31, 270 yards, 2 TDs, and the interception) had plenty of help and indeed did not play a flawless game Sunday, let’s move on to acknowledging an extraordinary development, the kind that should make Patriots fans giddy, and one confirmed yet again Sunday: With Maye at quarterback, the Patriots can beat anyone, anywhere. They should at this point, with good health the rest of the way, be considered Super Bowl contenders. Not only did Maye pass his biggest test yet against the Buccaneers — a road game, in unfavorable weather, against a relentless and darned good defense — but he changed the conversation. He’s no longer being tested by playing good teams. From now on, good teams are tested by playing him. He must be, right now, after this win and this performance, the favorite for NFL Most Valuable Player. Maye’s talent, resilience, and toughness were all on display against the Buccaneers, to the point that it’s difficult to narrow down his best and/or boldest throw of the day. Let’s try anyway. Was it his third completion of the game, a perfectly lofted throw over the Buccaneers defense to send Kyle Williams on his way to a 72-yard touchdown on the Patriots’ third possession? Or perhaps it was his gutsy, perfectly-placed fourth-and-goal throw to the balletic Stefon Diggs in the corner of the end zone just before halftime, giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead? Could it have been his third-and-7 strike to Mack Hollins for 15 yards after dodging Tampa Bay destructive force Vita Vea with just over 3 minutes left in the third quarter, after the Buccaneers had just scored on a 92-yard drive to cut the Patriots’ lead to 21-16? Or maybe it was another clutch throw to Hollins, a 54-yarder on third and 14 midway through the fourth quarter in which Maye took a huge hit (hanging in, fully aware a clobbering was about to ensue) for the second play in a row. I honestly don’t know which of those throws was his best. They were all either dazzling, or admirable displays of poise and toughness. Sometimes both. I do know this. With Maye at quarterback, anything is possible this season. Who would have thought that after the Pittsburgh game? Some further thoughts, upon immediate review . . . THREE PLAYERS WORTH WATCHING Players suggested in the Unconventional Preview: Emeka Egbuka, Lavonte David, Will Campbell. Stefon Diggs: The veteran receiver, accused with some evidence of being a diva in the past, has been making tough, team-first plays all season for the Patriots. He’s there when Maye needs him as a receiver: he made five catches for 46 yards, all in the first half, including the aforementioned touchdown catch just before halftime that was as beautiful as it was crucial. But Diggs’s biggest play was his game-sealing recovery of an onside kick, which took a Buccaneers-friendly bounce and led to him getting walloped as he gripped the ball. This guy has been more than the Patriots could have hoped. Cade Otten: Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka was the Buccaneers’ most productive receiver Sunday, with 6 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. But his six catches came on 13 targets, with Christian Gonzalez winning his share of battles in coverage. The more efficient Buccaneers pass catcher was the tight end, Otten, who had nine receptions on 12 targets for 82 yards. The middle of the Patriots defense remains susceptible to tight ends. TreVeyon Henderson: So apparently all it took for him to break one was for me to stop writing each week that he was close to breaking one. Duly noted. Henderson broke two long touchdown runs against the Buccaneers, a 55-yarder behind perfect blocks from Morgan Moses and Hollins to set him loose on the second play of the second half, and then a 69-yard bolt of lightning down the left sideline in which he earnestly slowed up to see if Mike Vrabel wanted him to take a knee and kill some clock. GRIEVANCE OF THE GAME With the Patriots holding a 21-10 lead early in the third quarter, CBS analyst Tony Romo noted that Josh McDaniels and his offense sometimes becomes too conservative in similar situations. “This is the time … where New England has kind of taken their foot off the gas a little bit,’’ he observed. The Patriots immediately proved him right, running Henderson up the middle twice — not exactly his strong suit — for a total gain of 2 yards. A third-down pass was broken up, and the Patriots had to punt. This is a nitpicky gripe to be sure, but it was a spot where a little more creativity would have been welcome. THREE NOTES SCRIBBLED IN THE MARGINS Predicted final score: Buccaneers 27, Patriots 24 Final score: Patriots 28, Buccaneers 23 I’m sure my sentiment won’t be unanimous among readers, but I enjoyed having Romo and Jim Nantz call a Patriots game for the first time in over two years. It took a moment to readjust to Romo’s casualness in the booth (not to mention the occasional bizarre choice of acronyms), but it felt like a big game in part because they were calling it . . . Williams’s 72-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter raised his yards-per-catch average from 10.0 to 30.6. Yes, that is on three catches . . . Prediction: Khyiris Tonga, the outstanding free-agent find at defensive tackle who has been taking on goal-line and short-yardage blocker duties in recent weeks, will catch a touchdown pass before the season is complete. Maybe two.
