On Sunday, the New England Patriots officially made the switch, benching veteran starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett to allow rookie first-round pick Drake Maye to make his NFL start against the Houston Texans.
While New England was still handed a 41-21 loss, their fifth defeat in as many weeks, the passing game looked more potent than it had with Brissett under center. Maye actually threw more touchdowns in this game (three) than Brissett had thrown in the first five weeks (two). To be transparent, he also threw more interceptions (two) than Brissett did all year (one).
The rookie also led the team in rushing yards, showing off athletics and an ability to make plays on the run that the Patriots could use this year with how poor their offensive line has played.
Maye spoke to the media after a game for the first time since the preseason, and he was asked a lot of questions about his experience, and he handled them well and probably exactly how the team would've wanted him to.
Here's everything he said in his media availability:
On how his day went from start to finish:
"I think we just hurt ourselves today. I think that's the biggest thing. I think we put the defense in bad spots, and with how good our defense is, that's the last thing we can do. We can't – when the ball is in the red zone, giving the other team the ball in the red zone just makes it hard on them. It starts with me, and I feel like I wish I could have some throws back, and especially the first interception. But yeah, after the touchdown, felt like kind of we were back in it. Coming out of halftime, there goes another turnover in the red zone. Just kept hurting ourselves, and in this league, these teams are too good to do that. But some great stuff to watch on film. Sometimes out there it was a lot of fun on offense. That's what I told the guys in the huddle at the end, we got the guys in the huddle, we've just got to make a few more plays and play complementary football. That's what Coach Mayo will just preach, play complementary football, and we didn't do that today."
On if he felt the game slow down:
"I was a little amped at the start for sure. I think the biggest thing is having those guys around me. They were great, pumping me up, coaches, defense. The guys around me were great trying to settle me down, and Jacoby was a big part of that, slowed me down on the sideline pregame. Once we got that first drive, it was three-and-out, and I could have probably checked it down on the under. But we've got some stuff to look back and learn from, but I also feel like we did some good things."
On what happened on his first interception:
"Pretty simple. Pop over the middle and hit him a few other times, and that last time where he scored I hit him in stride. Just got to make better throws. I missed a little high, and you can't miss high over the middle in this league. That's what they always say; you can't miss high over the middle, and tipped balls on the second one turned into interceptions."
On what went better in the second half:
"Yeah, we preach fast starts, and I wouldn't say it's very pleasing when you start off with a turnover in the red zone to start the second half and start out with a three-and-out in the first drive. Little things like that that we're emphasizing on offense, and we just haven't been able to execute. I think the things that have come back are what we're emphasizing, and that starts with me. We need to execute. Kind of got going there a little bit, made some throws that the guys made some plays, and like I said, we got guys that can make plays, and the O-line is up there battling their butt off and getting injured, coming back and always checking on me. Those guys fought their butts off tonight."
On how he's feeling physically:
"Yeah, I think the Houston Texans are a good football team. They've got a good defense. They've got some good guys on the edge and up front, good guys on the back end. It was a good test for us. Like I said, I think right there a couple times in the game it felt like we were crawling back, and really just offensively put the defense in a bad spot. I feel all right. I think you're playing quarterback in the NFL, you're going to be sore the next day. That's part of it. Probably can do a better job of getting down or throwing it away. I think I took a couple sacks today maybe where I could have thrown it away or thrown check-downs instead of getting a sack."
On what the sideline was like and what Brissett was saying:
"He was saying, 'We're good. We're good.' They went down there, they scored on the first possession, so it puts a little pressure on you. I think it's always a little pressure when they score first and make it 7-0. So just settled down and trusted the guys around me, and we've got to be able to run the football a little bit, too. I think we preach that. Running the football in this league is how you get open. Getting in third and long -- we were in third and long too much today, and that starts with me making better throws and decisions on first and second down."
On what the day was like and how he self-evaluates:
"Shout-out to the fans. I thought they were great. It gave me goosebumps going out there for the first time. They stayed basically almost the whole way through cheering, and it was pretty sweet to be out there in the reds. Like I said, I think we didn't come out with the win, and that's kind of the goal, especially in your first start. Coming out with a win, that would be something pretty special. Got to be able to watch the tape and learn from it and bounce back. We've got a long flight, so get ready for playing overseas."
On what the emotions are like of debuting but losing:
"I think first and foremost just blessed. I thank the good Lord. I'm in a great spot with the Patriots here and playing quarterback in the NFL. Most of my friends and family after a loss, they'll still worry more about the loss than kind of encouraging plays. That's kind of the people I'm around. We care about winning. Just hate losing. That's the big thing. I think there's some good things to take away from it today, and I think back with Coach Mayo, we've got to play complementary football, and we haven't done that."
On the two-minute drill before halftime:
"I think the two-minute time is a great time for a quarterback to kind of get some passes and get some plays that we're comfortable with under my belt. It was a lot easier in two-minute than in practice when the guys actually come back there and tackle me in the back. Able to make some plays. Boutte made a great play, and those guys – I think Pop down the sideline, that's a great play on his part, and just get the guys the ball, and that's the biggest thing I've got to do. I think get them the ball and let them make plays. You saw Hunter on a flat route early on. We're backed up, make a guy miss, get a 1st down, little things like that, try to get the ball out of my hands and get it to those guys. I make a lot of money getting paid to get first downs."
On the 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte:
"I think pressed up. I think we've got to give gas, give him a chance. That was kind of my thought process; give him a chance. I thought kind of the Texans was kind of squatting us a little bit. They came out and challenged us and played in man so tried to let one ride and give Boutte a chance. He made a nice play, and it was pretty cool. I think both of our first touchdowns, so pretty cool moment. I felt like in this group we can push the ball down the field and make plays in the passing game, so we've just got to keep repping it and see what you like and I’ve got to make the throws, that’s the bottom line. Make better throws."
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