Patriots’ Drake Maye Shows Flashes but Left Stranded in Loss to Raiders

McDaniels criticized for leaning on struggling Stevenson while limiting rookies Henderson, Williams

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — Drake Maye showed flashes of talent but struggled to find consistency in the Patriots’ 20–13 home loss to the Raiders on Sunday, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels drew criticism for a conservative game plan that sidelined two of the team’s most dynamic young playmakers.

Maye completed 30 of 46 passes for 287 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He opened the game by overthrowing a wide-open DeMario Douglas and never looked fully settled against a defense that pressured him throughout. He connected well with Kayshon Boutte, who caught six passes for 103 yards, but the offense repeatedly stalled in scoring range and leaned almost exclusively on Maye’s arm.

The Patriots managed only 60 rushing yards on 18 attempts—3.3 yards per carry—while Maye dropped back 53 times. That imbalance highlighted McDaniels’s reluctance to adjust when the ground game faltered, and it magnified Maye’s growing pains.

Rhamondre Stevenson was the primary back but offered little production: seven carries for just 15 yards, an average of 2.1 yards per attempt, plus two catches for 12 yards. In contrast, rookie TreVeyon Henderson, though limited to just 25 of 71 offensive snaps, gained 27 rushing yards on five carries and added 24 receiving yards on six catches—an explosive output that went underutilized.

Rookie receiver Kyle Williams saw minimal involvement, logging just seven snaps and seeing his first and only target arrive in the final minute—his 12-yard reception setting up the team’s late field goal.

By leaning on veterans Stevenson and Douglas while limiting Henderson and Williams, McDaniels produced a predictable attack that the Raiders contained. Maye’s mechanical inconsistencies were part of the story, but his struggles were magnified in a system that neither protected him nor maximized his supporting cast.

Without a credible run threat or injections of explosiveness, Maye was forced to shoulder too much of the load against a disciplined defense. The result: flashes of potential buried under predictability and pressure.

For Maye to evolve into the franchise quarterback New England expects, the offensive strategy must do more than demand precision. McDaniels needs to simplify the scheme, commit to the run game, and lean on his rookie playmakers more consistently.

Week 1 proved Maye has talent but needs help. The question now is whether McDaniels will change his approach—or continue putting his young signal-caller in positions to struggle.

By the Numbers: Patriots vs. Raiders

Drake Maye: 30-of-46 passing, 287 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 53 dropbacks
Kayshon Boutte: 6 catches, 103 yards
Rhamondre Stevenson: 7 carries, 15 yards (2.1 YPC); 2 catches, 12 yards
TreVeyon Henderson: 5 carries, 27 yards (5.4 YPC); 6 catches, 24 yards; 25 snaps (35% of offense)
Kyle Williams: 1 reception, 12 yards on 7 snaps (10% of offense)
Team Rushing Total: 18 carries, 60 yards (3.3 YPC)
Final Score: Raiders 20, Patriots 13