Quarterback dominates in second-season breakout performance
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Drake Maye has always carried the label of a rare talent. On Sunday, he showed what that looks like on an NFL field.
The New England Patriots’ second-year quarterback delivered the most complete performance of his career in a 33-27 road win over the Miami Dolphins. Maye went 19 of 23 for 230 yards and two touchdowns through the air, added a rushing touchdown, and finished with a career-high passer rating of 137.3.
The advanced numbers underscored how efficient he was. Maye generated 16.3 Expected Points Added (EPA) overall, with an average of 0.54 EPA per dropback. His completion percentage over expected (CPOE) was 13.5 percent, reflecting how often he converted throws that are typically incomplete. He also averaged 10 yards per completion, mixing rhythm throws with deep shots, and went 7 of 8 against the blitz for 89 yards and a score.
Maye showed his arm strength on a 55-yard completion to Rhamondre Stevenson, a strike that came with pressure closing in and demonstrated his ability to stretch defenses vertically.
On the ground, he added another layer to his performance. He rushed 10 times for 31 yards, including a red-zone touchdown that displayed his athleticism and decisiveness. His mobility extended drives and kept Miami’s defense guessing.
Even when pressured, Maye was unflappable. He was sacked three times but still completed nearly 70 percent of his passes when under duress. In the red zone, the Patriots went 3-for-4, with Maye directly responsible for all three touchdowns.
Maye’s rookie year was filled with flashes of ability but also the inconsistencies expected of a first-year starter. In his second season, his growth is clear. He looked sharper in his reads, more confident directing the offense and composed in critical moments. Each time Miami cut into the lead, he answered with a steady drive that kept New England ahead.
Accuracy has always been one of Maye’s strengths, and Sunday confirmed it. From quick outs to intermediate crossers to deep shots, he delivered on time and in stride. More than half of his completions moved the chains, keeping the Patriots in control of tempo and possession.
For New England, the performance was about more than a September win. Since Tom Brady’s departure, the Patriots have searched for stability at the position. Maye’s breakout in Miami was proof that the talent they invested in is already turning into production.
It is still only Week 2 of his second season. But Sunday’s game was not ordinary. It was the kind of performance that signals a quarterback stepping into the league’s upper tier — a reminder of what elite talent looks like when it begins to blossom.
Drake Maye isn’t just the Patriots’ future. On Sunday, he proved he is already their present.
📊 Drake Maye — Week 2 at Miami (Patriots 33, Dolphins 27)
Passing
- 19 of 23 (82.6 percent)
- 230 yards
- 2 touchdowns
- 137.3 passer rating (career high)
- 10 yards per completion
Rushing
- 10 carries, 31 yards
- 1 touchdown
Advanced Stats
- 16.3 Expected Points Added (EPA)
- 0.54 EPA per dropback
- 13.5 percent Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE)
- 7 of 8 vs. blitz, 89 yards, 1 TD
Situational
- Patriots 3-for-4 in the red zone; Maye accounted for all 3 touchdowns
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