The New England Patriots just absolutely lit up the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, putting up a staggering 536 total yards of offense in a dominant 45-17 win. Drake Maye, the 24-year-old quarterback, was nothing short of sensational, proving why he was just named AFC Offensive Player of the Week and then going out and repeating that level of play. This team is now sitting at 3-2 after that performance.
Maye Unleashed: Five Scores and Pure Command
Dude, Maye was on fire. He completed 26-of-34 passes for 374 yards in those sick red throwbacks. Not only did he find the end zone four times through the air, but he also got a fifth touchdown on the ground. This kid’s got wheels, too, after setting a season best in rushing last week. The Patriots came out in “12” personnel and just drove right down the field on their opening series, covering 55 yards over five plays, even getting a defensive pass interference call to help ’em out, finishing with a 7-0 score.
Their second drive? It got a little tricky with a couple of fourth-and-3 shotgun connections, but Maye converted ’em both, pushing the lead to 14-7. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky didn’t even see the field until the third drive stalled on the Raiders’ side. But veteran tight end Hunter Henry made sure that wouldn’t happen again before halftime with a sweet 26-yard scamper. And then Maye linked up with another captain for an 11-yard touchdown, giving them a 21-7 advantage. By halftime, Maye was 11-of-15 for 160 yards with two touchdowns and a ridiculous 147.2 passer rating. He finished the game with an even crazier 150.9 passer rating. Seriously, what a game.
Offense on Autopilot: Efficiency All Day
Coming out of the break, Maye kept his foot on the gas. He hit a former UNLV and Washington State speedster down the left sideline for a 34-yard score on second-and-19. Then he delivered an absolutely pinpoint pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon on a motioning wheel route for 31 yards. After that, he called his own number, extending the lead to 35-10. By the time they were kneeling to run out the clock, the score was 45-17.
The offense, led by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, was just clicking, averaging 8.1 yards per play. They racked up 29 first downs, converted 6-of-12 on third down, went 2-of-2 on fourth down, and were super efficient in the red zone, going 4-of-5. Even with Mack Hollins out with a non-contact calf injury from last week’s upset against the Bills , the guy was leading the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards before hitting injured reserve , the other receivers stepped up big time. DeMario Douglas, the 5-foot-8, 185-pound slot receiver, wasn’t forgotten; Maye found him in the end zone for his first touchdown of the fall. The Patriots looked absolutely dominant, and this 3-2 record feels like just the start.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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