Patriots
Overall, Maye felt like he made good throws. However, he wasn’t afraid to admit he rushed a few.
FOXBOROUGH — Drake Maye didn’t hesitate to admit that he had some throws that he wished he could have back during Sunday’s season-opener loss to the Raiders.
He sailed his first throw of the game over DeMario Douglas’s head. His interception in the third quarter killed New England’s momentum on a promising drive. He also, for one reason or another, straight up missed some open receivers.
“I think just some of them, I was rushing them,” Maye said. “I think I see them and kind of rush it to try to get it out to him as quick as I can. The one to Pop [DeMario Douglas], he was getting close to the sideline with kind of a trapped corner there, so I tried to get it out as quickly as I could to him to get the first.”
Maye finished 30-for-46 passing with 287 yards. He hit Douglas for a red zone touchdown.
“I feel like I’ve been throwing it pretty well and seeing it well … I feel like I made some pretty good throws throughout the game that I felt good about accuracy-wise. So yeah, I’m not going to over-harp on too much, but at the same time, you’ve got to hit guys when they’re open, so it’s an even kind of balance.”
The Patriots won the time of possession battle and found themselves within striking distance on several occasions. But, they weren’t able to punch the ball into the end zone when they got close, finishing 1-for-3 in the red zone.
Las Vegas, by contrast, got only one red zone opportunity and they converted it. Completing some easier looks earlier in the game and capitalizing in the red zone are two areas where the Patriots improve going forward, Maye said.
“I think to start faster, that’s kind of a theme for the team,” Maye said. “I think from there, there’s some throws I’d like to have back. I feel like I say that every game, but particularly ones where I had guys open.
“And then, from there, I think down in the red zone. … We have to score touchdowns when we’re down in the red zone.”
Maye said he felt good reciting plays and getting in and out of the huddle. He feels the team is building progress towards where they need to be on offense.
Last week, coach Mike Vrabel said his staff would have to evaluate whether or not they were putting too much on Maye’s plate as he adjusts to Josh McDaniels’s offense.
Maye said he hasn’t seen much change so far.
“Any team, we’re trying to establish the run. So, from that point, I think you win games running the football and stopping the run, so trying to set that up,” Maye said. “I feel like the guys, we’ve got guys that we can throw to in space and make plays, and we can hurt teams in the pass. So, I don’t feel like anything’s changed, and I’m just trying to do my part in whatever they ask me to do.”
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