2. Maye throws first TD, OL has problems
After a Commanders punt, Drake Maye started a touchdown drive in which he covered 88 yards in 11 plays and ended the drive with a throw to Kevin Harris, which Harris put into the end zone after breaking through a tackle.
Maye showed off his arm and athleticism on the drive, first running for a first down on 3rd-and-14, then a 29-yard pass to Ja’Lynn Polk and a 16-yard pass to DeMario Douglas on 3rd-and-8. The operation was sloppy at times, with two botched snaps, but Maye showed off his ability to stay out of trouble, keep his eyes downfield and make plays.
The drive was another building block for the young quarterback as he mastered some negative plays and led the team to an extended scoring drive.
Mayes’ second drive wasn’t quite as productive. JaMychal Hasty managed 22 yards on a catch-and-carry, but two penalties (one of them declined) and a screen pass to Douglas that deflected in the backfield forced a Patriots punt.
Maye’s third and fourth drives were even worse, with two three-and-outs and three more penalties against the offensive line (one of them declined). That brought the total, including declined penalties, to five against the offensive line in five possessions. The Patriots’ offensive linemen were forced into the backfield too often and there weren’t many clean pockets for Maye to get out of. At one point, they even stepped on Maye’s foot, pulled off his shoe and forced him to throw a pass while tucking in a sock.
Poor play on the offensive line hurt the Patriots’ chances of getting anything going on offense after Maye’s first attempt at the tackle, and considering four of the current five starters had to face Washington’s backup defenders, it was a troubling performance.
