Timing of Patriots' decision to start rookie quarterback Drake Maye draws concern
The Patriots' announcement that they will bench Jacoby Brissett and start rookie quarterback Drake Maye for the upcoming matchup with the Texans in Week 6 has blown up the internet, generating varying reactions.
Besides the continued demands from fans and reporters for Maye to have been made the starter as soon as Week 1, there is some questioning surrounding the timing of the decision.
With the Texans coming to town on Sunday, the reigning AFC South Champions, and a team on the rise since drafting quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Patriots' offense is expected to struggle against a very good defensive line. Houston has one of the very best in the NFL through the first five games, so throwing a rookie out there to maneuver that with a depleted offensive line might not be the best idea.
It's a point gaining more steam now that the decision has been made official. MassLive's Mark Daniels tweeted out the first five quarterbacks to face the Texans defense this season and their stats, with the most notable of all being Bills' Josh Allen, who had a career-worst day in Week 5.
Drake Maye will debut against good defense.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 8, 2024
QBs vs. Houston:
- Anthony Richardson 9/19, 212 yards, 2 TD, INT
- Caleb Williams: 23/37, 174 yards, 2 INT
- Trevor Lawrence 18/33, 169 yards, 2 TD
- Sam Darnold: 17/28, 181 yards, 4 TD
- Josh Allen: 9/30, 131 yards, 1 TD
That raises concerns about a rookie and how he will fare against a tough NFL defense, which he hasn't faced before.
Clearly, the coaches inside Gillette Stadium believe he is capable of handling himself in the right way, and rumors have suggested that Maye has looked ready to take over for a few weeks now. He has been practicing with the starting offense since the season began, getting 30% of first-team reps, according to Mayo, and that is invaluable as he sets to debut on Sunday.
How he performs will also garner many interesting responses. If he does really well, there will be questions about why it took so long to bench Brissett or why Maye wasn't named the starter from the beginning.
If he doesn't play well, there will be a plethora of questions regarding who decided to put him in before he was ready or what they saw in practice that gave them the impression he was NFL-ready.
It might not be pretty, on the field and off, but if the Patriots' offense shows the slightest bit of improvement, even in a loss, that should be considered a big win and move in the right direction.
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