Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to a 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, accounting for five total touchdowns and no turnovers.
Maye completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards, averaging 11 yards per attempt. He threw four touchdown passes and added a three yard rushing touchdown on a designed run.
The Patriots produced 536 total yards, fueled by big downfield plays and efficient execution. Maye hit a 35 yard touchdown to DeMario Douglas on the opening drive.
He later connected with tight end Efton Chism on a tight-window pass that helped sustain a second touchdown drive. Maye threw a 34 yard dime to Kyle Williams down the left sideline.
Maye also found Eli Raridon on a contested throw for a large gain, and then hit Williams again late to set up another score. The Raiders were unable to match New England's pace.
Las Vegas entered the game ranked eighth against the pass, yet struggled to contain Maye's downfield throws and scrambling. The quarterback also flashed mobility with four rushes for 29 yards.
The performance followed Maye's three touchdown outing in Week Four against the Buffalo Bills and earned him consideration for consecutive AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Implications And Outlook
The win moved both teams to 3-2 while quieting concerns about Maye's early season struggles. Through three weeks he had one touchdown and six interceptions, an uneven start that drew criticism.
Advanced measures in the report place Maye among elite quarterbacks, behind Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy in dropback success rate since 2013 for QBs with at least 1,000 throws. Those metrics bolster his case despite recent inconsistency.
New England must sustain this level of play against upcoming opponents including the Jets, Bears, Dolphins, Packers and Lions before a Week 11 bye. Consistency will be required to silence detractors and affect the AFC East race.
The Raiders arrived as one of the season's early surprises but were not competitive in this matchup. The game highlighted New England's big play ability and Maye's capacity to take advantage of tight coverage.
