A new era is dawning in Foxborough as the New England Patriots prepare to host the Houston Texans this Sunday afternoon. This matchup will mark a significant milestone, with third overall pick Drake Maye anticipated to make his first-ever career start. The Patriots (1-4) have endured challenges with Jacoby Brissett at the helm, eagerly seeking a turnaround that resonates with their storied tradition.
Maye, who displayed flashes of potential in relief during the Patriots’ 24-3 setback against the New York Jets in Week 3, connected on 4-of-8 passes for 22 yards. The young quarterback is now poised and eager to step into the limelight as the team’s QB1. “I think it’s a great opportunity,” Maye expressed about his upcoming start against Houston. “It’s something you dream about, being a starter for the first time in the NFL. I’m very excited to hang out with the guys, use the whole week to prepare and try to do my best and help the team win.”
Patriots’ head coach Julio Mayo reaffirmed his belief in Maye, stating, “I think Drake now gives us the best chance to win now and in the future. He is improving every week, as I said before. At the end of training camp, his trend was very high, and this continued throughout the first part of the season.”
Meanwhile, the Texans’ tenacious front seven, fresh off a 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills, aim to unsettle the rookie quarterback. With only 16 NFL snaps under Maye’s belt, Houston coach DeMeco Ryans knows his defense will have to adapt quickly to the new challenge ahead. “Defensively, there are a lot of unknowns, as this is Maye’s first time starting,” Ryans commented. “We just have to go out and do our jobs right, not so much about them or focus on what they will do or can do, they can do a lot of different things… We will just focus on ourselves and make sure we do the details of our job.”
On offense, the Texans (4-1) will face adjustments of their own, with wide receiver Nico Collins hitting the injured reserve list due to a hamstring injury after lighting up defenses with a league-leading 32 receptions for 567 yards. The team might also be without standout running back Joe Mixon, nursing an ankle injury alongside several other key players, including offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (ankle), safety Jimmie Ward (groin), and defensive end Derek Barnett (shoulder).
On the Patriots’ side, the backfield situation remains uncertain. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson missed practice with a foot injury, adding to a list of Patriots players contending with various setbacks, such as safety Kyle Dugger (ankle) and others listed as limited, including receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee), cornerback Marcus Jones (groin), and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (knee).
As the Patriots look to halt a four-game losing streak since their opening victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the heat is on in New England. Sunday’s clash is teeming with intrigue as both teams strive to overcome adversity and seize victory at this pivotal early juncture in the season.
