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mike rees
Foxborough, Mass. – Quarterback drake may Solidified his position as the favorite to win the NFL’s MVP award with another impressive performance new England Patriots‘The turnaround continued with a 27-14 win over the visitors. New York Jets Thursday, leading the team to an NFL-best 9-2 record.
The Patriots have won eight consecutive games, breaking the tie. denver broncos For the league’s longest current winning streak. After finishing 4–13 in each of the past two seasons, they are only the fourth team in the last 25 years to win nine of their first 11 games after having four or fewer wins the previous season, joining 2013. kansas city chiefs2016 dallas cowboys and 2019 san francisco 49ers,
While such a turnaround might surprise many, that was not the case for Mays, who completed his first 11 passes and went 25 of 34 for 281 yards with a TD and 0 INTs.
“I don’t think anything has surprised me,” Mays said. “When you work hard and we have good players and good coaches, you will get the results you want.”
In the last 20 years, Mays became the fourth quarterback to lead his team to eight consecutive wins in his first or second NFL season and have his team score at least 20 points in each of those games. Dallas’ dak prescott (10 consecutive in 2016), Philadelphia carson wentz (nine consecutive in 2017) and Baltimore lamar jackson (eight consecutive in 2019) were the others.
“I would say in general his performance was about what we expected,” first-year head coach Mike Vrabel said. After Thursday’s win, many players credited him with developing a culture that was a catalyst for change for the franchise. “We have high expectations for Drake. He has high expectations for himself.
“He’s going to continue to improve. I know he’s going to stay humble throughout it all. … We’ve just got to continue to focus on the little things, the operations, the unforced errors throughout the offense. The only thing that’s really holding us back is our offense.”
The 23-year-old Mays is completing 71.8% of his passes on the season and has 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions. In 13 games last season, he had 10 interceptions. Vrabel and the Patriots’ assistant coaches have noted his improved performance in ball security, one of the pillars of Vrabel’s desired team identity.
As he often does, Mays deferred credit Thursday, praising teammates such as the rookie running back traveyon hendersonWho joined tight end Rob Gronkowski (2010) and running back Sony Michel (2018, Playoffs) As the only rookie in franchise history to score three touchdowns in a game.
But Patriots fans chanted “MVP! MVP! MVP!” Entertained them with slogans. Which his teammates extended after the game.
“He’s playing at an elite level right now,” rookie left tackle Will Campbell Said. “I’m biased, but I think he’s the best player in the NFL. There’s not a game we’re out of when we’re with him.”
