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mike rees
baltimore– new England Patriots quarterback drake may This was called the “elephant in the room.”
Last week, in a heartbreaking defeat buffalo billHe had two chances to lead the winning campaign at the end of the fourth quarter, but it did not happen. Same opportunity was given on Sunday night also Baltimore RavensMays produced one of the signature performances of his career – leading a nine-play, 89-yard touchdown march to help the visiting Patriots set the record. win 28-24 Which secured a playoff spot.
“It was kind of a wake-up call last week,” Mays said. “This week, it was like, ‘Man, we shouldn’t feel like this two weeks in a row.'”
Mays finished 31 of 44 for 380 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, and recorded the first 300-yard passing game of his NFL career.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said, “Just gritty. He got hurt. They put pressure on him. He just kept getting up and fighting. He didn’t buckle down.” “I think it was important for all of us – for the whole team.”
According to ESPN Research, Mayes had 47% of his dropback pressures in the fourth quarter and completed 86% of his passes in the final quarter, averaging 9.9 yards per attempt.
The Patriots trailed 24–21 when Mays took the field with 5:02 remaining and the ball at the New England 11-yard line. he connected to the receiver mac hollins On a 20-yard pass to the right side to start the drive, and the running back after the short pass. Ramondre Stevenson For 4 yards and receiver stefon diggs For 9 yards, he threw a long, incomplete pass to the receiver kayshon boute Patriots coaches and players believed there should have been defensive pass interference on the Ravens cornerback. Marlon Humphrey,
This ultimately set up another key play on fourth-and-2, when Mays found Diggs for a 21-yard catch-and-run.
“That was a great ball. I ran a route, tried to put speed on it, and Drake put it where only I could get it,” said Diggs, who finished with a team-high nine receptions for 138 yards.
After a 6-yard connection with Hollins, Stevenson ran 21 yards for the winning touchdown just before the two-minute warning.
On the Ravens’ ensuing possession, the Patriots defensive end/outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson forced error on receiver Jai Phool that corner marcus jones Recoveries were made, and the Patriots ran out of time.
“Very proud of this team. Everyone was involved,” Mays said. “Confidence, confidence – I like our chances when we’re in those scenarios.”
The Patriots improved to 12–3 and are 7–0, with Mays becoming the first starting quarterback since 1950 to lead his team to seven consecutive road wins in his first or second season.
Although there was joy in the locker room after the game after the Patriots clinched their first playoff berth since 2021, coaches and players also noted that the team’s goals are lofty.
patriots visit New York Jets on Sunday, then finish the season at home miami dolphinsWinning both of those games would lead them to their first AFC East title since 2019,
“Winning the playoffs is great, but we want to win the division,” Mays said.
