New England Patriots rookie quarterback New England Patriots rookie quarterbackDrake Maye played a key role in the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, participating during the second and third quarters. Maye showed a moderate level of efficiency, completing 6 of 11 pass attempts for 47 yards.
Maye Versatil
He also showed his versatility by contributing 15 yards on the ground on four attempts. His highlight came when he ran into the end zone for a touchdown, marking his first of the preseason and giving the Patriots a temporary lead.
This game was also significant for Jerod Mayo, who is in his first preseason as head coach of the Patriots. After the loss to the Eagles, Mayo now has a 1-1 record.
He expressed disappointment in the loss, noting it as his first as head coach. Mayo stressed the importance of the game, particularly since the team had practiced previously against the Eagles, and acknowledged the need to focus more on details to improve the team's overall performance.
Jacoby Brissett started the game at quarterback for the Patriots, but struggled to move the offense effectively. The Patriots had a three-and-out on their first series, the second consecutive week this has happened under Brissett's leadership.
On the second series, Brissett was able to get the team into the red zone, but made a critical mistake when he forced a pass to tight end Austin Hooper, resulting in an interception by Eagles safety Avante Maddux.
The Eagles capitalized on the lost fumble, scoring a 42-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Brissett finished the night with disappointing stats, completing just 3-of-7 passes for 17 yards and throwing an interception.
Notable Plays
The Patriots offense showed more promise with Drake Maye at quarterback, as he got the team to score on its first two series. Maye connected with rookie receiver Javon Baker on a critical third-and-9 play, gaining 12 yards and securing a first down.
The series culminated in a 51-yard field goal by Joey Slye, tying the game 3-3. On his second series, Maye executed a zone-read play, running 4 yards to the end zone to give the Patriots a 10-3 lead. However, Maye's third quarter performance was less productive.
A promising third-and-10 play was thwarted when Javon Baker dropped a well-thrown deep pass by Maye, and the next series was derailed by a catch to Maye caused by a missed block by left tackle Vederian Lowe, leading to a failed series.
Maye's performance declined in the second half, completing just 1 of 4 passes for zero yards.
The Patriots defense performed strongly, particularly in the first half, despite the absence of several key starters from the Eagles offense, including quarterback Jalen Hurts and receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. New England held the Eagles to just two field goals through the first three quarters.
However, in the fourth quarter, the defense faltered, allowing a 7-play, 70-yard series that ended with Eagles running back Kendall Milton scoring a 1-yard touchdown.
The Eagles successfully executed a two-point conversion, with quarterback Tanner McKee connecting with Ainias Smith, giving Philadelphia a 14-13 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
The Patriots up the pressure on defense.@MikeDussault19 evaluates the pass rush against the Eagles: https://t.co/jMqzTiy5Ku pic.twitter.com/GyHUj4XQx4
- New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 16, 2024
Joe Milton's performance
After Maye left the game, Joe Milton took over at quarterback and was able to lead the Patriots to a field goal on their first series. However, Milton faced significant pressure on the next possession, being caught twice, and finished the game with 2 pass completions out of 7 attempts for 20 yards.
He also added 9 yards on the ground on three attempts. In the final moments of the game, Bailey Zappe came in with 2:25 left on the clock, starting the series at the New England 17-yard line. Zappe drove the Patriots to their own 46-yard line, but a mishandled cross by third-string center Liam Fornadel resulted in a fumble that the Eagles recovered, sealing the game.
Coach Jerod Mayo reflected on the team's performance, noting that the Patriots tackled much better in the first half compared to the second half, which negatively impacted the team's performance as the game progressed.
Mayo acknowledged that small mistakes, such as missed tackles, often lead to significant consequences and emphasized the need to go back to the drawing board to address these problems.
The Patriots looked more composed and improved compared to their performance in the joint practice earlier in the week with the Eagles.
The team will have a day off on Friday before returning to practice over the weekend as they prepare for their preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, scheduled for next Sunday in Washington.
