Here’s what New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had to say following Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Bills:
On the fact they got off to a 24-7 lead and what changed in the second half offensively that bogged them down:
“Yeah, came out of the second half and just got to make a play, pick up the first first down. I think that’s the biggest thing. There were some throws I wish I could have back. But at the end of the day, got to keep the foot on the pedal and keep it going and don’t let them dictate. Starts with me and starts with what else … we kind of felt like during the week that we had a chance this was going to happen. Just got to keep our foot on the pedal. It happened the first game, they came back, came back. Just got to make a play and do my part when we had the ball and the chance to win the game, to go win the game.”
On the fact one of the shining points was TreVeyon Henderson and his big runs and what he saw from him in those moments, and if he could take us through what was going through his mind as he was the lead blocker on that second one, it looked like:
“Yeah, I think just get him in space. He’s tough to tackle. He’s got good vision. He’s fast. He can make one cut, and he’s gone. He probably would of outran them even if I wasn’t down there. He’s a great player for us, and we just got to continue to make more plays to come up with a W.”
On the fact he spoke this week about the importance of taking care of business with the opportunity because of the division on the line, and how does he stomach the missed opportunity and move on from here:
“Yeah, just don’t let it beat you twice. Move on to the next week and learn from it and take what we can and know that we got some football ahead of us that is still very important. Don’t just hang our head and keep your head up and know that we had a chance and we’re there. Just, they made more plays and credit to them.”
On how motivating a game like today is for him and the team going forward:
“Yeah, it’s definitely a long stretch where we’re feeling good about ourselves. It was a chance for us to respond from something. Respond from being late in the season and playing beautiful football and responding from losing to a good team. We got to get back, get back and it starts in practice. Looking forward to getting another chance next Sunday.”
On the fact it’s been two straight games where they’ve had most of their offensive production in the first half, and if he there’s any common trend he sees between the last two games:
“Yeah, we just got to be better when we were up. It starts with me making some throws. Then from there, just, like Coach says, ‘No naps,’ so just not relaxing. I didn’t feel like we relaxed. Just didn’t make really enough plays. Credit to them. I think it’s one of the things that we were emphasizing during the week, and got to do a better job.”
On how quickly does he put something like this behind him, considering they’re obviously disappointed they had a major opportunity in front of them and they were leading in this game, so how quickly does he personally put this behind him?
“Yeah, I think you come back tomorrow. And once you watch the tape and hang with your teammates and talk about it, you flush it after tomorrow and get back on Tuesday for a new week and another tough opponent. So we got to flush it and know that this is what the NFL is. It’s any given week and it’s on to the next.”
On the fact when this game is going on and he sees [Josh Allen] scoring five straight touchdowns, what’s the word there, and if he can you appreciate that, and does he notice that, or is he just wrapped up in his own game:
“I’m worried about our guys, worried about trying trying to go match it and trying to go answer. We answered once, but failed to do it the next two times. So had a chance. The defense got us the ball back, and that’s what you got to thrive for. We made it happen last time and didn’t make it happen today.”
On the fact, especially in the first half, he was obviously beating the bills with his feet and how many of those were designed runs for him, or if they were just what was happening with the defense and he took off:
“Just seeing the defense and trying to use my legs when I can, trying to add an extra element in the red zone to gain an extra hat. Then from there, just make a play and try to get in the end zone.”
On the fact Coach Vrabel mentioned the role of pressure, figuring the second half that he knew Buffalo would continue to pressure and the fact it looks like they showed that on the final fourth down and backed out with a cover one look and what did he see from the start of the snap to the end of the play:
“They dropped some guys underneath and played man. So, got to find a way to make a play and give somebody a chance. Can’t not give a chance to go make a play, and yeah, just didn’t make it.”
On from a leadership standpoint, how much of a role is he going to play now in terms of helping the team move forward and get ready for Baltimore and put this one behind them:
“It’s huge. It’s huge for me to get the guys going, get the guys going back in practice, let them know that this is what it’s about, bouncing back and responding. We still had a lot of football ahead of us, and we got to appreciate that. Don’t take that for granted and learn from it. But like I said, got a big one next Sunday night, and we’re on the road again, so it’s going to be a tough one. I know they’re a good football team.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
