Drake Maye can eat ham sandwiches as Patriots gradual Maxx Crosby, unsung heroes emerge, accidents proceed to mount (notes)
FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots routed the Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium as Drake Maye returned to MVP-candidate kind.
The third-year quarterback accounted for 399 yards of offense (374 passing, 25 speeding) and 5 touchdowns (4 passing, one speeding) as New England cruised to a 45-17 win.
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Here are notes from a dominant Patriots win in Foxborough:
Crosby stored in test
High-end go rushers have given the Patriots some complications previously.
That wasn’t the case with Maxx Crosby.
New England’s offensive line was glorious in opposition to the five-time Pro Bowler, as one of many keys to Maye’s dominance was the time he had within the pocket.
Crosby’s two most noteworthy performs have been selecting up a 15-yard penalty for headbutting Cory Durden and getting burned by Hunter Henry on a decent finish display. He completed with one deal with and two quarterback hits. Morgan Moses did yeoman’s work on Crosby for a lot of the afternoon.
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“Hell of a soccer participant,” Moses mentioned. “You know it should be a 60 minute battle. It would not matter what the rating is, he’ll rush the passer. That’s a man that you have gotta element all through the week and perceive the place he’ll be at. It takes all 11.”
Maye highlighted the safety he was given when discussing his 35-yard first quarter landing to DeMario Douglas.
“I’m again there — credit score to the offensive line — consuming a ham sandwich,” Maye mentioned. “So I acquired all day again there.”
On that landing, the Raiders rushed 4 and could not get close to Maye. Crosby tried a stunt with the defensive deal with, however when he looped inside, middle Jared Wilson was prepared to choose him up.
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“It takes six or seven guys in safety to assist out,” Moses mentioned. “When we’re linked and we go on the market and do it collectively, that is what it seems like.”
Maye was solely sacked as soon as within the 45-17 blowout.
Secondary holds sturdy
The Patriots have been so beleaguered within the secondary that they started the sport with solely three lively cornerbacks, together with Kindle Vildor, who was signed from the observe squad on Saturday. When Charles Woods left with a shoulder harm, they have been pressured to play with two corners and 4 safeties of their dime packages, however nonetheless discovered a method.
In the locker room, Mike Vrabel gave Vildor one of many recreation balls, together with Maye. The nook held up properly in protection and compelled a fumble. Maye typically breaks the staff down, however he had Vildor do it after the win.
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“I’m simply completely happy to be part of the staff, man,” Vildor mentioned. “Grateful and grateful for the chance. I’ve been by way of quite a bit. Happy I can come out right here and assist you all win. Let’s preserve stacking extra wins.”
Injuries proceed to mount
In addition to Woods, the Patriots misplaced Will Campbell (knee), Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder) and TreVeyon Henderson (ankle). Campbell went down within the second quarter when he was rolled up on a working play, hurting the identical knee that he suffered an MCL harm to final season. He returned to the sideline and tried to check it out on an train bike, however did not get again into the sport. Moses discovered a silver lining.
“Just seeing him capable of stroll out of right here has been a blessing already,” Moses mentioned.
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Tons of penalties — and a jab on the refs
Fans of referees had a lot to cheer about on Sunday.
Both the Patriots (12 penalties, 116 yards) and the Raiders (eight penalties, 101 yards) have been flagged for over 100 yards. The stoppages have been fixed.
“There’s quite a bit to enhance on,” Vrabel mentioned. “There’s quite a bit to work on. The penalties are ridiculous, so we’ll need to concentrate on that and determine issues that we will enhance on, which there will be lots of.”
After selecting up a 15-yard penalty from what he mentioned was a “delicate” ref in Buffalo, Vrabel took one other poke on the officers after the win over Las Vegas. He was irked that Maye was flagged for a second quarter intentional grounding that knocked the Patriots out of area aim vary.
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“It was unlucky he acquired the grounding or no matter you wanna name that, as a result of he is making an attempt to eliminate the soccer to an eligible receiver,” Vrabel mentioned. “Seven officers could not see Hunter (Henry) standing there.”
An intriguing reply
Vrabel additionally had a curious remark in his postgame press convention whereas praising the huge receiving group.
As attrition has hit the huge receiver room — A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins are each on injured reserve — DeMario Douglas (4 catches, 65 yards, two touchdowns), Efton Chism (5 catches, 57 yards) and Kyle Williams (three catches, 91 yards, landing) have risen to the event. In lauding the wideouts, Vrabel added that he wants the remainder of his staff to behave like they do.
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“They all care about one another,” Vrabel mentioned. “Those receivers, they do not care who catches the ball. They do not care who catches a landing. They’re simply as excited for the subsequent man if it was them, and I believe that that is actually what we wanna construct round right here. I gotta get it to be your complete staff. I gotta get your complete staff to have a look at it like that.”
Ponder retains balling
Elijah Ponder continues to appear to be a steal for the Patriots.
The 2025 undrafted free agent sacked Kirk Cousins twice on Sunday afternoon and completed with 4 pressures, per Next Gen Stats. Ponder has registered a number of quarterback hits in 4 straight video games and is as much as 4.5 sacks on the season.
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“Baller. Baller. I’m not stunned at what he is doing,” Milton Williams mentioned. “He is available in each day with the identical mindset simply working at observe. Going the additional mile, caring for his physique and shoot, profitable rushes. He’s on the market doing what he is speculated to do. He’s benefiting from his alternatives so he’ll preserve getting an increasing number of. I’m pleased with him and I’m completely happy for him.”
Jones authors ‘an enormous second’
Before departing with the shoulder harm, Dre’Mont Jones made a large play whereas the sport was nonetheless doubtful.
With the Patriots main 14-7 late within the second quarter, the Raiders offense was driving. With the ball on the New England 27-yard line, Las Vegas tried to idiot Jones with an finish round. The edge rusher stayed dwelling and blew the play up for an 11-yard loss. Knocked again, the Raiders wound up lacking a area aim.
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“That was an enormous second,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak mentioned. “Trying to make an aggressive play, their defensive finish made a fantastic play and sniffed it out, took an enormous damaging loss there. That was an enormous play within the recreation.”
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