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    Patriots’ Drake Maye throws first NFL touchdown over 40 yards

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    • Mike Reiss, ESPN staff writerOctober 13, 2024, 3:48 PM ET

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        Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN covering the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.

    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Rookie New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye provided the spark head coach Jerod Mayo was hoping for late in the second quarter of his debut against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

    Maye threw a beautiful 40-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Kayshon Boutte on the right sideline with 11 seconds left. The play helped cut the Texans’ lead to 14-7 and brought the Gillette Stadium crowd to life as there was little to cheer about until that point.

    Veteran tight end Hunter Henry then made sure Maye received the football on the sideline, commemorating his first career NFL touchdown pass.

    The second-and-2 came with the offensive line and running back JaMycal Hasty picking off a six-man Texans rush, giving Maye a clean pocket.

    Meanwhile, Boutte was one-on-one against cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. down the right sideline and dropped the ball right into his hands at the 2-yard line. Maye had dropped back to center field, throwing from the “Pat Patriot” logo.

    The Patriots started the day struggling in similar situations late in the half, adding to the importance of the play and the plays leading up to it. They had taken control at their own 16-yard line with 53 seconds left until halftime. A 22-yard connection from Maye to receiver DeMario Douglas on second-and-8 was crucial in getting the drive going.

    With one minute left in the third quarter, Maye connected with tight end Hunter Henry on a 6-yard touchdown pass. That cut the Texans’ lead to 27-14. Maye had taken a big hit early in the third quarter and was slow to get going, so his determination showed as the second half progressed.

    Early in the fourth quarter, Maye hit receiver Douglas on a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown with an accurate strike over the middle.

    According to ESPN Research, the Patriots now have four passing touchdowns of more than 35 air yards since 2020 — one by Mac Jones, one by Cam Newton and now two by Maye.

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