FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Despite all the debate and arguments in support of both sides, the New England Patriots’ decision to promote Drake Maye this week came down to a simple argument.

“Drake gives us the best chance to win now,” said head coach Jerod Mayo, “and in the future.”

In a 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans, Maye proved his head coach right.

No, the Patriots didn’t upset a struggling Texans team. New England fell to 1-5, while Houston improved to 5-1.

But after the Patriots ranked last in the league with 119.4 passing yards per game through five weeks and second-worst in the league at 12.4, the 2024 third overall draft pick improved both.

And he gave reason to believe he will boost New England’s chances in the future.

The Patriots’ attack had begun the afternoon with a page from the Greek myth of Sisyphus.

Maye started his starting career with a three-and-out, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble against a feisty Houston Texans defense.

His floor rough, Texans rookie safety Caden Bullock returned an overthrow from Maye 29 yards before the quarterback himself tackled the defender.

The Texans led 14-0 in the first twelve minutes of the game before Maye settled down.

But with 53 seconds to play before halftime, Maye set up DeMario Douglas down the right sideline for a YAC-heavy 22 yards to spark the drive. Two Houston defensive penalties put New England further down the field, and with 11 seconds left, Maye dropped back and found a pocket cleaner than the Patriots’ 2024 resume would have predicted.

Maye uncorked a poised 40-yard pass to the right corner of the end zone, while sophomore receiver Kayshon Boutte accelerated the end of his route and separated just in time to clinch the touchdown.

The Patriots were on the board. And Maye had thrown the first of what the Patriots hope will be many touchdowns.

Optimism, like the roaring (and no longer jeering) crowd, would recede before it returned. But New England saw reasons for optimism.

Drake Maye did what he could in his NFL starting debut

Houston scored 17 points off turnovers alone.

Maye lost a fumble on a strip sack and tight end Austin Hooper lost another fumble on both ends of a three-and-out.

On the Patriots’ first offensive snap of the fourth quarter, Anderson deflected Maye’s pass, setting up Houston safety Eric Murray with the interception. Mixon’s 20-yard touchdown lifted the Texans to 17 points short of turnovers alone.

Maye showed flashes before, after and between turnovers.

He threw for three touchdowns in one game after veteran Jacoby Brissett had thrown for two in five games.

He completed 59.3% of his passes after Brissett completed 58.5% of his passes and threw for 233 yards after Brissett averaged 139.2 per game.

The Texans were too explosive and too opportunistic for the Patriots to win despite four turnovers. But the resurgence of the passing game, even on a day when Rhamondre Stevenson started running back sidelined with a foot injury, validated Mayo and the Patriots’ decision.

Up next: Maye will continue his rookie year overseas, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars in England.