FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye beat the Los Angeles Rams’ blitz to keep the team’s second drive alive, then capped it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kendrick Bourne.

Kendrick Bourne is back for the @Patriots!

📺: #LARvsNE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/cuQS1SZ7WG

—NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024

The play gave the Patriots a 7–0 lead over the visiting Rams and would not have been possible had Maye not converted on third-and-7 from the Patriots’ 40-yard line.

The Rams applied pressure on the third-down play, and Maye stepped into the pocket to find receiver DeMario Douglas for a 28-yard gain. It was the only third-down play of the drive, which covered 77 yards and lasted 3:34.

Maye’s composure under pressure to open the game was impressive considering this is only his sixth NFL start. But he faced no pressure on the touchdown pass to Bourne as it was a four-man rush and Maye stepped into a clean pocket and found Bourne diagonally in the end zone.

Bourne, the eight-year veteran, didn’t play last week because the Patriots had a logjam at receiver. But he announced his presence early Sunday.

According to ESPN Research, the Rams blew Maye on 5 of 9 dropbacks (56%) through two drives. They entered Sunday with 27% of dropbacks this season. Maye was 4-of-5 for 47 yards as she breezed through two drives.