Patriots

If Mayes' first start was any indication, he's ready to assume his role as franchise quarterback.

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Since Drake Maye arrived in Foxborough, one of the main questions surrounding the young quarterback has been: When would he be ready to start games for the Patriots?

Some felt he should have started immediately, while others were in favor of giving Maye more time to develop by watching and learning from Jacoby Brissett.

New England ripped off the Band-Aid and played Maye against the Texans on Sunday. They were desperately hoping for good news after losing four games in a row and dealing with several off-field distractions. Mayo said he just felt like it was the right time.

Throwing Maye into the fire with a patchwork offensive line to compete against one of the NFL's best pass rushes wasn't ideal. However, the reality is that he has always had to compete against teams like the Texans throughout his NFL career. At some point he had to step in to develop his game.

“I would say there is never a perfect time to make a change,” Mayo said in announcing Maye as the starter. “Every defense we play, whether it's the defensive ends or the defensive tackles, they all have the ability to pounce and attack the quarterback. So I don’t think there’s ever a perfect time.”

The rookie quarterback didn't get much support on Sunday. He was the Patriots' leading rusher with 38 yards. He was fired four times. The defense gave up 368 yards and 41 points.

But he seemed ready, which is the most important thing. It wasn't perfect. He turned the ball over three times, including a throw on the third pass of the game and a strip sack near the end.

The offensive did not look strong under this new regime. The rules of the game were not particularly good and there was a lack of discipline on both sides.

However, the most important thing for the Patriots coaching staff is that Maye's development proceeds correctly this season. He already seems comfortable in the role of franchise quarterback, said receiver Kendrick Bourne.

“He’s a natural leader,” Bourne said. “He has an aura, that’s important in football. Some people have an aura, some don't, and he is one of those people. He doesn't have to try, he's that guy. So it's important. You notice that when you see him. He passes the eye test. When he’s in the crowd he knows what he’s doing and you can feel it.”

There will always be people who question such decisions. Some will argue that it should have started last week. But who cares if the Dolphins would be a better match for Maye in his first start? In a decade no one will remember this game.

Some will say the Patriots are taking a risk by playing Maye with this group. However, there is no guarantee that this roster will look better at any point this season or even next year. A top 5 pick is supposed to encourage his teammates with his talent.

So was starting Week 6 with Drake Maye the right decision? We'll never know. There is no perfect week. But things went relatively well for the rookie despite the 20-point loss, and there's a good chance things will get even better.

Here are a few more thoughts about the loss:

Kayshon Boutte has had a solid few weeks

The 40-yard touchdown that Boutte caught from Maye covered the longest distance in the air ever by a Patriots quarterback over the last three seasons, according to Next Gen State.

For Boutte and Maye it was the first touchdown of their careers.

Boutte made his first start against the Dolphins in Week 5 and made a key block that helped Rhamondre Stevenson score the Patriots' only touchdown.

Boutte intercepted all three of his pass targets from Maye and rushed for a career-high 59 yards against the Texans. He caught seven of the eight targets given to him by the Patriots' quarterbacks this season.

“Like I said, the more you play, the more confident you become,” Boutte said. “We practice Monday through Thursday, with a walkthrough on Friday and Saturday. I trust your preparation and never have the slightest doubt that I won't get it done. I literally catch every ball that's thrown to me, so it's like, 'Just catch it'.”

The run defense is declining

The Patriots have given up 190 or more rushing yards in consecutive weeks.

They held Cincinnati to 70 rushing yards in Week 1, but have struggled to contain the run since then. New England had a top-five run defense last year that allowed just 93.2 yards per game.

That number has increased to 130.3 this season, putting them in the middle of the pack at 14th place.

Injuries took their toll. The absence of Christian Barmore and Ja'Whaun Bentley hurts.

The regression was noticeable and something the Patriots could not tolerate in the future, Mayo said.

“Yeah, it's very disappointing and I would say we've had some ups and downs at the moment in terms of getting off to a fast start,” Mayo said. “We have to start fast, whether we're on defense or attack, and we just haven't been able to do that.”

“I thought they had calmed down,” Mayo added. “But again, it comes down to every single play being important, and you can stop them, stop them, stop them, and then all of a sudden it's a 50-yard run. “We can't live in that world.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports reporter

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Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

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