Maye Day, Maye Day, Houston, you’ve got a problem! Or have they? The questions are there, for sure. But for now, the Patriots Nation won’t be bugging about them as Jerod Mayo finally heard their wishes of promoting Drake Maye to the starting QB ahead of the Texans clash. And it’s got the Pats’ O-line excited as well!

Talking about how Maye is shaping up ahead of the Week 6 clash, OT Vederian Lowe said, “Drake has a ton of athleticism. Outside of his arm, he has a ton of athleticism. He’s able to make big plays with his mobility.” This has given Lowe and the others some confidence. And why not? The guy under center knows how to escape the sacks and extend the play through his receivers. And that’s exactly what the Patriots need right now. Especially with their rough 1-4 start and four straight losses. Can you blame Mayo for wanting to shake things up? But with Jacoby Brissett taking hits like he’s in a boxing ring—49 sacks in just five games—it was about time the change happened.

Now, you’d ask, but why throw Maye to the wolves? It’s a fair question, considering the Texans aren’t exactly messing about. I mean, they’ve racked up the ninth-most sacks this season (15), and they pressure quarterbacks like it’s their job—oh wait, it is! Plus, only four teams have a better sack rate at 8.6 percent, and they’re third in pass yards allowed per game at 154.0.

So, if we go by that, then Yardbarker’s Colum Dell makes a valid point. He suggested that New England should’ve let Maye ease in against a weaker opponent before throwing him into this defensive storm.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Sure, starting Maye could shake his confidence. That’s one side of the perspective. The other side? These early reps might actually boost his growth as he’s got to have the right mindset to mature as a rookie. At least, Lowe believes in him.

So, whether it ends up being a spectacular debut or a rough outing, the truth is, this is just the beginning for Maye.

Drake Maye’s going to learn from failures

You might remember that Big Gronk (Rob Gronkowski) urged the Patriots Nation to remain patient. “I’m telling you, it will be the same old story with Drake Maye… He’ll be getting sacked. The offensive line will be letting guys go through, putting pressure on him.” And yet, Mayo had to name the third-overall pick as the starter. We say had to because, let’s be honest, the pressure was mounting.

But is this a rushed decision? Well, for starters, we know it wasn’t supposed to be on the cards this early. Nevertheless, we are here. And it’s just a loop if we keep going about could haves and should haves. It’s not that bad of a decision. Let us explain.

Maye brings strength to the table. By now, you must have heard it from everyone! That’s the truth. But, boy oh boy, the kid’s got arm strength. And his game? That’s the most Josh Allen–esque, if you have seen one. But, of course, there’s always a catch. It’s not all rainbows. Maye himself admitted, “I think, early on, just try to take what they give me and find completions.” In other words, stay on script before getting too wild out there.

If anything, he can take inspiration from back in his redshirt freshman days at North Carolina. Maye flashed that dual-threat talent, running 184 times for 698 yards and seven TDs. Fast forward to 2023—112 carries, 449 yards, and nine scores. The kid’s got wheels!

Look, we know Maye’s going to have his hiccups this Sunday, and it might not be a highlight reel performance. But who can blame a rookie trying to find his footing? It’s about taking those hits and learning from them. The Patriots are hopeful that this experience is a step forward—not just for Maye, but for the whole team. And Foxborough needs something to celebrate.