What are the Patriots doing? Drake Maye, drafted No. 3 general within the 2024 NFL Draft, will begin for them towards Houston this weekend. Starting Drake Maye: good! Starting Drake Maye now: questionable!
Let's be clear about this transfer: It is not improper to have Maye beginning. The Patriots used a excessive choose on the previous North Carolina star. Playing him is wise, and the plan may match out for New England. We're speaking a few extremely recruited quarterback who was productive on the school degree and drafted inside the highest 5 general final yr. If he is the man, he is the man.
But the course of is fairly regarding.
New England needed to maintain Maye on the bench for so long as potential within the curiosity of not throwing him to the wolves. But Maye's flashy efficiency within the preseason obtained people excited, and Jacoby Brissett's play to date within the common season has achieved the other. Beating the Bengals in Week 1 stored the followers — and probably possession — at bay for a short while. But New England has dropped 4 straight video games since then and hasn't managed to high 20 factors outdoors of the Week 2 additional time loss to Seattle the place it scored precisely 20.
The season feels misplaced (it all the time was, if we're being sincere), so the first-year teaching workers is yanking the rip wire and going to the rookie quarterback. The drawback is whereas Maye's athleticism might enhance the play-to-play and drive-to-drive upside of the offense, he cannot change what's round him.
The offensive line seemed questionable coming into the season, and now beginning heart David Andrews is out and on injured reserve. Rhamondre Stevenson obtained a contract extension earlier than the season however is likely to be benched for fumbling too typically. The finest receiving choices for Maye are rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
Letting all of them develop collectively is an efficient factor, but when it was the transfer, it ought to have occurred from the beginning of the season. Panic pivoting to Maye 5 weeks in completely is not the transfer from a long-term perspective. It's made even worse by the very fact Maye has to sq. off towards the Texans to kick off his profession.
Houston is high 5 within the league in yards per play allowed on protection, and DeMeco Ryans' crew ranks first general when it comes to strain fee at a whopping 42% and is a top-three unit in goal separation fee, in response to Next Gen Stats. In different phrases, Maye goes have cross rushers flying in his face and his receivers will not have a lot room to function.
There's no such factor as a simple sport within the NFL. But the Patriots positive appeared to randomly choose a tricky spot for Maye to make his debut. It's fairly the odd alternative for a franchise hoping to ease their rookie in with a bridge quarterback plan.
Week 6 finest bets
Two groups headed for London with a considerable quantity on the road. And whereas the Jaguars protection towards a abruptly scorching Caleb Williams is not interesting for a low-scoring sport, I believe the mixture of Chicago's defensive efficiency — it seems to be like a top-five unit within the league proper now — and the 2 offenses right here profile as probably conservative due to the play-calling. We get a sleepy spot when it comes to the fast journey turnaround and a gradual floor at Tottenham Stadium. Last yr's matchup between the Jags and Bills was 11-7 going into the fourth quarter earlier than a scoring spree late. And final week we noticed simply 40 factors from the Jets and Vikings on the identical area, a complete that included an extended pick-six from Minnesota. I'd count on this whole to pattern down a bit earlier than kick as properly.
Bonus: The SportsLine Projection Model has an A-graded choose on this matchup. Check it out here.
Arizona's been a enjoyable group this yr, and the tempo to date when it comes to scoring has been spectacular. Kyler Murray did not do a ton after a 50-plus yard scamper towards San Francisco, however I'd count on him to be slightly extra productive on this matchup, particularly with Trey McBride working as a totally practical goal hog. The Packers have seemed sharp on offense all season and must be able to some explosive performs on this matchup with Jordan Love rounding into full well being. Jayden Reed is an absolute monster and Dontayvion Wicks cannot play any worse! Big factors coming.
I believe there is a actually good shot at a ton of scoring within the superior Commanders-Ravens matchup Sunday (on CBS!). And if there is a bunch of scoring, we will get loads of cross makes an attempt on each side. That ought to embrace Flowers getting closely concerned. Flowers has three video games this yr with 10-plus targets, together with 21 during the last two weeks. Lamar Jackson will not be scared to run, however Todd Monken will dial up loads of cross performs towards a questionable secondary. Flowers must be the point of interest.
This is a hilariously low whole, however I do not assume it issues an excessive amount of. Both of those groups know the way vital this sport is, and we will get a Floyd Mayweather method to this struggle, with Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton feeling one another out for the primary few rounds. Both groups are going to strive and run the heck out of the ball. Harbaugh does not actually have the ammunition to bomb it away downfield, particularly towards a surprisingly spectacular Denver protection and a banged-up offensive line. Payton's proven he is keen to maintain it conservative with Bo Nix and I'd count on extra of the identical Sunday. “No touchdowns scored” is likely to be the favourite for “first touchdown scorer.”
London's been en fuego the previous couple of weeks, garnering 34 targets from Kirk Cousins over the previous three video games. He's discovered the tip zone 3 times within the final 4 video games for Atlanta, and now will get to play towards one of many worst defenses in soccer with the Falcons contemporary off a monster offensive efficiency and sitting on a 10-day mini-bye. London's worth is plus cash due to a hefty value for Bijan Robinson (-185), however I truly assume it is respectable worth contemplating how simple it's to carve up the Panthers protection through the cross. We may see Zac Robinson strive and play it conservative, but when the Panthers stack the field to gradual the run in any respect, it may give London some actually attractiveness for a rating.
