FOXBOROUGH – Asked to describe quarterback Drake Maye’s interception to open the third quarter of Sunday’s 20-3 New England Patriots’ win over the Steelers, coach Mike Vrabel sounded a bit perturbed.
And then when he was asked about his offense’s futility, coming up with the 10 points in Seattle and 13 on Sunday her against Pittsburgh, well, Vrabel got a tad obstinate.
“We’re just trying to win the game,” the coach explained. “You’re not going to ruin my Sunday.”
Maye seems to be doing a pretty decent job of that himself. The third-year QB has now thrown eight interceptions in his last six games – the same number of picks he totaled in all 17 regular season games a year ago.
The frustration in Maye was pretty obvious when Vrabel expounded on the pick.
“We have to continue to be aggressive, figure out where the guy (interceptor Patrick Queen) is,” said Vrabel. “Maybe Hunter (Henry) can come back and help him. Maybe we can throw it over the guy’s head and we can give Hunter a chance, I don’t know. The guy made a good play, we didn’t make a very good one. Those things are going to end up costing us.”
Maye’s day was as mediocre as it gets, completing 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards, good for a 75.6 passer rating.
If you are looking for a bright spot, focus on the 63-yard hookup to Romeo Doubs – yes, that Romeo Doubs.
Maye was flushed from the pocket to his right, never dropped his eyes, seeing the whole field, and threw a deep laser to Doubs that had very little arc in it – meaning it got there in a hurry.
That ball was thrown by a shoulder with no issues.
Again that’s the positive news.
The negative is that Maye has lost his pocket presence. Too often on Sunday, he felt rush, whether it was there or not, bailing at times when there was no need.
The results were either sacks or poorly thrown balls.
Maye went to the podium postgame, knowing that his teammates and the Steelers’ ineptitude saved his day.
“Definitely not where we want to be,” was the quarterback’s opening statement.
“It starts with me making good decisions, being in good plays, and it starts with us finishing drives … It’s tough in this league.”
Those words echoed similar words that Maye used at Super Bowl LX when he talked about this game being “hard.”
This is not the Drake Maye that nearly won the MVP a year ago.
The question going forward, staring at trips to Jacksonville and then Buffalo, is how can the Patriots get that Drake Maye back.
Captain Fry
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy named Pentucket Regional and Brooks School product Pat Freiermuth a game-day captain for this one.
The tight end clearly appreciated it.
“I love it here. It really meant a lot,” said Freiermuth of the honor.
Freiermuth finished his day with four catches on five targets for 32 yards, but is clearly frustrated by the Steelers’ offensive struggles in the first two weeks.
He also moved the chains on fourth-and-1 direct snap, in which he plowed forward for two yards.
Of course, anyone who watched him do that as a high school quarterback would know there was no stopping it.
“I feel comfortable with it. It’s something they ask me to do,” he said.
Back to backs
Vrabel is clearly flustered by turnovers. That’s obvious, especially against a Steelers team that pounced on five Patriots giveaways.
So when Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled the football on New England’s opening drive, it was clear that he was headed to the coach’s doghouse. It was going to be a TreVeyon Henderson day.
Henderson, back from an ankle injury, showed you the good with his basically untouched 39-yard TD run.
He also showed some indecision the rest of the day.
Stevenson came back and finished with six carries, including a 24-yarder of his own.
It’s interesting to watch, though. The Patriots are enduring way too many run-stuffs.
Other than their longest run, Henderson averaged 2.5 yards a carry, while Stevenson netted 3.8 per on his.
Expensive victory
New England’s training staff was busy with a rash of injuries.
Guard Mike Onwenu needed to be carted away in the first half and was immediately ruled out with an ankle.
Veteran summer pickup Greg Van Roten was the next man up at right guard.
Edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones was next to go down in the second quarter and never returned.
Tight end Eli Raridon also left early. The rookie out of Notre Dame had a sweet, contested catch for 30 yards before he left.
Finally, a pair of safeties, second-year man Craig Woodson and his replacement, Dell Pettus, exited early.
Added on to the loss of A.J. Brown in Week 1, injuries are now a serious issue with this 1-1 football team.