Post Game Press Conference – Patriots QB Drake Maye
PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
December 1, 2024
Q: Drake, obviously a lot of good things from your offense today. How tough was that one to see that unfold the way it did?
DM: Yeah, it was heartbreaking. I think our guys fought hard, did a lot of good things. That’s what Coach Mayo was preaching in the locker room. We did a lot of good things on film. Proud of the way the guys fought. I’m proud of the defense. I thought they played their butts off. Especially our guys up front on offense. They did a great job. I think we ran the football for a bunch of yards. I think we were efficient in the passing game, and just came up short. It’s a bummer. I hate it for these guys, and I hate it for these coaches. We’re practicing hard. We’re fighting hard, and just came up short.
Q: What did you see on the interception down at the goal line to Hunter Henry?
DM: Just tried to get to him quick, and hopefully he gets in. I think I put it on the wrong shoulder. I think if I put it on the opposite shoulder away from the defender, and I think that’s maybe a completion there. Just unfortunate that it got tipped up. Just a bummer.
Q: We saw Jacoby Brissett come in for one play. Is that something you guys have been working on on the offense to kind of get him involved and have those plays where it’s maybe a little harder to guess what you guys are doing on offense?
DM: Yeah, just mixing it up. So I think going about our philosophy. Hopefully not trying to share that information. Just glad we picked up the first down.
Q: Four trips inside the 10-yard line. You guys only come away with the one touchdown. Anything you can pinpoint to sort of the reason you falter there, and how frustrating was that?
DM: I thought we ran the ball up until we got to the goal line pretty well. I think in the passing game I think maybe get through my progression. It was tough down there. It was tight. Tight windows. Tight throws. I have to give our guys some chances. I think that’s probably the biggest thing. And penalties – I think one of them was penalties. We got back into, like, a first and goal from the 20. Just can’t settle for four field goals in the red zone and expect to win ball games.
Q: I know that you want what’s best for the team down the stretch, but would you have wanted that last throw?
DM: I think it’s up to the coaching. I’m here to support what Coach Mayo and the special teams guys and what Joey [Slye] thinks. So I think whether it’s that or the Hail Mary, either one.
Q: When you take in all aspects of your offensive performance today, what did this game say about your offense and where it’s at right now?
DM: I think we’re dynamic. I think we can hurt them in the pass game and the run game. We can do different things. We have play action. We have boot. We have running the football. We have throwing it down the field. We have guys making plays, run after the catch. There’s another layer to it of making more explosive plays, but we saw that a lot from our run after catch today. We’re up seven. We have the ball left with about seven minutes, and we have to go pick up the first down and try to get a field goal and make a play.
Q: On that first red zone trip, first drive of the game for you guys, you end up taking a sack on third down and kicking the field goal. On the third down play what did you see there, if you can remember it, and was the spacing at all an issue? It looked like Henry and Bourne kind of end up in the same spot by the goal line.
DM: Yeah, can’t take a sack there. Red zone sacks, especially if we have a chance to maybe get some yards and go for it. I can’t remember the play, but I think maybe – which way were we going? We were going that way. Yeah, I think maybe had a chance on the back side. If I got back side, I ended up scrambling out. Just have to stay in the pocket and get back to the back side of the progression.
Q: After the last game you mentioned you were frustrated with your performance in Miami. How did you feel about how you bounced back this week, and obviously the only turnover was that fluke play. You scrambled to rush but also to throw. Was this back on track for you?
DM: I can only speak for the offense. I think we got back on track and played a solid football game. For myself, you know, watch the football and watch the tape. I think watch the tape and learn. I still think I left some plays out there. I just hate it myself. I pride myself on trying to lead this team to wins, and we didn’t accomplish that. That’s probably the biggest thing.
Q: It looked like you guys had a lot of success in the quick game overall, but it seemed like there were a handful of throws where things weren’t quite right. What would you attribute that to? Was it timing? Was it an accuracy thing? What did you see on those plays?
DM: Yeah, I’m not sure the stats. I’m not sure how many completions we had, but I thought we were efficient most of the day. I think some of the plant stuff I was on time. I think I missed [Kayshon] Boutte on the slant, I was just late to it. J.P. [Ja’Lynn Polk] over the middle, I think I’ve got to put it on him, or once he gives me eyes, kind of let him make a move. I have to give him a better ball, but at the end of the day I think we were efficient in the passing game, and the guys made plays.
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