Drake Maye stats today: How Patriots rookie QB fared in first NFL start

New England Patriots rookie Drake Maye made his first NFL start in Week 6 against the Houston Texans. It went as many expected.

Maye had some positive moments during the game. He led the Patriots to a season-high 21 points and had one of the team's longest touchdown throws of the post-Tom Brady era.

Maye also had plenty of moments during which he looked like a rookie. He was responsible for a few turnovers during the contest and didn't help Jerod Mayo achieve his No. 1 goal in making the quarterback switch: get the Patriots some wins.

Still, Mayo was not bothered by those mistakes. He praised Maye after the game and noted that he and the team let the rookie down at times during his first start.

"For a rookie quarterback to go out there and do some of the things he did, I feel like we could’ve done more to support him," Mayo told reporters after the game.

Here's what to know about Maye's starting debut and the top moments from the Patriots and Texans Week 6 matchup.

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Drake Maye stats today vs. Texans

Maye completed 20-of-32 passes for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first game as the Patriots' starter. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft also ran five times for 38 yards but was sacked four times and lost a fumble during the contest.

Maye started the game slowly, throwing an ugly interception on his first drive, during which he wildly overthrew DeMario Douglas and saw Texans safety Calen Bullock grab it with ease.

"I was a little amped at the start for sure," Maye said of his early-game performance during his postgame news conference.

However, Maye got more comfortable as the game progressed. He operated well in the hurry-up, two-minute drill at the end of the first half and lofted a perfectly thrown 40-yard touchdown to Kayshon Boutte, the first of Maye's career.

That score was New England's third passing touchdown of more than 35 air yards since Brady left the team in 2020 free agency. Cam Newton and Mac Jones had one as the Patriots' starting quarterback; Maye logged his in his first half as a starter.

Maye continued to build chemistry with his receivers in the second half. He had one interception on a deflected pass near the line of scrimmage, but he also made several big plays, including a 35-yard touchdown strike to Douglas in the fourth quarter.

Maye became the first Patriots quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns in a single game since Bailey Zappe threw two against the Denver Broncos in Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season. He also overtook Jacoby Brissett for the team lead in passing touchdowns, as Brissett had just two passing touchdowns in his five starts compared to Maye's three in his first start.

So, while New England suffered a 20-point defeat on Sunday, they have reason to be excited about the flashes Maye showed in his first career NFL start.

Drake Maye stats vs. Jacoby Brissett stats

Below is a look at how the Patriots quarterbacks have fared through the first six games of the 2024 NFL season.

Jacoby Brissett stats

• Record: 1-4

• Comp. %: 58.5

• Passing yards: 696

• Pass TDs: 2

• INTs: 1

• Rating: 74.2

Drake Maye stats

• Record: 0-1

• Comp. %: 58.5

• Passing yards: 265

• Pass TDs: 3

• INTs: 2

• Rating: 81.9

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did Drake Maye do vs. Texans? Patriots QB makes first NFL start