Two weeks after a 35-6 defeat in Jacksonville, the New England Patriots have dramatically changed the impression they give.
The victory in Buffalo had relaunched their season.
The 45-17 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, on Sunday 11 October, has given them something to aim for again.
Drake Maye produced five touchdowns, including four through the air, in an offensive display that takes New England to 3-2.
For a team that reached the last Super Bowl, the question now is whether this response signals a lasting return among the AFC’s leading forces.
Drake Maye has turned around the momentum from his start to the season
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After three games, Maye’s numbers were a concern: 585 yards, one passing touchdown and six interceptions.
The heavy defeat against the Jaguars had focused questions on his decision-making, his protection and the functioning of the offense, as the Patriots’ official website noted at the time.
Since then, his output has been transformed.
Maye threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns at Buffalo, then added 374 yards and four touchdowns against Las Vegas.
Across two games, that amounts to 643 yards, seven passing touchdowns and a single interception, according to the official box scores from the games against the Bills and the Raiders.
Against Las Vegas, he completed 26 of 34 attempts, without an interception, and added a rushing touchdown on a three-yard run.
He thus becomes the first Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady in 2018 to put back-to-back games with at least three passing touchdowns.
An offense rediscovering its ability to blow open Defenses
New England racked up 536 yards and 29 first downs against Las Vegas.
The Patriots had not reached that yardage total since October 2021.
Their 45 points also represent their highest-scoring game since January 2022.
But the transformation is most visible in the way they are moving the ball.
Against the Raiders, Maye consistently punished coverages that left man-to-man matchups down the field.
On passes travelling more than 20 yards through the air, he went four for six for 149 yards and two touchdowns, according to the film review published by New England.
That vertical threat forces Defenses to protect more space behind their cornerbacks.
It can then open up the intermediate zones and create better conditions for the running game.
The Patriots duly added 165 rushing yards, spread across several players, without relying on a single offensive solution.
Josh McDaniels and the protection are giving Maye time
The quarterback did not build this performance alone.
After the game, Mike Vrabel paid particular tribute to the work of his offensive line in keeping the pocket clean up the middle and recognising their protection responsibilities.
He also highlighted the group’s ability to handle blitzes and give the quarterback the time needed for deep routes.
Maye, for his part, stressed the quality of Josh McDaniels‘ work and the chemistry developed in practice.
“I have trust in the guys around me, I have trust in myself,” the quarterback said at his post-game press conference.
Vrabel’s decisions on fourth down also play a part in that confidence.
Maye explained that knowing he could have two attempts to advance in certain situations gave both the quarterback and the offensive coordinator more options.
This approach helps New England extend its possessions and maintain an aggressive mindset.
The Patriots won despite a depleted offensive group
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The display is all the more encouraging given that several key players were absent.
A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins and Mike Onwenu were all unavailable.
New England then lost Will Campbell with a knee injury and TreVeyon Henderson with an ankle injury during the game.
Despite those absences, Maye found nine different targets.
Kyle Williams finished with 91 yards and a touchdown, while DeMario Douglas scored twice.
Efton Chism III and Eli Raridon each added five receptions for 57 yards, according to the box score.
That spread is an encouraging sign: the offense kept functioning even when several of its first options were unavailable.
The availability of Campbell and Henderson will nonetheless be worth monitoring ahead of the next game.
The Defense also validated New England’s resurgence
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The 45 points naturally draw the attention, but the Defense played its part in making the win so emphatic.
The Raiders came into the game averaging 28.8 points per game.
New England became the first team to hold them under 25 points this season.
The Patriots above all held Las Vegas to 38 rushing yards and 2.1 yards per carry, denying Kirk Cousins’ offense part of its balance.
Elijah Ponder added two sacks and a forced fumble, taking his season total to 4.5 sacks.
These performances are detailed in the Patriots’ official game notes.
The result matters all the more given that cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis were both inactive.
The Jets as the next test of consistency
The next fixture is a divisional clash against the New York Jets, on Sunday 18 October at Gillette Stadium.
Following their win against the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots have a fresh opportunity to improve their standing in the AFC East.
They will then travel to Chicago for Thursday Night Football, according to their official schedule.
Consistency remains the main test to pass.
New England also conceded 12 penalties for 116 yards against Las Vegas, a total that Vrabel criticised sharply after the game.
Those mistakes were absorbed by the offensive efficiency on Sunday.
They could weigh far more heavily in a close game.
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This article was originally written by the DAZN editorial team and has been translated using AI.
