Rookie quarterback Drake Maye became the best option at the position for the Patriots due to modest gains made by New England during a 1-4 start with Jacoby Brissett as QB1.

The No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, Maye was informed he would make his first career start after the Patriots lost a fourth consecutive game and failed to score 14 points for the third straight week. New England has five total touchdowns and 62 points in five games to open Jerod Mayo’s first season as head coach.

“Something you dream of, getting your first start in the NFL,” Maye said Wednesday. “So excited to get out there with the guys, take advantage of having the full week to get prepared and try to put my best foot forward and help the team win.”

The Patriots welcome the Houston Texans (4-1), who have won back-to-back games by scoring on the final possession. New England is looking to avoid losing five consecutive games for the second season in a row.

Houston leads the NFL in QB pressure rate at 42 percent and limited Bills quarterback Josh Allen to nine completions in 30 attempts last week. In his five starts in 2024, Brissett was sacked 17 times but threw only one interception.

“Going forward, I think now Drake gives us the best chance to win now and going forward,” Mayo said Wednesday. “He’s been getting better every single week as I said before. At the end of training camp, he actually was trending at a very high rate, and that has continued through the early part of the season.

“Physically, look, this guy definitely gives us a chance to kind of get some of those off-schedule plays that you guys always see on TV.”

–Field Level Media