Rookie Drake Maye led the New England Patriots on two of their three scoring drives in a 14-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in just one series in the Patriots’ preseason opener but played in the second and third quarters of this game. Maye finished with 6 of 11 for 47 yards, showcasing his potential as a promising quarterback for the team. Joey Slye kicked two field goals for the Patriots, who finished with 11 first downs, with only four coming in the last two quarters.
The Patriots had a 13-6 lead in the fourth quarter before the Eagles rallied back. Rookie running back Kendall Milton scored a 1-yard touchdown, and Tanner McGee connected with Ainias Smith for a go-ahead 2-point conversion. Jake Elliott kicked two field goals for Philadelphia, leading them to a 2-0 preseason record. Patriots projected Week 1 starter Jacoby Brissett underperformed in his one quarter of play before being replaced by Maye, showing that the quarterback competition is still ongoing.
Brissett struggled in the game, with the Patriots going three-and-out on their first possession and Brissett throwing an interception in the end zone on their second drive. Maye received a warm welcome from the fans at Gillette Stadium when he entered the game in the second quarter. His performance included a 12-yard pass to fellow rookie Javon Baker that helped lead to a field goal, tying the game at 3. Maye later scored a touchdown from 4 yards out, giving New England a 10-3 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Maye faced some challenges, including a fumbled exchange that was recovered by the Patriots. Despite struggling to convert on third downs, the Patriots managed to maintain their lead heading into the second half. The Eagles chose to sit starting quarterback Jalen Hurts for the second straight preseason game, giving backup Kenny Pickett playing time in the entire first half. However, the Eagles were unable to find the end zone, with Elliott kicking field goals to secure the victory.
Bailey Zappe replaced Joe Milton III in the closing minutes of the game but was unable to lead a comeback after the Eagles took the lead. A bad snap recovered by Philadelphia sealed the victory for them, with McGee finishing 15 of 19 for 140 yards. Will Grier, who had previous experience with New England’s practice squad, went 3 for 5 for 35 yards for the Eagles. The game showcased the potential of the rookie quarterbacks on both teams and highlighted areas for improvement as they head into the regular season.
