Drake Maye is coming off his best performance of the season, throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 54 yards in New England’s win over Buffalo, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Despite the success, Maye knows the upcoming challenge against the Las Vegas Raiders will be difficult.
The Raiders lead the NFL in takeaways with nine through four games, and their defense is described as very opportunistic by Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. Maye noted the Raiders bring corners and do different things that catch opponents off balance, trying to disrupt and keep them on their toes.
Under first-year defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, the Raiders have disguised their blitzes well, varying fronts before sending linebackers or defensive backs into the pass rush. Their 12 sacks are tied for fifth in the NFL, including two on Patrick Mahomes in a recent loss to Kansas City.
Leonard’s scheme relies heavily on zone coverage, allowing defensive backs to keep their eyes in the backfield and react to mistakes. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who hired Leonard in 2023, said the secondary sees all the errors when the front creates pocket pressure, making them effective at forcing turnovers.
Maye emphasized the need to have his eyes in the right place, trust what he sees, and let it rip. He acknowledged the chess match with McDaniels, who knows the Raiders’ tendencies, and said both sides are trying to adjust throughout the game based on what they see.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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