When DaQuan Jones stepped on a scale at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, the Penn State defensive tackle weighed in at 322 pounds, putting him in the 86th percentile among defensive tackles according to MockDraftable.
No one knew it at the time, but he was on a collision course with Drake Maye.
Sunday night, the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills renewed their AFC East rivalry, and with 2:12 left in the game, the score was knotted at 20-20. New England had the football on their own 29-yard line, following a Bills’ touchdown to tie the contest, and their offense was on the field, led by Maye.
And Jones was on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
The ensuing snap already lives in Patriots’ lore. Jones sliced through the New England line, bringing those 322 pounds to bear on the New England quarterback. But somehow Maye stayed upright, stiff-arming the Buffalo defender and keeping his knee off the Highmark Stadium turf long enough to unleash a throw to Stefon Diggs in the right flat:
Instead of a game-altering loss of nine yards, the Patriots had a fresh set of downs, and their fans could keep dreaming of a stunning win over the unbeaten Bills.
Maye’s next throw, a 19-yard completion to Kayshon Boutte, was almost as good. With Buffalo dropping into a two-deep coverage and the football on the left hashmark, Maye connected with Boutte along the right sideline, drilling in a hole shot between the cornerback and the play-side safety:
That completion put New England on the cusp of field goal range for rookie kicker Andy Borregales.
A few snaps later, the Patriots faced a 3rd-and-5 situation at the Buffalo 34-yard line. With just over one minute remaining, and a kick from that spot measuring in at 52 yards, picking up one more first down would have been ideal for New England.
But a loss on the play might have spelled disaster.
The Patriots put the ball in Maye’s hands again, this time rolling him to the right off of run action. Once more, the young quarterback had a Buffalo defender in his face early in the play, in the form of Joey Bosa.
Instead of a sack that could have pushed New England out of field goal range, Maye remained upright and picked up the biggest “no gain” of the night for the Patriots:
On the next play, Borregales converted from 52 yards out, and the Patriots were on their way to a signature win.
And their quarterback had arrived.
“I think just a really gutty performance from Drake. Really just continue to enjoy watching him grow and lead this football team,” said head coach Mike Vrabel after the win.
“I see a young quarterback taking a step in the right direction,” said Stefon Diggs of the young quarterback. “They did a lot of comparisons during the week, and I feel like it was a hell of a comparison to be compared to Josh Allen.
“But as you come into your own, Drake Maye has to be Drake Maye. I was just so proud of him coming in here and leading the team.”
Maye downplayed his part in the victory when speaking after the game.
“What do I feel like I did tonight? I didn’t hurt the team,” said Maye. “Protected the football, made some plays, protected the football, and gave us a chance to win. And used my teammates around me. That’s the biggest thing. We got a lot of [football] left, and we got to keep going.”
Maye was magical all night. This one from earlier in the night is going viral as one of the best throws of his career.
And keep going, the Patriots will. Now at 3-2 on the young season, New England has the New Orleans Saints, the Tennessee Titans, and the Cleveland Browns over their next three games. Three other franchises that are in the hands of young quarterbacks, and three teams with a combined 3-12 record on the season.
One win, even a signature win like the one the Patriots secured Sunday night, does not a season make.
But it helps build a foundation.
So too does having the right player under center.
