Patriots’ Drake Maye followed Texans star’s advice — all the way to playoff rematch

After the final seconds ticked off the Gillette Stadium clock in the Texans’ 41-21 win over the Patriots on Oct. 13, 2024, C.J. Stroud made it a point to find Drake Maye, who had just made his first NFL start.

On that afternoon, Stroud, Houston’s then 23-year-old quarterback, had just earned his 14th win in 21 career starts. The second-year player out of Ohio State was setting a standard. Teams that drafted rookie passers did so hoping they’d acclimate as quickly as Stroud did.

The former No. 2 overall pick has now led the Texans to the playoffs in all three seasons of his NFL career.

After spending Weeks 1-5 of the 2024 season watching the Patriots’ offense sputter with Jacoby Brissett at the controls, Maye became the starter against Stroud and the Texans. His three touchdown passes excited a New England fan base that was desperate for any seeds of hope.

But in hindsight, it was an uneven performance with three turnovers — two interceptions and a lost fumble — and four sacks. So Stroud wanted to find him.

“I gave him a little word of encouragement,” Stroud said. “I thought he played really solid.”

After that postgame exchange, Stroud was asked what he’d learned since his first start that he wished he’d known out of the gate.

“Honestly, just take completions. Stay in the positive. Make guys around you better,” he said. “Those are the three things I’d want to know. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not easy. Hopefully, he has a team helping him like I did last year. I had so many guys helping me.

“Just be yourself. Everything that got you here would take care of where you want to go. Really, just trust yourself. Trust that you’ll eventually figure it out,” he continued. “You’ll have bad days. You’ll have good days. There’s days where you look at yourself and like, ‘Man, I’m the worst quarterback in the world.’ But it’s always about getting up the next day and keep going.”

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Maye did have plenty of bad days and good days last year and he did keep going. Now the next challenge is a rematch against Stroud. Just 15 months after that first meeting, the Patriots and Texans face each other in the division round of the playoffs Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

Stroud’s advice to Maye turned out to be perfect. Whether he followed it intentionally or coincidentally, Maye’s play has reflected the suggestions Stroud laid out.

He did take the completions. Despite throwing deep balls with impressive marksmanship, Maye’s regular-season completion percentage of 72.0 is tied for fifth best in NFL history. That accuracy, along with his evolved feel, has helped make his Patriots teammates better.

Maye has surpassed Stroud as the standard for a successful young quarterback. Helped by the Patriots’ coaching staff changes and roster upgrades, he emerged as an All-Pro and an MVP candidate.

Stroud likely isn’t surprised.

“Definitely feel like he’ll get better and better as he keeps going,” Stroud said after their first meeting. “I told him how much I believed in him, and I hope to see him do well in this league.”

Except for this week.

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