NFL
Why will Drake Maye start at QB for the Patriots against the Texans in Week 6?
Against the Houston Texans in Week 6, Maye is expected to come in for Jacoby Brissett as the New England Patriots' starting quarterback.
Rookie Drake Maye is set to replace Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots’ starting quarterback this weekend, as a struggling New England team looks to snap a month-long, four-game losing streak in the NFL.
The Patriots won their 2024 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals in early September - but, in their first year under new head coach Jerod Mayo, have lost every game since Week 1. Most recently, New England were beaten 15-10 by the Miami Dolphins in Sunday’s Week 5 clash at Gillette Stadium.
Brisett underwhelming as Pats' QB
And Brissett, an eight-year NFL veteran who rejoined the Patriots on a one-year contract in March, has struggled to impress for the six-time Super Bowl champions, throwing for just 696 yards and two touchdowns this season.
In the lead-up to the Patriots’ Week 6 match-up with the Houston Texans, prominent NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport have both said that sources have told them Maye is in line to take over under center. And, speaking to reporters on Monday, Mayo hinted that he is indeed preparing to make a change at QB.
Brissett “just wasn’t good enough" against Miami
Asked if Maye could come in for Brissett against Houston, Mayo said: “When I meet with the coaches today, it’s about [this:] we’re in a solution-driven business, and we aren’t playing good football. We have to look at every single unit and every single player and figure out how we use this roster to go out there and win games.”
What’s more, Mayo was openly critical of Brissett’s display against the Dolphins. “It just wasn’t good enough,” said the 38-year-old, who this season replaced the Patriots’ legendary, long-time former head coach, Bill Belichick.
“I thought we played well enough defensively and on special teams to win the football game. Look, as the quarterback, and he understands this, he touches the ball on every single play and we didn’t win the game, or score enough points to win the game. I think he would echo that same sentiment that it wasn’t good enough.”
Who is Drake Maye?
The Patriots selected Maye, who spent his college football career with the North Carolina Tar Heels, at No. 3 in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old’s only New England game time so far came in the Week 3 defeat against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, where the North Carolina native came on late on. Maye threw for 22 yards in New Jersey, completing four of his eight passing attempts.
Texans vs Patriots: start time, how to watch
The Patriots host the Texans on Sunday October 13, 2024, with kick-off at Gillette Stadium scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the Week 6 clash on CBS and WBZ. You can stream the action on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
Enjoy the Texans vs the Patriots on fubo.
While the Patriots are 1-4 so far in the 2024 regular season, the Texans have the opposite record: 4-1. Houston’s only defeat this term came in Week 3, when they were beaten 34-7 by the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 5, DeMeco Ryans’ men beat the Buffalo Bills 23-20 at NRG Stadium.