FOXBOROUGH — Drake Maye made his first NFL start against the Texans Oct. 13, 2024. Asked about it Wednesday, the quarterback looked like he couldn’t believe he was only 15 months removed from that moment.
“Feels like 10 years ago,” Maye said with a smile after practice on Wednesday.
Asked what he remembered from that outing — a game where he went 20-for-33 for 243 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and 4 sacks in a 41-21 loss at Gillette Stadium — Maye was quick to respond.
“I was kind of just trying to stay alive out there,” he said with a laugh.
Now he’ll face the Texans and their defense again, this time in the divisional round Sunday night. And while Maye has taken some colossal steps forward since that afternoon in his development from rookie to MVP contender, the Texans’ defense has also progressed to a point where they’re in the conversation as being among the best in the NFL.
Asked if the Texans are the best defense the Patriots will have faced this season, coach Mike Vrabel didn’t pause.
“Yeah,” he said. “Of course. I mean, they have great talent, great scheme, they play hard and I respect how hard they play. They’re not only talented, but they have a play demeanor that I can appreciate.
“They play to the football. They chase the football and they get a lot of hats to the football. They create turnovers. They play physical.”
Over the course of the 2025 regular season, the Texans’ defense ranked second in the league in points per game allowed (17.4), first in total yards allowed (5,079), fourth in rushing yards allowed (1,593), and seventh in passing yards (3,486).
Meanwhile, defensive ends Danielle Hunter (15 sacks) and Will Anderson Jr. (12 sacks) are among the best edge-rushing duos in football, while defensive backs Calen Bullock, Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre ended the season with four interceptions each.
“They fly around. They’re relentless,” Maye said. “They’re great up front, and great on the back end. They’ve got great linebackers. They’re great all around. They have great coaching. So we’ve got our hands full, and we know it’s going to be a tough game.”
It starts with Anderson and Hunter, a duo that harassed Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers in Monday’s wild-card win. Anderson had three quarterback hits and a half-sack in the victory, while Hunter added a sack and two quarterback hits.
“There’s talent, length and effort,” Vrabel said of the 6-foot-4-inch, 243-pound Anderson and the 6-foot-5-inch, 263-pound Hunter. “If they get blocked, they don’t stay blocked long. Different moves on the edge. So, they play hard against the run. It’s not just if you run the ball that they’re taking plays off. Two really good bookends.”
Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell will get the bulk of the work slowing the Texans’ pass rush. At LSU, Campbell faced Anderson, who played for Alabama.
“Yeah, he’s a talented player,” said Campbell, recalling the trench battle against Anderson. “I played him, [Florida State’s] Jared Verse, and [Georgia’s] Jalen Carter all my freshman year at 18 years old. That’s three really talented players in this league. Great learning experience for me. He’s a really talented player.”
One thing to look for: the Texans have occasionally been vulnerable against mobile quarterbacks. Over the last five weeks of the regular season, they allowed the fourth-highest EPA per carry on quarterback runs (not including quarterback sneaks or kneels) and the ninth-most yards per attempt (7.8).
“Whatever it takes for us to win the game, I don’t care how it comes out,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said when asked about Maye as a runner against the Texans. “We’re in the [playoffs] … If using his legs is what’s needed, then turn into Michael Vick. I’m with whatever.”
“I think I scrambled [against the Texans] a few times last year,” Maye said. “Since then, you’ve kind of seen some of those guys on tape just take some guys out of the game.”
In the end, if Maye is able to do more than just worry about staying alive — and is smart when it comes to using his legs it’ll go a long way toward a Patriots’ playoff win. Not to mention it will help erase the memory of running for his life in his first NFL start.
“We were just talking about how there’s 24 teams at home right now,” Maye said. “There’s eight of us practicing and still working. It’s a chance and an opportunity that we have to play a home football game and a home playoff game that matters, at times when it matters most.
“Realize the opportunity we have, how much work we’ve done to get here, and enjoy it.”
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