In a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, Drake Maye and the New England Patriots defeated Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, 19-3.

Coming off an overtime loss to the Titans in the week prior, the Patriots put on a gritty and resilient display of team-oriented football.

The defense led the way by holding the Bears to a pathetic 142 total yards and recording nine total sacks, tied for the second most in team history. Nothing seemed to work for a visibly flustered Chicago offensive unit, who only converted one of their 14 third down opportunities.

Additionally, the Patriots offense looked as potent as it has all season. Their total of 328 yards was the highest mark it has reached all season. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye looked incredibly comfortable as he spearheaded five scoring drives for the Patriots, throwing 184 passing yards and a touchdown to fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk.

While quarterbacks naturally garner most of the attention in football, Maye made it a point in his postgame press conference to shout out his teammates’ contributions in the winning effort. “Phones down. Notepads down. Let’s clap it up for the defense,” Maye said as he walked up to the podium.

Videos surfaced on social media showing Maye’s vocal leadership and constant interaction with his teammates during the game, which was an admirable sign of maturity for the 22-year-old.

Jerod Mayo acknowledged the visible maturation Maye has displayed since becoming the starter for New England. “Now he’s starting to really take control of the offense and the team. When you go out there and perform at a high level, that’s the first step. The next step is to bring others with you, and I think he’s on his way to doing that,” said Mayo.

A major storyline during the game was Maye’s work in practice during the week leading up to the Chicago matchup. When the team looked sloppy in a midweek practice, the young QB approached the coaching staff, asking if he could address the offense. He clearly saw it was his duty as quarterback to take initiative, regardless of his rookie status.

“These little things are adding up and hurting us in practice and leading to game day.’ Just really try to challenge those guys and challenge myself to take each play and know that when the game comes and this play is called, it matters,” said Maye.

The team responded very well to Maye’s leadership and expressed a great deal of respect for their QB1. “Everybody loved it, man—we need that from our starting quarterback,” said Polk, coming off his second touchdown of the season.

What was once viewed as a lost season has seemingly turned a corner for the Patriots, as their record now sits at 3-7. While the record itself isn’t overly impressive, this win serves as a true manifestation of the organization’s collective development in the post-Belichick era.

Since Maye’s promotion to full-time starter on Oct 8, the entire roster looks rejuvenated and confident. What was once a seemingly dysfunctional, incoherent, and inexperienced football team has now won two of their last three games, and it’s no secret that Maye has played a key role in this cultural shift for New England.

This article appeared in print on Page 13 of Vol. LVIII Issue VII, published Nov. 18, 2024.