Well, here we are in Week 6, with the Patriots hosting the Jets, and all of Maye’s powers have been restored to 2025 levels. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Patriots to a 29-26 victory at Buffalo in Week 4, then followed that up by slashing the Raiders’ pass defense with 374 passing yards and 4 touchdown passes (plus another in ground) and last Sunday’s 45-17 run.
It was Maye’s resilience and apparent mental toughness that brought him out of his rut so quickly. And it’s a credit to the coaching staff that they knew how to keep the young quarterback’s struggles from lingering, or even festering.
It’s difficult to gauge at this point, largely due to injuries, how good this team will be by the end of the season. But one thing is clear: they are run by the right people.
Get started, Borregales, and let’s get this one started…
THREE PLAYERS I WILL WATCH NOT NAMED DRAKE MAYE
Rhamondre Stevenson: In his sixth season and 75 regular season games into his career, Stevenson is already one of the most accomplished running backs in Patriots history. He’s not necessarily recognized as such, partly because his story is still being told, and largely because fumbling issues led him to spend part of his career at the doghouse’s doorstep, or even be temporarily exiled there. But Stevenson — who was an integral and (in this space, at least) unsung part of the Raiders’ rout, contributing 85 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown — has a chance to take impressive steps forward over the next two weeks. Stevenson needs 104 rushing yards to join Sam Cunningham (5,453), Jim Nance (5,323) and Tony Collins (4,647) as the only Patriots to rush for 4,000 yards with the franchise. And he needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Collins and Curtis Martin for sixth place in franchise history with 32. Stevenson has had at least 100 yards and two touchdowns three times in his career, so that’s not out of the question on Sunday.
David Bailey: The No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bailey had three of the Jets’ eight sacks in their 17-12 win over the Browns last Sunday. Jets historians and those who simply enjoy laughing at YouTube compilations of the franchise’s biggest draft mistakes will note that Bailey, a 6-foot-3, 251-pounder, now has five more sacks than Vernon Gholston, an Ohio State defensive end who looks the part but can’t play it, selected No. 6 in the 2008 draft, supplied in 45 career games. Maye shredded the Raiders defense in 2025 style when he had clean pockets on Sunday, finishing with a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 when not under pressure. It’s imperative for the Jets that Bailey makes life in the pocket stressful for Maye and a Patriots line that could be without left tackle Will Campbell.
Christian Gonzalez: Heading into the Raiders game, the Patriots appeared to be one more injury at cornerback after pulling Ty Law from the 2001 Celebration to take some reps. Gonzalez and fellow starter Carlton Davis were out, as were backups Karon Prunty and Channing Canada. That left a makeshift group including 5-8 Marcus Jones, Charles Woods and Kindle Vildor, promoted from the practice squad. All three did their jobs (let’s say, there might be a slogan there – I’ll workshop it) remarkably well given the skeptical outside expectations. But it’s a blessing to see Gonzalez back against the Jets after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury. Garrett Wilson (31 catches on 42 targets, 374 yards, 3 TDs) is by far quarterback Geno Smith’s favorite target – he accounted for 104 of the Jets’ 182 receiving yards against the Browns. Gonzalez is exceptional at taking away an opponent’s preferred weapon. His presence should allow the surging Patriots to pass rush time to get to Smith.
GRIEVANCE OF THE WEEK
Roméo Doubs has a reputation as an excellent receiver of contested catches. And while he had his moments for the Patriots, too often the positives are interspersed with plays in which his hands appear to be actively trying to contest him. Doubs has been accused of four falls this season, the most egregious changing the tenor of the game in the opener against the Seahawks. He’s a talented receiver who will step into a more appropriate role once AJ Brown returns to the mix. But in the meantime, it would help the cause if his hands stopped conspiring against him at inopportune times.
FLASHBACK!
We won’t delve into the details of this one, but let’s just say that the Patriots’ 28-21 loss to the Jets in the 2010 divisional round might be the most regrettable lost opportunity of the two-decade dynasty that doesn’t involve a Manning brother. All these years later, it’s almost as staggering as the loss itself to realize that the Jets haven’t made the playoffs since.
PREDICTION, WHERE CURTIS MARTIN IS ABOVE ALL A PATRIOT FOR ME…
Choosing to click in the Patriots passing game on Sunday? How about rookie tight end Eli Raridon, who, no offense to Hunter Henry, could establish himself as the Patriots’ best tight end before we know it. Take him to the ground for a touchdown, maybe even two. Patriots 31, Jets 15.
Chad Finn can be contacted at chad.finn@globe.com.
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