For a season that began with significant hype behind it following the signing of new coach Mike Vrabel and the addition of around $350 million in contract commitments to free agents, what we saw on Sunday from the Patriots can only go down as an utter bummer: a 10-7 halftime lead gave way to a 20-13 final score that served as a sobering reminder of just how far this bunch has to go.
There was not much to latch onto for those hoping to accentuate the positives. The defense, at times, looked solid, though it was still pulled apart by Geno Smith, who was 24-for-34 passing for 362 yards and a touchdown. Drake Maye, the second-year quarterback on whom the Patriots’ rebuild is based, threw for 287 yards and a touchdown, but threw a momentum-shifting interception and was sacked four times.
But if there is a positive, it’s this: The duo of Maye and receiver Kayshon Boutte, who began showing promise last year in developing a wavelength with Maye, appears to have built upon their progress as 2025 gets underway.
Kayshon Boutte Racks Up 108 Yards
On the day, Boutte had six catches for 108 yards, on eight targets. In a game in which new WR1 Stefon Diggs chipped in with six catches for 57 yards, there is no doubt that Patriots receiving crew has shown noticeable improvement.
Boutte in particular: He is now averaging 87.0 yards on 5.5 catches in his last four games.
Said Boutte, “We have been working together since OTAs. Travelling from OTAs to training camp and keep putting in the work every day, day in and day out.”
But Boutte, like the rest of the team, was disappointed in the way the team played in the second half. “”I think we all have to be on the same track more. I don’t know if we felt settled in at halftime because we were up, or the weather wasn’t how we wanted, it was rainy. I feel like we could have had more energy going into the second half,” he said.
Patriots Had 10 Players Make Catches
Maye completed passes to 10 different receivers on Sunday, certainly a positive sign for the depth of his options. He credited the unit after the game.
“I thought they brought it. I thought they were bringing energy on the sideline,” Maye said. “I thought they were being physical, getting open. I could have gave them some more chances to make plays. You saw a lot of different guys make catches, and I think they’re taking the challenge head on to be a great room and blocking the run game, and there’s things they can clean up and things that we can clean up together.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what that room can do. Yeah, just having everybody in the game plan and keeping everybody honest not to just roll coverage over one guy or double team one guy. You’ve got to have answers and have guys that make plays, and those guys, I thought they did that today.”
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