Jan 15, 2026
3 min read
Maye made his career debut against the Texans on October 13, 2024.What did he remember about the 41-21 loss?"I was just trying to stay alive," he said.
FOXBORUGH - Drake Maye made his NFL debut against the Ravens on Oct. 13, 2024. When asked about it Wednesday, the quarterback couldn't believe he was only 15 months old at the time.
"It feels like 10 years ago," Maye said with a smile after Wednesday's practice.
When asked what he remembered from that game — a game in which he was 20-of-33 for 243 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and 4 sacks in a 41-21 loss at Gillette Stadium — Maye was quick to answer.
"I'm just trying to survive out there," he said with a laugh.
Now he will face the Texans and their defense again, this time in the divisional round on Sunday night.And while Maye has made huge strides since that afternoon, going from rookie to MVP contender, the Texans' defense has also progressed to the point where they're in the conversation as one of the NFL's best.
When asked if the Texans are the best defense the Patriots will have this season, coach Mike Vrabel didn't hold back.
"Yes," he said."Of course. I mean, they have great talent, great tactics, they play hard and I respect their struggles.
"They play the football. They chase the football and they have a lot of shots in football. They create turnovers. They play physical."
During the 2025 regular season, the Texans' defense was second in the league in points allowed per game (17.4), first in total yards allowed (5,079), fourth in rushing yards (1,593), and seventh in passing yards (3,486).
Meanwhile, defensive ends Daniel Hunter (15 sacks) and Will Anderson Jr. (12 sacks) are among the best pass rushing duos in football, while cornerbacks Cullen Bullock, Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre each finished the season with four interceptions.
"They fly around. They don't let go," Maye said."They are good up front, and they are good on the edge. They have great cinema. They are good all-around. They have good coaching. So we have our hands, and we know it will be a tough game."
It all started with Anderson and Hunter, the pair who harassed Pittsburgh's Aaron Rodgers in Monday's red card win.
"There's talent, length and effort," Vrabel said of the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Anderson and the 6-foot-5, 263-pound Hunter.
Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell will do most of the work to slow down the Texas pass rush.At LSU, Campbell teamed with Anderson and played for Alabama.
"Yes, he's a talented player," Campbell said, recalling the battle in the trenches with Anderson. "When I was 18, I spent my entire freshman season playing against him, Jared Firth from [Florida State] and Jalen Carter from [Georgia]. Those are three very talented players in this league. It was a great learning experience for me. He's a very talented player."
One thing to note is that the Texans are sometimes vulnerable to mobile defenders.Through the final five weeks of the regular season, they allowed the fourth-most EPA per quarterback carry (excluding sneaks or kneeling) and the ninth-most yards per attempt (7.8).
"Everything we need to win a game, I don't see how to get it in the Texans."I will have a huge brother-in-law."
"I think I challenged twice [against the Texans] last year," Maye said.Since then, you've seen some of the guys on tape kick people out of the game.
Ultimately, if Maye is able to do more than just worry about staying alive -- and is smart when it comes to using his legs -- he'll go a long way toward helping the Patriots win the playoffs.Not to mention help erase the memory of him running for his life in his first NFL start.
"We just have to talk about 24 groups at home now," said the Maye."Eights of us can practice and work. It's a good time and time we need to play a home game game, in the most important sport."
“Recognize the opportunity we have, how much we have worked for it, and enjoy it.”
Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected] him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.
