New England Patriots
“I feel like he makes plays with his legs. I feel like he’s comfortable using his legs.”
FOXBOROUGH — Drake Maye and the Patriots offense will have their work cut out for them on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the second-year quarterback’s rise as an elite playmaking threat in 2025, Maye’s ability to evade pressure and move the ball down the field with ruthless efficiency figures to be countered by an elite Texans defense in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Houston’s defense has grounded just about every high-flying offense matched up against them this season — holding opponents to just 277.2 yards per game.
Even star quarterbacks like Josh Allen (eight sacks vs. Houston on Nov. 20) have had little room to breathe when Houston’s heat-seeking missiles like Will Anderson (12 sacks) and Danielle Hunter (15 sacks) dial up the pressure.
Be it that potent pass rush (47 sacks), fleet-footed linebacker corps that swarm to the ball, or a physical secondary anchored by Derek Stingley Jr., the Texans will present plenty of headaches for Maye, Josh McDaniels, and the rest of New England’s offense personnel this weekend in Foxborough.
“They fly around. They’re relentless,” Maye said Wednesday. “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.”
The Houston Texans’ defense doesn’t exactly dial up blitzes or utilize disguised coverage to confound QBs and force turnovers.
Rather, it’s a straightforward scheme that primarily sticks to zone coverage (Cover 3 and Cover 4), and has the luxury of letting Anderson, Hunter, and rest of their defensive line loose after the quarterback to generate more than enough pressure.
Much like batters bracing for Mariano Rivera’s cut fastball, opponents already know what’s coming when they’re matched up against the Texans’ elite defense.
The challenge, of course, is actually beating it.
“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.”
But if there’s one potential weakness on Houston’s roster, it revolves around their struggles with bottling up quarterbacks who can gain yardage on the ground.
As noted by Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston, the Texans have relinquished the fourth-highest EPA per carry on quarterback runs — not counting QB sneaks or kneels — and the ninth-most yards per attempt (7.8) since Week 13 of the regular season.
That should catch the attention of McDaniels and New England’s offensive coaches, who could utilize Maye’s scrambling ability to consistently move the chains against Houston’s suffocating defense.
It’s a sentiment shared by Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who encouraged Maye to run the ball more during a recent mic’d-up clip released by the team after their wild-card game victory over the Chargers.
“He’s a hell of an athlete,” Diggs said of Maye. “I feel like he makes plays with his legs. I feel like he’s comfortable using his legs. Whatever it takes to help the quarterback settle in, too. You never know. Using your legs [could] make him loosen some other things up. Being a receiver, you never know. It can take the corner’s eyes off you.”
Unlike last week, where New England might have shirked away from uncorking deep throws down the field against Los Angeles’ pass defense, Maye should have a few opportunities to uncork some heaves down the field so long as he can extend plays with his legs.
Houston has allowed 47 passes of 20-plus yards on the season, while their 5.6 percent explosive-play rate allowed (per Sharp Football) is relatively pedestrian — with 15 other NFL clubs posting a lower percentage.
Still, expect most of Sunday’s game to be a rock fight as Maye and the Patriots try to land at least a punch or two against Houston’s formidable defense.
Maye might be operating at his best when he’s hitting targets like Kayshon Boutte or Diggs deep down the field.
But after gaining 66 yards on the ground against the Chargers, Maye has the means to at least exploit one of the few weaknesses on this Texans defense.
“Whatever it takes for us to win the game,” Diggs said of how New England’s offense can get the better of Houston. “I don’t care how it comes out. We’re in the [playoffs]. I’m going to throw as many blocks as I can. I’m going to tell [Maye] that his next play is his best play.
“He’s a hell of a player. I just want to see him continue to grow. I’m just trying to be an echo of some positive energy. If using his legs is what’s needed, then turn into Michael Vick. I’m with whatever.”
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