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- calendar_today October 11, 2026
Drake Maye Sparks Patriots with Five Touchdowns
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye delivered a standout quarterback performance, throwing four touchdown passes and running for another as the New England Patriots defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 45-17 on Sunday.
Dominant Showing by New England's Offense
Maye completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards, marking his second career game with more than 300 passing yards. The Patriots offense produced a season-high 536 yards, overcoming the absence of key players Mack Hollins, Christian Gonzalez, and Carlton Davis III due to injuries.
Touchdowns Spread Across Patriots
Two of Maye’s touchdown passes went to Pop Douglas, while Hunter Henry and Kyle Williams each caught one. Maye added a rushing score with a 3-yard run. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson contributed with a rushing touchdown as well. The victory marked Maye’s first game of the season without a turnover and set a milestone as the first time since Tom Brady in 2018 that a Patriots quarterback posted back-to-back games with at least three passing touchdowns.
Early Momentum and Key Plays
New England’s offense struck quickly. After the Raiders’ opening three-and-out, the Patriots scored in just five plays on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Maye to Douglas. The opening drive featured a 16-yard pass to Romeo Doubs and was capped by a decisive strike from Maye.
The Raiders answered with quarterback Kirk Cousins connecting on long passes to Brock Bowers and Coby White. A pass interference call on Kevin Byard set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to Bowers, tying the score.
New England regained the lead with a 5-yard rushing score from Stevenson and extended it just before halftime. Despite a fumble recovery opportunity, the Raiders’ Matt Gay missed a 49-yard field goal attempt, and Maye found Henry with an 11-yard touchdown pass 24 seconds before the break, securing a 14-point halftime advantage.
Las Vegas Raiders' Struggles
Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards and the earlier touchdown to Bowers, but the Raiders couldn’t reach the end zone again until the fourth quarter. The team had scored at least 26 points in each of their first four games. No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza replaced Cousins late in the game as the outcome became clear.
Injuries Impact Both Teams
Both teams dealt with significant game injuries. For the Raiders, defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway left in the first quarter with a neck injury and was ruled out, while defensive end Patrick Johnson exited in the second quarter, also with a neck issue.
The Patriots lost running back TreVeyon Henderson to an ankle injury and left tackle Will Campbell to a right knee injury in the second quarter; neither returned. Cornerback Charles Woods exited during the third quarter with a shoulder injury.
Looking Ahead: Next Opponents
The Patriots (3-2) will host the New York Jets next Sunday. The Raiders (3-2) return home to play the Buffalo Bills.
Summary of Key Stats
- Drake Maye: 26/34, 374 yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown
- New England: 536 total yards
- Pop Douglas: 2 receiving TDs
- Kirk Cousins: 19/28, 243 yards, 1 touchdown
Source: whdh.com.
