Maye leads New England to seventh straight win The New England Patriots overcame a tough Buccaneers defense on Sunday and relied on MVP-candidate quarterback Drake Maye and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson to beat Tampa Bay 28-23 for their seventh straight win. With RB Rhamondre Stevenson still sidelined and Terrell Jennings leaving early with a knee injury, Henderson shouldered the load on the ground, breaking free for 69- and 55-yard touchdowns. Maye and receiver Stefon Diggs also shined in critical moments, connecting on a fourth-and-goal touchdown as the first half expired to give the Patriots a 14-10 lead. Maye also threw a short pass to rookie receiver Kyle Williams that turned into a 72-yard score to end the first quarter. Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield nearly led the Buccaneers to a game-winning drive late, but the Patriots' defense held firm on crucial downs, limiting Tampa Bay's opportunities. The victory cemented New England as one of the NFL's top teams and reinforced their position atop the AFC East. Maye shines against Buccaneers defense These weren't quite the MVP-level stats that Maye has put up multiple times before this season, but Maye was efficient and moved the ball well against a really good Buccaneers defense. Maye stood in the pocket and delivered several impressive passes multiple times against the blitz-happy Bucs defense with pressure in his face. Maye completed 16-of-31 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to prolong his MVP candidacy. He saved some of his best throws for the most critical spots, including a beauty of a pass on fourth-and-goal from the 1 at the end of the first half, thrown high and in a spot where only his receiver, Diggs, could grab it. Granted, Diggs made a great catch on the play, but Maye did everything he needed to on a day the Patriots struggled to run it. In the fourth quarter, Maye unleashed an unbelievable deep pass with pressure in his face to receiver Mack Hollins for a 54-yard gain. In a season of great passes from Maye, that was one of his best. Mayfield's late heroics not enough for Bucs This time, Baker Mayfield's late game magic fell just short. Mayfield had the Bucs driving for a potentially game-winning score, but threw incomplete on third-and-3, then had pressure in his face right away on fourth down, prompting a turnover on downs. Mayfield was still pretty good in this one, completing 28-of-43 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. But it wasn't enough on this day as the Bucs' defense struggled. They're a team that blitzes often, and even though Maye has had success all season against the blitz, Tampa stuck with their usual plan. Against Maye, they didn't get home quickly enough. The Bucs' run defense was good for most of the game, but allowed a 55-yard run by Henderson and a 69-yard scamper that iced the game. A usually stout Bucs defense has some things to clean up after this one. Patriots prove elite with road win There were fair questions about how real the Patriots were after four games against teams with poor records. But with a seventh straight win – this one on the road, against a Super Bowl contender – the Patriots proved definitively that they're one of the NFL's top teams. The Pats sit atop the AFC East and their 8-2 record is tied with the Colts for the best record in the AFC. They entered Sunday's game with the best chance of reaching the playoffs in the NFL, based on our postseason predictor, and in this one, proved that they are among the top teams in the league. The Patriots haven't lost since they turned the ball over five times against the Steelers on Sept. 21. RB problems mounting for Pats It was surprising that the Patriots didn't add any depth at running back before Tuesday's trade deadline given the few healthy players they have at the position. After Sunday's game, their already difficult situation was made more dire. Stevenson missed his second game in a row due to a toe injury, then Jennings suffered a knee injury in the first half that caused him to miss the rest of the game. In the second half, Henderson, the team's only other running back on the 53-man roster, was slow to come off the field and was looked at by trainers due to an apparent injury, but he stayed in the game. Either way, the injuries are piling up now and the Patriots really need Stevenson to be able to play soon. They're on a short week with a Thursday night game against the New York Jets looming, which could limit Stevenson's chances of playing. Given that, the Pats next week might be leaning on a potentially banged-up Henderson with a slew of practice squad elevations. For most of Sunday, the Bucs bottled up Henderson well. But the rookie second-round pick broke free early in the second half for a 55-yard touchdown run, finally showcasing the big-play ability that caused the Pats to draft him. He iced the game with a 69-yard score. Still, it was a boom-or-bust game on the ground for the Pats. Chad Graff and Denny Alfonso, The Athletic, published 10 November 2025