QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE
How are you feeling and take us through that play?
Yeah, I feel alright, just got to get down. Just landed awkward and felt alright. But no, felt good.
Took you guys a while, but how important was it to get going, Kayshon (Boutte) made that great catch.
Yeah, no I wouldn't say it was a struggle. I think, being able to run the football helped us out today. I'm proud of the guys up front. Been an emphasis all week to be able to run the football. And the guys outside made plays when the ball's in the air.
When you started that two-minute drill, what was in your head and your plan, that was such a quick strike. Was that planned or did you just see that play to Kayshon (Boutte)? Just talk us through that.
Kind of the same thing as last week in New Orleans in the two-minute. Just try to go get points and if something's there, take a shot deep and just glad we came out with seven and were able to double-dip coming out of halftime.
Take us through what you saw on the touchdown to (Austin) Hooper?
Basically got a high-low out there, and they both went to (Stefon) Diggs. They were late getting back to Hoop (Austin Hooper) and Hoop had a nice play. I underthrew it a little bit, but he's made a lot of those catches in his career and made a big time catch.
Did you hear the Vrabel chants at the end there?
I did, yeah that was pretty cool. Yeah, I think that's always cool. I think that— he downplayed it all week, which we appreciate. He just focused on us and worried about us and that's what matters. But I know that it feels good for him.
What's gotten you to this point, where it seems like everybody's alive and taking shots, whether its (Kayshon) Boutte, whether it's (Stefon) Diggs, whether its Pop (DeMario Douglas) last week?
Yeah, just keep playing the offense. I think we're learning each other, learning the offense together. I think we're more and more comfortable every week. I think that's the big thing with Coach, he's calling great games and I think we got even more left in the tank and I think that's what we'll look back on in that fourth quarter there to really seal the game.
How's those five guys up front?
Those five guys up front are balling man, those guys are warriors. They're the heartbeat of this team and they come show up every week.
You're offensively playing at a really high level right now, but the consistency in which you've maybe been able to do it, what do you think has helped you the most to be able to produce that consistency?
Yeah, it's the guys around me. We're instilling confidence in each other and the confidence in myself and just keep on going out there and getting some wins under your belt, it helps with that. So just keep on going and not changing throughout the week and keep trying to do better.
You're the first quarterback in this franchise history that has three games in a single season completing at least 80 percent of your balls. What has allowed you to have that type of success so early in your career?
Yeah, you know same thing. Those guys are making plays for me, those guys up front are blocking their butts off and in the passing game, they're going to go make plays for me and I think we're just trying to stay ahead of the chains and try to throw to the first guy open.
I think you answered this during the week maybe, but now that the game is over, how much have you grown since being in this stadium last year, when you had the exciting play and then lost in overtime, but you see how you pulled out the win today. How much do you feel like you've grown as a quarterback since then?
Yeah, I think we've just grown as an organization. I think– With coach (Mike) Vrabel and his staff I think we're just buying into each other and build an identity. And I think that's what's kind of the biggest thing for me is trying to be the same player every week. And I think those guys from this game last year, yeah, left a bad taste in our mouths. So glad we came out here with a win.
You downplayed it all week long, obviously everyone did about Coach Vrabel coming back here. What has he meant to you guys though, not just – but on a daily basis and helping you guys get to 5-2 and where you want to be right now?
Yeah, man he brings it every day. I think he brings it every day, he challenges us but he also cares about us and cares about us outside of the building and I think, he's just awesome to play for. And it was pretty cool in that locker room, celebrating.
I don't know if you're aware of this, you set the Patriots record for all-time completion percentage in a game, just two incompletions in the game, 21/23. What is your reaction to that?
Yeah, left some out there that I ended up running that I could have thrown. I think I tucked it a couple times when I shouldn't have, and I think maybe I could get the backside progression more. But yeah, I think I'm trying to be careful with the football and trying to challenge down the field and not just be doing check-down Charlie so. Just trying to throw it to the guys that's open and they're making great plays.
What's your level on cofidence in this offense right now?
Yeah, we got some more. We got some more left, and I think that's what coach (Josh) McDaniels is challenging us. I think those offensive coaches are doing a great job in their areas and I think we still got more left, and I think that defensive touchdown really helped us out.
Little bit off topic, but Friday night there was a great high school game in Massachusetts. I saw you were able to attend it, just sort of what made you want to do that and what was your reaction to being there?
Yeah, I heard it was a big game in the local area. Two state champions playing and just trying to support and brings me back to those days when I was playing. It's pretty cool to see them out there and I guess there was a bunch of Patriots fans, so it was a pretty good crowd. So, good game.
