Curran: Maye's performance against Titans 'makes kids want to buy the jersey'

Curran: Maye's performance against Titans 'makes kids want to buy the jersey' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots narrowly fell to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Despite the disappointing result, Pats fans need to be encouraged by the positive development of their rookie quarterback in his fourth NFL start.

Maye completed 29 of his 41 passes for 206 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He led the team in rushing yards with 95 yards – the third-highest output by a Pats QB in franchise history – on eight carries.

The third overall draft pick's only TD pass was New England's play of the year to that point. The Patriots were trailing 17-10 at the Tennessee five-yard line with four seconds left in regulation when Maye scrambled for 11 seconds and found Rhamondre Stevenson in the end zone to send the game into OT.

Maye's day ended on a sour note when his interception sealed a 20-17 Titans win in overtime. The 22-year-old turned the ball over three times in the loss, but our Tom E. Curran still believed New England had found its franchise QB.

“They couldn't stop the run, they couldn't run the ball, they had penalties, they had wide receiver errors everywhere, they allowed pressure on Drake Maye. But you come out of this game with a completely different feeling.” “You have been plagued by mistakes in other games because you have obviously filled the most important position in professional sports competently for the next, however many years,” Curran continued Patriots Postgame Live.

“I wish he didn't have a few picks, I wish he didn't have a strip sack, said earlier today I would raise my expectations and say you have to go for wins. But to see that kind of performance — and that kind of clutch performance from Drake too — really sells the kid. I can throw away my receipt, I'll take it.

Former Pats linebacker Ted Johnson agreed with Curran's argument that Mayes' flashes of brilliance helped offset the loss.

“Based on what I saw from the quarterback, I feel like the outcome is OK,” Johnson said.

“Yeah, he threw a couple interceptions. Yes, he was fired. Yes, he threw a really bad interception in the first half. However, he still brought this team back. And not only did he bring him back. Back, he brought them back with some flair and athletic ability that we haven't seen at the position in a very, very long time.

Because of Maye's rushing ability and the impressive athleticism he showed on his miraculous TD pass, Curran expects the number 10 jerseys to fly off the shelves.

“This is the type of game that makes kids want to buy the jersey,” Curran said. “It gets dads and moms buying the jersey and showing up, and it sells a lot of Maye jerseys. And Mac Jones really never had a game like this, where he put on the cape and led the team down the field. And Drew Bledsoe didn't.” He didn't have many of those early in his career, until the big finger play, the last one in 1993, or the 70-try game in 1994.

“Those are the things that really captivate and captivate your audience. So if you're the Krafts sitting in this box right now, you say to yourself, 'Okay, so we stink, and we're not sure about Jerod.' (Mayo). But man, we got the right quarterback.' “

Maye and the Patriots will look to get back on the winning list when they visit the Chicago Bears next Sunday.

Watch the postgame live team's full reaction to Sunday's Pats-Titans game below or on YouTube: