Drake Maye shines with a late TD to put the Patriots into OT before the game-ending interception

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Drake Maye showed on Sunday exactly why the New England Patriots selected him with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft back in April.

He also reminded that quarterbacks need some time to develop.

Maye led the Patriots with a career-high 95 yards rushing. The rookie also made his way, evading defenders for 11.82 seconds before finally finding Rhamondre Stevenson open in the end zone long after the final second of the game had expired to force overtime.

Then Maye was ejected in overtime for the second time in the game, in a 20-17 loss to the Titans and the second overtime loss of the season for the Patriots (2-7).

“We already knew it, but I think the obvious thing is just his mental toughness and the ability to really switch sides and be a resilient player, and that's a great quality for a quarterback to have,” Jerod Mayo said , first-year coach. “And he’s a good competitor.”

The rookie was limited in practice all week as he battled through the concussion protocol that forced him out of last week's win over the Jets. Maye wasn't cleared until Saturday, although he wouldn't have hesitated to start eight times and lead the Pats in rushing. He also threw for 206 yards.

“Gave us a chance to win the game. Obviously I just couldn’t do it,” Mayo said.

The freshman was also intercepted twice, the last time ending the game. On his fourth sack, he was stripped of the ball by Titans linebacker Arden Key and Titans defensive back Jeffery Simmons recovered.

That gave the Titans a tie for the Patriots' 26th, and an easy touchdown for a team that had only scored once in the fourth quarter of a game this season. After the New England defense denied Tennessee a 25-yard field goal by Nick Folk in overtime, the Pats had one last chance until Maye's second interception.

Maye now has six TD passes and four interceptions this season.

“I have to go back and learn from it, especially me,” Maye said. “I have to take advantage of those and take advantage of the reps I get in the game and I have to play better.”

The play that most clearly shows Maye's promise came when he ran around in that loss and literally bought himself time for his only TD pass. He praised his linemen for continuing to block while he ran around looking for someone.

There were only 4 seconds left on the game clock when the ball popped. It took Maye the second-longest time to throw a touchdown pass — in the regular season or playoffs — since Next Gen Stats began tracking such statistics for the NFL in 2016. Only Jayden Daniels' decisive win for Washington last week lasted longer, at 12.7 seconds.

Mayo went for the extra point rather than the win with a 2-point conversion.

The quarterback said he was busy catching his breath and didn't think about convincing his coach to put the ball back in his hands.

“We've been on such an intense ride for so long that I think it's hard to get to two,” Maye said. “I don’t think it’s easy to look back and say that now.”