Patriots’ Drake Maye delivers his message to teammates

“Sometimes you get into practice mode where you’re just making plays, not really tuning in and trying to execute specific plays, just trying to get into a groove, like, ‘Hey, we’re just making plays here for nothing,’” said Maye. “I really tried to challenge those guys and challenge myself to make every play and know that when the game comes, when this play is called, it matters. There are so many moments during the game where you see how much influence one play has on the rise of the game. I tried to get through to them and probably fumbled a few words to get there, but I think those guys respected it.”

Members of the offense said Maye’s speech motivated them. The practice looked cleaner on Thursday and Friday. Players seemed more engaged. The week ended with a 19-3 win over Chicago Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

The run game, after weeks of inefficient and weak production, finally recovered, with Rhamondre Stevenson picking up 74 yards on 20 carries. Maye completed 15 of 25 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown to fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. The offensive line surrendered just one sack. The Patriots committed one turnover, when Maye didn’t put enough juice on a ball he tried to throw away.

Maye’s message seemed to resonate.

“After that speech, we kind of picked it up,” said wide receiver DeMario Douglas, who caught four passes for 50 yards. “In practice we have responded. You could see our energy changing. I think we were surprised to see him talking to the whole group. That was something we needed.”

Polk added: “We needed that from our starting quarterback. Everyone loved it. Everyone on this team wants to be held to a certain standard. It shows you a lot about the guys we have in the room.

Maye, who turned 22 in August, is the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL. Since taking over for Jacoby Brissett in Week 6, he has worked to find a balance between earning the respect of his teammates without overstepping his bounds.

His leadership qualities shine through on the field, as evidenced by his big throws and his ability to extend plays. Maye regularly shows strength not only in scrambling and playing through contact, but also in withstanding big hits and playing under pressure.

Just five times into his career, Patriots coaches and players are starting to see Maye evolve as a leader off the field. Douglas said Wednesday was the first time Maye brought up the entire offense.

“He’s really starting to take control of the offense and the team,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “If you go out and perform at a high level, that’s the first step. The next step is to bring others along. I think he’s on his way.”

Maye knows that one speech won’t drastically change the outcome of the season. With seven games remaining, the Patriots are at the bottom of the AFC.

But as the organization continues to rebuild, Maye appears to understand the importance of his role in establishing the team’s culture and building a productive offense. He made a sincere effort to get to know his teammates, texting them after practice, inviting them to dinner and sending them clips while he watched film at home.

“Little things like this can make a big difference,” Maye said. “I try to get to know each man on a personal level. Then it’s like, ‘Oh, hey, I know Drake, he cares about me.’

After Sunday’s game, Maye took a seat in the interview room for cornerback Christian Gonzalez’s press conference, listened intently and clapped when Gonzalez finished answering the questions. Once Maye took the stage, he playfully asked reporters to put down their phones and “clap for the defense.”

That energy or, in the words of wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, “aura” is contagious.

“He’s done a great job at quarterback just controlling the offense,” offensive lineman Michael Onwenu said. “We all trust him. We all love him. It is easy to go to war for him.”

Throughout the Patriots’ struggles this season, Patriots players made it clear that losing weighs heavily on them. It can be difficult to find motivation to put the best interests of the team first when results don’t follow.

As the team works to finish the season on an upward note, Maye is doing his part – and has shown he’s not afraid to speak out to push others as well.

“We all want to do better and play better for him, whether it is in training or in a match,” Onwenu said. “You can’t play a good match without practicing well. That was his message and we did that too.”

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Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @nicolecyang.