Patriots’ Drake Maye throws a spectacular 36-yard TD pass to DeMario Douglas

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  • Mike Reiss, ESPN staff writerDecember 28, 2024, 2:19 PM ET

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      Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN covering the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Not much went right for the New England Patriots in the first half of their game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but Drake Maye’s 36-yard touchdown pass to receiver DeMario Douglas late in the second quarter gave them a much-needed spark.

A key to the game was Maye’s cadence, which drew the Chargers offside, allowing a free play.

The rookie then capitalized, even in the face of pressure. Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa had cut through untouched and was in Maye’s face when the quarterback unleashed a high-arcing throw down the middle of the field. Douglas ran a deep route up the right side and adjusted to catch the ball at the goal line before rolling into the end zone.

The ensuing extra point helped cut the Chargers’ lead to 17-7.

With at least one touchdown pass in his eighth straight game, Maye established a Patriots record for a rookie.

Maye also has three touchdown passes this season of at least 35 air yards, the most such touchdown passes by a Patriots quarterback in a season since Tom Brady (3) in 2009.