Patriots’ Drake Maye launches TD pass to WR Kayshon Boutte

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  • Mike Reiss, ESPN staff writer22 December 2024 at 21:43

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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.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye connected to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on a precise 28-yard touchdown at 12:03 of the first quarter, giving the visiting New England Patriots an early 7-0 lead in their matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.

It was Maye’s 13th touchdown pass of the season and also marked his seventh straight game with at least one touchdown pass, tying Jim Plunkett for the single-season franchise record for a rookie quarterback.

The Patriots received the opening kickoff and Maye capped an initial six-play, 58-yard drive by hitting Boutte on a tight-window throw near the front right pylon.

Boutte was tightly covered by the cornerback Kaiir Elam but flashed his hands at the last minute to catch the perfectly thrown ball from Maye, who was playing in the coldest game of his football career (12 degrees). Another key ran back Antonio Gibson goes up to retrieve the blitz, giving Maye time to deliver.

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson added to the Patriots’ lead on the team’s second drive and capped a 16-play, 91-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. That drive lasted 9:57.