Why New England’s Rookie Quarterback Will Turn Heads This Week
The New England Patriots will take on the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in what is perhaps their last chance at a victory this season. New England is fresh off a beat down from the Miami Dolphins, and the Colts are on an upward trajectory with the return of quarterback Anthony Richardson to the starting lineup. Despite the dreary season that New England has posted this far, there is still reason for optimism in Week 13. At the very least, rookie quarterback Drake Maye will provide fans with some entertainment on Sunday at 1:00 in Foxborough.
For some fans, Maye has given New England hope for the first time since early 2022. From his first start, the rookie has given the team a spark that has not been seen since Tom Brady took snaps for the Patriots. That’s not to say that there have not been errors in his play because we all know that those are apparent. This week, the UNC product will face a defense that employs a Cover 3 scheme at the highest rate seen around the league and something that Maye has struggled with the most since being named the starter.
That being said, it is not a very complex scheme like the team has seen a lot of this season. The Colts show what they are going to do before you snap the ball, it is up to you to be better than them to beat them. So as a fan of the team, you have to hope that offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and Maye can overcome the talent deficit the team has to win. The coverage is susceptible to big plays, which are Maye’s specialty for those who watched him during his time in Chapel Hill. Expect a big week from Hunter Henry who will be threatening the seams of the defense and from Kayshon Boutte who will see a lot of individual coverage on the outside of the formation.
Defensively, the Patriots historically prey on inexperienced quarterbacks like Richardson who has played just 12 games in his career entering Week 13. That being said, Richardson is far from just any young quarterback with the dominant rushing option that he provides for the team. In the red zone and short yardage, the Colts can use the quarterback to give themselves a numbers advantage similar to the Bills and the Eagles' use of their quarterbacks. Thankfully, New England is used to having to stop the run with numbers and not talent so they will not have to change too much in their schemes.
If New England can contain Indianapolis’s run game and force Richardson to beat them with his arm, the team should be in for their first victory since Week Nine against the Jets. Richardson takes a deep shot by far more than any other quarterback this season, something the 2024 Patriots have struggled against. However, with slot receiver Josh Downs injured this week, hopefully, the New England defense will be able to key into more of the vertical passing game. If New England can prevent Richardson from winning the game on a single play, there is a slim chance that he will consistently drive down the field and earn the win.