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Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff Writer
LONDON — Rookie quarterback Drake Maye‘s calm response to a third-down blitz was a key to the New England Patriots getting out to a 7-0 lead after their first possession of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.
On third-and-10 from the Jaguars’ 16-yard line, Maye was in the shotgun with running back JaMycal Hasty to his right. The Jaguars simulated pressure — with defensive end Josh Hines-Allen dropping into coverage with defensive backs Darnell Savage and Antonio Johnson rushing — and Maye calmly dumped the ball off to Hasty on the right side.
Hasty, a five-year veteran who used to play for the Jaguars, then did the rest by initially running up the sideline before cutting back inside at the 9-yard line and darting into the end zone as Jaguars defenders were shoddy in their attempts to tackle. Maye, who is making his second career NFL start, was 6-of-7 for 62 yards on the opening march.
A bit Hasty! @Patriots score on their opening drive.
📺: #NEvsJAX on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/EwA4kDhIoK— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
It was the Patriots’ first opening drive of the season that ended with points on the scoreboard. Specifically against the blitz, Maye was 3-of-4 for 30 yards and the touchdown on the opening drive. Three of his four touchdown passes have come against the blitz.