Rookie Drake Maye scored a touchdown and led the New England Patriots on two of the team’s three scoring drives in a 14-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
The No. 3 overall draft pick out of North Carolina appeared in just one series in the Patriots’ preseason opener, but played the second and third quarters of that one, finishing 6 of 11 for 47 yards.
Joey Slye, who is competing with incumbent Chad Ryland for the starting job, kicked two field goals for New England. The Patriots (1-1) finished with 11 first downs, but only four came in the final two quarters.
The Patriots led 13-6 in the fourth quarter when the Eagles came back. Rookie running back Kendall Milton ran for a 1-yard score and Tanner McKee connected with Ainias Smith on the go-ahead 2-point conversion.
Jake Elliott also scored two field goals for Philadelphia (2-0).
The Patriots projected Week 1 starter Jacoby Brissett to underwhelm in his one quarter before being replaced by Maye. New England went three-and-out on the game’s first possession. The Patriots’ second drive ended when Brissett was intercepted by Philadelphia’s Avonte Maddox in the end zone.
After another three-and-out, Brissett was ready, finishing 3-of-7 for 17 yards.
Maye drew a nice round of applause from the sparse crowd at Gillette Stadium as he checked in for the start of the second quarter. He gave fans even more reason to cheer after connecting with fellow rookie Javon Baker on third down — a 12-yard toss that ultimately helped New England tie the game at 3-3 on Slye’s 51-yarder.
Maye went from 4 yards into the end zone on the first play after the two-minute warning, giving New England a 10-3 lead into the second half.
Maye’s third-quarter performance got off to a shaky start when he fumbled the exchange, but the Patriots recovered. New England managed just one third down in the third quarter, which came on a defensive pass interference call.
Two days after the Eagles participated in a joint practice against the Patriots, Philadelphia opted to bench starting QB Jalen Hurts for the second straight preseason game. Backup Kenny Pickett played the entire first half, completing 11 of 13 passes for just 67 yards.
The Eagles failed to record a single trip into the end zone, with their only points in two quarters coming on a 42-yarder by Elliott. He added a 38-yarder in the fourth.
New England brought in Bailey Zappe with 2:25 left after rookie Joe Milton III went 2 of 7 for 20 yards and failed to lead the offense to a first down on the ensuing drive after the Eagles took the lead with 4:23 left. Zappe’s attempt at a comeback ended when a bad snap was recovered by Philadelphia, which ran out the remaining 1:47.
McKee started the second half for the Eagles and completed 15 of 19 for 140 yards. Will Grier, who spent part of last season on New England’s practice squad, went 3 of 5 for 35 yards for Philadelphia.
POCKET MASTERS
The Patriots sacked Pickett four times in the first half. Twice came on back-to-back plays, causing Philadelphia to lose the ball on downs with six minutes left in the second quarter. Joshua Uche, Keion White, Isaiah Bolden and Deatrich Wise Jr. had the sacks.
TO PROCEED
For the first time since the 2020 season, the Patriots took the field without pass rusher Matthew Judon as a member of the organization. The four-time Pro Bowl selection was traded to Atlanta on Thursday, with New England receiving a 2025 third-round pick.
INJURIES
Eagles: OL Tyler Steen was carted off the field in the first quarter. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an ankle injury. … WR John Ross was evaluated for a concussion and was eventually ruled out. Ross was targeted twice and caught one pass for 9 yards.
Patriots: Undrafted rookie WR JaQuae Jackson was taken off the field in the fourth inning and ruled out with a leg injury. Jackson caught a touchdown pass in the season opener.
NEXT
Eagles: Host Minnesota in final exhibition game on August 24.
Patriots: Travel to Washington on August 25.
