NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Drake Maye showed Sunday exactly why the New England Patriots selected him with the third overall pick. NFL draft in April.

He also reminded that quarterbacks need a little time to develop.

Maye led the Patriots in rushing for a career-high 95 yards. The rookie also worked his way through, dodging defenders for 11.82 seconds before finally finding Rhamondre Stevenson open in the end zone well after the final second counted down to force overtime.

Then Maye was eliminated for the second time in the game in overtime in a 20-17 loss against the Titans and the second overtime defeat this season for Patriots (2-7).

“We already knew that, but I think the obvious thing is just his mental toughness and his ability to really turn things around and be a resilient player, and that’s a great quality to have in a quarterback,” he said. said first-year coach Jerod Mayo. “And he’s a good competitor.”

The rookie was limited all week in practice working his way through the concussion protocol that forced him out of last week’s win over the Jets. Maye wasn’t cleared until Saturday, although he showed no hesitation in taking off eight times to lead the Pats in rushing. He also threw for 206 yards.

“It gave us a chance to win the game. Obviously, I just didn’t make it,” Mayo said.

The rookie He was also intercepted twice, the last one ending the game. He was stripped of the ball by Titans linebacker Arden Key when he was sacked for the fourth time, and Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons recovered.

That allowed the Titans to reach the Patriots 26 and an easy touchdown for a team that had only scored once before in the fourth quarter of a game this season. After the New England defense held Tennessee to a 25-yard field goal by Nick Folk in overtime, the Pats still had one last chance until Maye’s second interception.

Maye now has six TD passes and four interceptions this season.

“I have to go back and learn from it, especially me,” Maye said. “I have to take them and take advantage of these reps that I get in the game, and I have to play better.”

The play that most shows Maye’s promise came as he literally ran for time for his only TD pass in this loss. He thanked his linemen for continuing to block as he ran around looking for someone.

There were only 4 seconds left on the game clock when the ball snapped. Maye took the second longest time to throw a touchdown pass – regular season or playoffs – since Next generation statistics started tracking these stats in 2016 for the NFL. Only Jayden Daniels’ match winner for Washington last week took longer, at 12.7 seconds.

Mayo opted for the extra point rather than the victory with a 2-point conversion.

The quarterback said he was busy trying to catch his breath and didn’t think to convince his coach to put the ball in his hands.

“We’re out there this long on such high-intensity training that I think it’s hard to go for second place,” Maye said. “I don’t think it’s easy to look back and say that now.”

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