The New England Patriots ’ rookie class has had its ups and downs all season, and the team’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 9 was no exception. While eight first-year players took the field — the highest such number since Week 4 — their actual impact on the game was all over the place. With that said, let’s go over those eight players one-by-one to find out how they performed.
QB Drake Maye: There were questions about Maye’s status entering the game, but he was cleared from concussion protocol in time to earn his fourth career start. It was a rollercoaster ride for the third overall selection in this year’s draft. While he managed to showcase his rare talent on plays like a deep sideline completion to DeMario Douglas and a game-tying touchdown to Rhamondre Stevenson, he also made some head-scratching decisions such his game-ending interception in overtime.
Maye entered the NFL as high-ceiling prospect, and Sunday was concrete proof that he still is even with the arrow pointing up. For more on his performance, please click here , here , and here . WR Ja’Lynn Polk: Returning from his own concussion, Polk had a quiet day.
Serving as the No. 4 wide receiver in terms of snaps (9), he finished the game with more penalties than targets. Polk was thrown the ball once on Maye’s first interception — a turnover more on the QB than the WR — and was flagged on two occasions: he was called for holding in the second quarter, and for an illegal shif.
