4. Dismay After Maye’s Giveaway, Then Elation
The turnover problem reared its ugly head for the Patriots again in the fourth quarter just as Maye and the offense looked to be getting a drive started. Instead, Maye was strip-sacked from behind and the Titans pounced on the loose ball, recovering it at the New England 26-yard line. It was Maye’s second turnover of the day and it came with time on the clock dwindling away. Tennessee’s disruptive front seven did a good job making life difficult for Maye all game long with a consistent pressure rate.
The Patriots defense couldn’t come up with a stop, and the Titans scored in just five plays to take a 17-10 lead with just over four minutes to go in the game.
Maye and the Patriots offense were unable to muster a response on their next fourth-quarter possession, punting the ball back to the Titans. But the Patriots defense would do enough to give them one more chance, a chance they’d take advantage of.
Their last shot came with just under two minutes left and no timeouts and Maye delivered an eye-opening performance, hitting three passing plays to get inside the Tennessee red zone. The Pats offense converted a 4th-and 2 from the Titans 15-yard line, getting a new set of downs from the Titans five-yard line with just eight seconds left.
First, Maye spiked the ball, then missed Kayshon Boutte on second down. It all came down to a final third down and Maye, scrambling around and buying more and more time, finally let go of a pass to the end zone as he was hit and… it was complete to Stevenson for a touchdown!
It was one of the most exciting moments of Maye’s fledgling career as Joey Slye’s extra point tied the game and sent it to overtime.
The Titans would score a field goal on their opening possession of overtime, a 13-play, 72-yard drive that the Patriots defense stopped just in time at their own six-yard line. Those three points would be enough, as Maye would launch a final interception that would end the game in a Patriots defeat.
