Another Patriots loss raises the question: How long can they wait for Drake Maye?

Updated Oct. 7, 2024 7:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The clock is ticking for Drake Maye.

After another lackluster performance by Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots' offense — this one a 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins — coach Jerod Mayo took nothing off the table when looking for answers.

“Every single week, or I should say every single day, we’re all being evaluated,” Mayo told reporters on Monday, a day after New England (1-4) managed just two sustained drives against another of the worst teams in the NFL. “And it’s no different now.”

Brissett was 18 of 34 for 160 yards in the Patriots’ fourth straight loss. He has yet to throw for more than 150 yards in a game — though, in fairness, he is often running for his life.

Backing him up is Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. He came in for mop-up duty in the Week 3 loss to the New York Jets and completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards.

The first pick, Chicago’s Caleb Williams, just had his second 300-yard passing day. The second pick, Jayden Daniels, has led Washington to four straight wins.

Asked if the coaches would discuss a change at quarterback, Mayo said: “We’re in a solution-driven business, and we aren’t playing good football.

“We have to look at every single unit and every single player,” he said, “and figure out how we use this roster to go out there and win games.”

What’s working

The defense continues to keep the Patriots in games, allowing just 15 points on Sunday and an average of 20.4 per game, which is ninth best in the NFL. After sitting out the first series as punishment for fumbling four times in the first four games, Rhamondre Stevenson broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and — more importantly — did not fumble.

What needs help

Poor clock management put the Patriots in bad situations at the end of both halves.

Taking over at their own 5 with 1:50 left in the second quarter, the Patriots burned less than a minute off the clock to give the ball back to Miami with 55 seconds to go. Only a false start on what would have been a good field goal, and a bad snap on the retry, saved the Patriots from giving up points.

(The Patriots got the ball back and again failed to run out the clock, forcing them to punt with 16 seconds left. Again, though, it did not cost them.)

At the end of the game, the Patriots used their timeouts to get the ball back with one more chance for the go-ahead score. But when Brissett hit Hunter Henry at the Miami 11 he was tackled inbounds and the clock ran out before they could get to the line to spike the ball.

“Our execution throughout the season — at the end of the half and the end of the game — they just have to be better,” Mayo said. “That’s exactly what you saw at the end of the game where we ran out of time. Once again, it wasn’t the call. It was just that we didn’t execute the play call.”

Stock up

After allowing 13 sacks in the previous two games, the offensive line gave up just two on Sunday — on back-to-back plays on New England’s first possession. Brissett did have to run around often, and he was hit nine times.

“I think they did a pretty good job,” Mayo said. “Obviously, there was pressure throughout the day, but there were also some pockets that seemed pretty clean. … But I did think they showed some fight yesterday.”

Stock down

Joey Slye had been a strength of the team, kicking two field goals of more than 60 yards, including a franchise-record 63-yarder against San Francisco in Week 4. But he missed a 33-yard attempt — essentially an extra point — in the second quarter, leaving the Patriots with nothing to show from a drive that started when they recovered a fumble at the Miami 23.

Injuries

There were no injuries from the game, but word emerged Monday that safety Jabrill Peppers had been arrested and charged with attacking his girlfriend. Police said cocaine also was found at the scene.

Key number

119.4 — The Patriots are averaging 119.4 net yards passing passing per game — the worst start for New England since 1982. Only eight other teams in the last two decades failed to average 120 yards per game passing over the first five games.