EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Quarterback Drake Maye spends his Friday nights each week looking through the play sheet offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels creates. It’s basically a menu of formations and concepts the New England Patriots think will work against their coming opponents.
It’s a final chance for Maye to refresh his knowledge of the plays for that week, but it’s also a chance for him to highlight the ones he especially likes. So he takes a pen and puts a star next to the ones he really wants McDaniels to call. Sometimes it’s because the play worked in practice, and sometimes it’s just because he likes a matchup he thinks he’ll get on the play.
This week, the Patriots’ play sheet was quite different from the one for any other game. Without two of their top wide receivers and the whole left side of their offensive line, they had to morph their plan. With a group hey on backups, there would be a lot on Maye’s plate.