Two rookies had the tough mandate to get the start at starting quarterback Sunday in their NFL debut.
With Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler this afternoon, five rookies have now started a game this season after Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix.
The two young quarterbacks showed good things at times, but could not prevent their respective teams from ending their losing streak.
In the case of the Saints (2-4), they conceded a fourth in a row by suffering a 51-27 beating against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2).
Rattler threw his first career touchdown pass to Bub Means to briefly give the Saints the lead, but it was his only one. It was the first time in organization history that a quarterback’s first touchdown pass was thrown to another rookie in his first start.
The Saints faced a 17-0 deficit including a fumble recovery, but they fought back. Rashid Shaheed scored on a long punt return for the touchdown, then Rattler put his team in front 20-17.
Alvin Kamara added a touchdown and a ground, but the rest of the game was the business of the Bucs, led by Mayfield who taught his 24-year-old counterpart a lesson with his four touchdown passes. Chris Godwin converted two of them, with the others going to Sean Tucker and Cade Otton. Tucker also ran for a total of 136 yards.
Rattler was taking over for Derek Carr after he suffered a strained oblique during the most recent loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Jake Haener arrived as a reinforcement during Monday’s game once Carr was injured, while Rattler was No. 3. The latter ultimately completed only 22 of his 40 passes and was intercepted twice.
CJ Stroud threw three touchdown passes and the Houston Texans spoiled rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s first career start by mauling the New England Patriots 41-21 on Sunday.
Joe Mixon rushed for 102 yards and caught a touchdown pass from Stroud.
“He has great feel for the game and great vision,” Stroud said of his running back.
Stefon Diggs made six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown for the Texans (5-1), who lead the American Association South. Tank Dell caught seven balls for a total of 57 yards and a major.
Dameon Pierce ran 54 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 76 yards on eight carries. Will Anderson Jr. recorded three sacks for the Texans, who posted their third straight victory.
“You have to continue to progress and improve,” Anderson said. I have to congratulate the defensive linemen. These guys are great at what they do. I love these guys. »
The Patriots (1-5) got a spark from Maye, the third overall pick in the last NFL draft. Taking the place of veteran Jacoby Brissett, the rookie completed 20 of his 33 passes for aerial gains of 243 yards, in addition to adding 38 yards on the ground.
Maye threw three touchdown passes, but he was also the victim of two interceptions and four sacks, including one that caused him to lose the ball.
After making seven sacks at the expense of first overall pick Caleb Williams a month ago, the Texans didn’t take any time before making life difficult for Maye.
The Patriots cleared the ball after three downs on their first possession and on the next, Maye threw an interception into the hands of Calen Bullock.
The New England team suffered a fifth defeat in a row and has still not won in three home outings this season.
“The thing with this team is taking the ball from them,” Anderson said. If you create turnovers, you win the game. »
Maye threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kayshaun Boutte with just 11 seconds left in the first half. He matched Brissett’s touchdown pass count after five games (two) when he connected with Hunter Henry in the end zone to cut the lead to 27-14 in the third quarter.
Maye gave Patriots fans one more reason to celebrate when he combined with DeMario Douglas for a 35-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“I think he showed a lot of composure. “He went out there and controlled the game. That’s really encouraging,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said of Maye.
“From a team perspective right now, we let him down. It was his first match and I feel like I let him down. I’m sure all the coaches feel like we let everyone down. We just have to be better. »
Both teams played without a few key players on offense. The Texans placed their top receiver, Nico Collins, on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while the Patriots were without running back Rhamondre Stevenson with a foot injury.
