Can Drake Maye Have The Game In Buffalo He Had Last Year

By Steve Atkinson 

Drake Maye appeared in Buffalo last year during primetime and led a victory over the Bills. That game was also notable for performances by Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. Maye was confident in the offense, and Diggs knew he could depend on him. However, they let Diggs go due to off-field issues and traded Kayshon Boutte for Romeo Dobbs, who came from a West Coast offense and has struggled to adapt to a new system.

Since Diggs played in Buffalo, he was already familiar with the Josh McDaniels offense. Dobbs, who played in Green Bay, receives a different reaction from fans there compared to Boston if a player isn’t performing well. It seems like Maye lacks the confidence in his receivers he had a year ago. That’s because he doesn’t have a fast receiver who can cross the middle. Ultimately, it’s his job to elevate the talent around him, as top quarterbacks do. Patrick Mahomes, for example, doesn’t have great receivers but uses his athleticism to create plays. Romeo Dobbs may never fully grasp the offense, so it’s up to Drake Maye to find someone he can trust and target regularly.

Mack Hollins seemed to be that guy in Jacksonville, but he needs to improve significantly. Hunter Henry needs to be more involved in the passing game—his first catch of the game came in the second half. Demario Douglas might need to be the go-to middle target, but he’s much shorter than Diggs and Boutte, which leads to dropped passes. Better chemistry between him and Maye is essential.

Drake Maye Listed On Injury Report

Drake Maye was listed on the injury report this week with a “shoulder injury” but practiced throughout the week. Whether it’s the same injury he sustained after the AFC Championship Game is unknown, and the team hasn’t disclosed details, especially since he wasn’t on the injury report at the season’s start. To avoid fines, they had to list him and claim he was injured in the Jacksonville game.

Here is Mike Vrabel on the injury to Drake Maye:

“I think that was something that came out of the football game. Like normal, I would say, football procedures. Guys go through the game much like Gonzo or somebody else that comes in sometimes Monday or even Tuesday, for that matter, and says, “Hey, thought this was something. Can you take a look at it?” So, that’s what we do every week.”

I don’t think at this moment he will have a repeat of a year ago in Buffalo. It’s not the same bought-in receiver group like it was with Diggs. Without AJ Brown currently, they can’t do anything on offense. It could be a long day for that offense again, especially if nobody steps up.