- - Drake Maye's secret weapon against touted Texans defense? His legs

Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAYJanuary 17, 2026 at 12:53 AM

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FOXBOROUGH, MA – To set a New England Patriots playoff record, for a quarterback, is to keep some seriously significant company.

Except maybe in this case.

Drake Maye, with 66 rushing yards, now owns the single-game rushing record for a quarterback in Patriots postseason history. The guy ahead of him? Not Tom Brady. Steve Grogan, who had 35 yards rushing against the then-Oakland Raiders on Dec. 18, 1976, previously held the team record.

More than half (37) of Maye’s yards in the 16-3 wild-card round victory over the Los Angeles Chargers came on a third-down scramble in the second quarter that set up a go-ahead field goal from Andy Borregales. (That’s also the longest QB run in Pats postseason history, supplanting Mac Jones’ 16-yard dash against the Buffalo Bills in January 2022).

Maye's legs can be an antidote for a Houston Texans pass rush that is considered the best in the NFL, let alone among the remaining eight playoff teams, during the team's Jan. 18 divisional-round matchup.

“I think that just adds another element that the defense has to defend,” Patriots quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant said of Maye using his legs. “When you have an immobile quarterback, you’re at a disadvantage, because it’s 10 guys versus their 11. As soon as you add the quarterback’s ability to run, now it’s an even playing field.”

Maye must protect himself, ball against Texans' hard-hitting defense

Maye is certainly mobile and can extend plays, but he does not put up gaudy stats in the rushing department. He had at least 20 rushing yards in all but six games, and between 20-50 rushing yards in 10 games. His previous season-high was a 62-yard showing against the Tennessee Titans. Maye had four rushing touchdowns in 2025, with half of them coming in the Dec. 14 home game against the Buffalo Bills.

Responsible for keeping Maye in check should he break from the pocket will likely be the Texans’ off-ball linebackers, Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o. The initial impression Maye got from watching their tape is how hard they tackle the ball-carrier.

"Those guys, especially at the linebacker level,” Maye said, “they’re going to try to take your head off.

“They’ll make you pay for it. So (I) got to have a good feel about when to take chances and be smart, because the linebackers are good and they do a good job of delivering some big-time hits. That’s this league and knowing when to protect myself.”

1 / 64NFL weather games: Football played in adverse conditions ❄️🌧️Dec. 7, 2025: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) communicates between plays against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. Despite a heavy snowfall, the Bills and Bengals played a high-scoring game, which was won by Buffalo, 39-34.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said that anytime Maye runs for 66 yards and uses his legs to keep the chains moving is welcomed. He also wants to make sure he doesn’t talk out both sides of his mouth: “clap when it goes good and be upset when it doesn’t.” Ending the drive with “some form of a kick would be ideal” for the Patriots this week, he said.

The Texans’ defense is coming off facing an opponent, in Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the unit could tee off against, given Rodgers’ diminished mobility at his age. Maye won’t let them have that type of free rush. But Houston will be coming, and New England head coach Mike Vrabel wants to see his quarterback “use great ball security."

“Making sure that that's all part of everything that we've been working on – having two hands on the football in the pocket and just having a feel in the timing of when you have to get the ball out on rhythm,” Vrabel said. “And hopefully, if not, being able to extend. And when you extend, making sure that you're good with the football going up into the pocket.”

Running with the ball creates a risk of turnovers, and Maye had two from the pocket against the Chargers – a twice-tipped pass that turned into an interception at the line of scrimmage and a sack-fumble. Every turnover falls into its own category, Grant said, but sometimes the quarterback is timed up in his throwing motion and the defender makes a play on the exposed pigskin. Maye has been instructed that if he feels the pocket collapsing to protect it. But if he’s made the decision to throw the ball – let it rip.

Out of the pocket, Maye's mindset must change once in the open field. Five points of contact, high and tight. In the pocket, it’s about maintaining a firm grip, with two hands on the ball, close to the chest.

Maye’s teammates certainly don’t mind when he takes off.

“I think it helps us as a team,” wide receiver Kayshon Boutte said. “We got a good run game, good pass game, and he’s able to make plays. It all starts with him starting to understand defenses. I think he does a good job.”

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson agreed, saying that Maye’s running ability “opens it up a little more, defense has to focus on him scrambling, using his legs, so just another factor for the defense to focus on.”

Anything helps when it comes to disrupting this Texans defense.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Drake Maye's rushing skills can offset Texans defense's strength

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