Drake Maye's 2025 preseason debut had a familiar UNC feel to it

Do you remember Drake Maye needing to play hero ball to get the UNC football program in the win column? It was required for North Carolina at the time, but it's harder to imitate in the NFL. Maye learned that lesson again, in a more forgiving environment, during New England's first preseason game of 2025.

Drake Maye only got two series in the Patriots' preseason opener, and his opening drive was delayed thanks to a romping kickoff return for a touchdown by rookie TreVeyon Henderson:

It's always easier to play with a lead, but it's still early days for New England, and the passing game's chemistry is still formulating. Maye couldn't get anything vertical going and went three for five passing for 12 yards (with a high of just nine yards). Worse still, Maye's opening drive resulted in a fumble when he reverted to UNC-Maye, refusing to take a sack and live to fight another day.

New England's defense bailed him out and held Washington scoreless, and on his next (and final) drive, Drake Maye and TreVeyon Henderson led a ground campaign to the end zone, culminating in Maye's five-yard touchdown scamper:

Drake Maye and New England's first team offense will look to get the passing game clicking in their next preseason game against Minnesota next weekend.