New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo's reaction to Drake Maye's first NFL start speaks volumes

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye was one of the lone bright spots in the New England Patriots' humbling 41-21 home defeat to the Houston Texans .

The third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft completed 20 of his 33 passes for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in a game that was within two scores most of the way.

C. J. Stroud and the Texans' offense steamrolled first-year head coach Jerod Mayo's usually stout defense. However, Houston's second-year signal caller wasn't the star of the show.

The Texans rushed for 192 yards on 26 carries. Running back Joe Mixon missed the last four games but emerged with 102 yards in his return to the lineup.

• Caleb Williams' breakout performance not all it seems with cause for hesitancy as Bears fans party
• Aidan Hutchinson suffers gruesome leg break as FOX refuses to show replay

Mayo, a former linebacker, defended his rookie quarterback and shouldered most of the blame for the defeat in his postgame press conference.

“I thought he showed a lot of poise. I thought he went out there and controlled the huddle, got those guys out of the huddle, and once again, made some plays," Mayo said of Maye. "It’s encouraging.

“From a team-wide perspective right now, we let him down," he admitted. "It was his first game, and I feel like I let him down. I’m sure all the coaches feel like we let everyone down. We’ve just got to be better.”

The offensive line didn't do Maye any favors either, allowing four sacks and constant pressure all game. Part of the reason Mayo elected to start veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett for the first five weeks of the year was to shield Maye from hits.

The Patriots offensive line, admittedly missing center David Andrews, entered Sunday having allowed the most pressures in the entire league.

Conversely, the Houston Texans entered Sunday leading the NFL in pressures forced. On Sunday, star edge rusher Will Anderson Jr sacked Maye three times to bring his tally to 5.5 on the year.

READ MORE: 'I watched the Jacksonville Jaguars sideline reactions and noticed three worrying signs'

READ MORE: 3 Russell Wilson landing spots as Justin Fields told Steelers locker room verdict

Despite the pressure, Maye still became just the 14th rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw for three touchdowns or more in his first career start.

Veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne was effusive in his praise for his new starting QB: "I think he did phenomenal. Him getting hit, he kept playing and didn't seem too rattled. He stuck to what he does and I think that's huge because obviously we're struggling on the line as everybody knows in a sense."

"The way he was running the ball was impressive," Bourne continued. His athleticism and ability to throw on the run; it's how he runs with his body -- he's running left but facing forward to throw the ball. I think those traits are what you see around the league, Patrick Mahomes , these new-age quarterbacks are throwing the ball on the run and extending plays," he said.