Patriots Rout Raiders as Maye Scores 5 TDs in Week 5
Drake Maye threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as the New England Patriots hammered the Las Vegas Raiders 45-17 on Sunday in NFL Week 5.
Maye completed 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards. It was clean and ruthless. Two scoring throws went to Pop Douglas and one each to Hunter Henry and Kyle Williams, plus a three-yard touchdown run and a scoring run from Rhamondre Stevenson, as New England piled up a season-high 536 yards, according to The Guardian.
The Patriots did it short-handed, without receiver Mack Hollins and cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III. Maye became the first New England quarterback with at least three touchdown passes in back-to-back games since Tom Brady in 2018. It was also his first turnover-free game of the season, meaning no interceptions and no lost fumbles.
Las Vegas had no answer. Kirk Cousins finished 19 of 28 for 243 yards, including a touchdown to Brock Bowers. The Raiders arrived at 3-2 having scored at least 26 points in each of their first four games. They left at 3-2 after getting run off the field. New England is 3-2.
In New Jersey, the New York Jets grinded out a 17-12 win over the Cleveland Browns to end a three-game skid. Braelon Allen broke a 22-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, right after New York recovered a fumbled punt snap. That flipped a defensive slugfest.
The Jets sacked Deshaun Watson eight times. Rookie David Bailey had three of them. Geno Smith hit Garrett Wilson for a touchdown on the opening drive, then did little else through the air, finishing 17 of 30 for 182 yards. Wilson carried the passing game with seven catches for 104 yards, while Allen pounded for 116 yards on 24 carries.
Cleveland had won three straight. That streak is gone. Will McDonald sealed it with a strip-sack on fourth down, knocking the ball free from Watson and falling on it himself.
In Pittsburgh, the Steelers beat the Indianapolis Colts 34-22 behind Jaylen Warren. Warren totaled 188 yards and two touchdowns. He caught six passes for 87 yards, including an 80-yard score, and rushed for 101 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run.
Aaron Rodgers spread it around, going 22 of 31 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Pat Freiermuth caught five passes for 44 yards and two scores, including a 17-yarder with 6:40 left that put the game away.
Houston finally broke through, too. C.J. Stroud threw for 261 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score as the Texans beat the Tennessee Titans 26-3 to snap their winless start. Will Anderson Jr. had three of Houston’s four sacks, and Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked four field goals.
What makes this stand out is how complete the good performances were. Maye protected the ball. The Jets rushed the passer in waves. The Steelers got explosives from every direction. For fans, this means October is already sorting contenders from teams still searching for answers.
