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Drake Maye, Patriots hold Bengals at bay for 9th straight win! Drake Maye battles through a shaky start but regains control to help lift the Patriots past the Bengals 26-20, admitting his early inaccuracy came from losing rhythm before settling in and “getting back to the basics”

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by

Binh
in

The New England Patriots got a big 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but quarterback Drake Maye didn’t have the best performance.

Maye completed 22 of his 35 passes for 294 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. However, his opening three drives were rough, as he managed to complete just three passes for 16 yards and threw a pick-six.

Not his best performance': Drake Maye's rare off day still results in Patriots win

Reporters asked Maye after the game if he felt like the ball was coming out differently on some of his misses early in the game.

“Not that I can think of,” Maye said on Sunday. “Sometimes you just have to let it go. That’s when I’m throwing it best and on time. I wasn’t very accurate early on, but I found a groove. Just head back to the basics.”

Maye acknowledged that his accuracy wasn’t quite up to par early in the game, which likely contributed to his struggles. However, he mentioned that it doesn’t feel strange for him when he’s not as accurate as he typically is.

“No,” Maye said, about it feeling strange if his accuracy is off. “Just get back to the little things and the fundamentals. I just need another live throw to get back at it and you feel fine. It’s just one of those things that happens. I don’t really think it’s a big deal. Just have to get back in the groove.”

Drake Maye, Patriots hold Bengals at bay for 9th straight win

NFL: New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals
Nov 23, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) rolls out during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
November 23 – Drake Maye completed 22 of 35 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and the New England Patriots held on for a 26-20 win over the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
Hunter Henry caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for New England (10-2), which won its ninth game in a row. Andy Borregales made four field goals.
Joe Flacco completed 19 of 37 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Cincinnati (3-9). Chase Brown had 19 carries for 107 yards.
The Bengals pulled within 23-20 with 4:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. Flacco found Mitchell Tinsley for a 17-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game.
The Patriots increased their lead to 26-20 with 1:51 remaining as Borregales made a 52-yard kick.
Flacco tried to lead the Bengals to a late comeback, but the Bengals’ drive ended at the Patriots 26-yard line as his fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Neither team scored a touchdown in the first quarter. The only scoring belonged to Cincinnati, which took a 3-0 lead on a 54-yard field goal by Evan McPherson.
The Bengals relied on a defensive touchdown to increase their lead to 10-0 in the first minute of the second quarter. Safety Geno Stone intercepted a pass from Maye and returned it 32 yards to the end zone.
The Patriots scored on their next possession to pull within 10-7. Maye found Henry wide open down the left sideline for a 28-yard touchdown.
New England’s defense scored a touchdown less than two minutes later. Cornerback Marcus Jones jumped in front of Flacco’s pass and returned the interception 33 yards for the go-ahead score that put the Patriots on top 14-10.
Borregales added a 41-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead late in the half.
McPherson answered with a 63-yard field goal as time expired in the half to make it 17-13. The kick set a Bengals franchise record and marked a career long for McPherson.
The kicking trend continued in the third quarter, as Borregales drilled a 45-yarder to increase New England’s lead to 20-13.
Borregales chipped in a 19-yard kick to put the Patriots on top 23-13 with 5:55 left.
CrowdStrike founder and chief executive George Kurtz has bought into the Mercedes Formula One team.
The Patriots lost a key starter on their offensive line due to injury. Left tackle Will Campbell sustained a leg injury and needed to be carted off the field late in the third quarter.