Kevin Byard praised Drake Maye after the quarterback’s 31-yard completion to rookie tight end Eli Raridon during New England’s 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 11, according to Boston.com. The Patriots posted a clip of Byard reacting to the throw, which came on a wheel route in the third quarter.
“That’s a dot. Golly. That’s a hell of a throw, boy,” Byard said in the team’s social media video. He added: “That’s MVP Drake right there. That’s a dot. Aw man, that’s so pretty. It’s like poetry in motion.”
Kevin Byard’s reaction to Drake Maye’s throw
The clip, posted by the Patriots, captured Byard’s immediate reaction after Maye found Raridon downfield. The 31-yard gain was the specific completion that prompted the veteran safety’s praise; Byard called the pass a “dot” and described its flight as “poetry in motion.”
Byard, 33, is an 11-year NFL veteran, Boston.com reported. He said Maye’s downfield passing in the game looked familiar from what he had seen during training camp.
“It’s the same stuff I was seeing during training camp,” Byard said, according to Boston.com. “I guess just seeing it [in] live action, in the games — he’s making those beautiful throws down the field.”
Byard also praised the way the ball came out of Maye’s hand, calling it “such a pretty ball.” He said his reaction was natural as he watched Maye make plays on Sunday, and noted that Maye had come close to 400 passing yards in the Raiders game.
The 31-yard completion came during a Patriots win over Las Vegas
New England’s 45-17 victory over Las Vegas was the second of back-to-back Patriots wins, following a victory over the Buffalo Bills. Boston.com reported that the Raridon completion came in the third quarter and produced a 31-yard pickup on a wheel route.
Byard said Maye had not had the performances he wanted during the first three weeks of the season, but maintained that the team understood what kind of quarterback he could be. “In the past two weeks, he’s been doing very well, so I expect that to continue,” Byard said, as quoted by Boston.com.
His comments connected the individual throw to a broader stretch of improved production without treating one completion as a verdict on the season. The Patriots clip focused on the veteran’s response to the pass, while Byard’s later remarks placed Maye’s recent play in the context of what he had seen in training camp and during the opening weeks.
Drake Maye’s production across wins over the Bills and Raiders
Across the two victories, Maye completed 48 of 71 passes for 643 yards and seven passing touchdowns, Boston.com reported. He also recorded 79 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, with two total turnovers during that span.
The figures cover both the Buffalo and Las Vegas games, rather than the Raiders win alone. They provide the statistical context for Byard’s praise: Maye’s 31-yard throw to Raridon came during a two-game stretch in which he contributed through both the passing game and as a runner.
Byard said the recent performances followed a quieter opening stretch for Maye. He pointed to the quarterback’s ability to deliver downfield throws and said he expected the strong play to continue, according to Boston.com.
What Maye said about A.J. Brown and the passing game
Maye also discussed how the possibility of A.J. Brown being on the field could affect the Patriots’ offense. He said a return could open other areas for teammates, framing it as a potential effect rather than confirming Brown’s availability.
“I think it definitely opens up other parts of the field and other parts of the game for guys,” Maye said, according to Boston.com. He compared the dynamic to basketball, where defensive attention on a leading player can leave other teammates with opportunities.
Maye said New England has players who have made plays and that the personnel could create a difficult challenge for opposing defenses. He also acknowledged the Patriots had a tough challenge ahead that week. His remarks were about what Brown’s presence could mean for the offense if he played, not an announcement that he would be available.
The Patriots-posted clip gives the play a concise snapshot: Maye’s 31-yard wheel-route completion to Raridon, followed by Byard’s enthusiastic reaction. Boston.com’s account places that moment within Maye’s production across the wins over Buffalo and Las Vegas and includes the safety’s view that the downfield throws were consistent with what he had seen in training camp.
