The Patriots’ Drake May looks like a franchise QB, but he needs some extra help

We know better. We do. But if we didn’t know any better — if we didn’t know this team is mostly devoid of skill-position talent with a receiving corps that is downright harmful . . . has a defense whose intended strength (stopping the run) has turned into a weakness due to attrition. . . and is headed by inexperienced head coach and an uninspiring offensive coordinator who fails in the crucial football arts of discipline and playmaking — we almost suspect half of these guys were actively working against the cause.

I’m sold, sold, sold Maye, who in his fourth start completed 29 of 41 passes for 209 yards, ran for another 95 yards, had a young Steve Grogan-like sensational game and hit Ramondre Stevenson for the game-tying touchdown. the final game of the rules, threw a few “Did you just see that?” off-platform passes. . . and yes, beautifully, threw his second fumbled interception of the game to seal the Patriots’ fate in overtime.

He has already learned a lot, and he will learn from this. Just imagine when the players in his own group actually help the cause instead of standing as something else for him to overcome.

Some additional thoughts, after immediate viewing:

Players featured in Unconventional Preview: Calvin Ridley, Kayshon Boutte, Jeffery Simmons.

Tony Pollard: For a while, it looked like Brian Callahan and the Titans might make the same stupid mistake against the Patriots that the Jets did last week: failing to get enough runs against their porous defense.

Pollard broke free on a 32-yard run on the Titans’ first possession that ended with Nick Vannett’s 9-yard touchdown catch. But Pollard completed just 10 carries in the first half despite gaining 69 yards. It was absurd that Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph had 19 pass attempts at one point.

But in the end, the Titans realized that the Patriots, who couldn’t consistently stop the run, as Ja’Whaun Bentley was lost for the season with a chest injury in Week 2 — wouldn’t have an answer for Pollard if they just gave him the ball.

So they did. Pollard’s most impressive run, if not for a 32-yarder, might have been an 11-yard burst after his lead blocker went down for a Titans touchdown in the fourth. He was nothing short of a workhorse in overtime, rushing seven times for 36 yards on their field goal for the game-winning points.

Overall, he had great numbers (28 carries, 128 yards), despite the fact that the Titans’ coaches didn’t take long to realize how effective he would be.

Jack Gibbons: Yes, safety Amani Hooker had two interceptions — one on the first play of the second quarter and the final touchdown in overtime — but both came on highly ill-advised throws by Maye. Aaron Judge could catch both.

The real stars of the Titans’ defense on Sunday were defensive end Jeffery Simmons (5 tackles, 1 sack), who was such a force inside that the Patriots had to move Mike Onwena from tackle to guard to help stem the tide, and the unsung Gibbens, who collected 14 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and half a sack from his linebacker position.

Gibbens delivered the biggest hit of any defensive player on either team, criticizing Patriots running back Jamical Hastie for a 3-yard loss after a short interception midway through the second quarter.

Jahlani Tawai: We probably shouldn’t be giving the quarterback to the Patriots too much praise given Pollard’s performance, but Tawai, always a valiant tackler, had a team-high 11 tackles, including six solo.

However, his biggest play came in pass protection. The Titans faced a third down early in the second quarter and scored a Patriots 3. Rudolph made a quick pass from right to left from tight end Chiga Okonkwo. The ball bounced off his hands and Tawai plucked it out of the air for his first interception of the season and just the Patriots’ fourth as a team.

By the way, did this game remind you even a little of a certain pivotal moment in the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory? It was believed that they should have given it to Marchon. . . well, there’s Pollard.

Kendrick Bourne led the Patriots group of wide receivers — aka The Most Boring Show on Grass, Turf, and Assorted Other Surfaces — with 41 yards on four of six targets. That’s a decent performance considering he’s still finding his form after coming off the physically unable to perform list in Week 5 while returning from knee injury that ended his 2023 season.

But as a veteran — his fourth season with the Patriots and eighth overall — he needs to be more conscientious. On the Patriots’ second possession, Bourne was called for a false start on third-and-9 on the Patriots’ 21. He caught an 11-yard pass on the next play, but inexplicably ran 3 yards short of the first-down marker. . Maybe he forgot he cost the Patriots 5 yards on the previous play?

Such mental lapses are at least understandable for a rookie like Ja’Lynn Polk (two penalties, no receptions, needs a complete season reset). There are no excuses for someone like Bourne, who needs to show these young guys how a professional handles tough times.

Projected final score: Patriots 20, Titans 16

Final score: Titans 20, Patriots 17 (OT)

Christian Gonzalez had a pair of pass breakups, including a sharp deflection on a third-and-7 play from the Patriots’ 38 in the first quarter that looked like Derrick White had thrown a punt. But his battle with Titans receiver Calvin Ridley was likely a draw. Ridley finished with five catches for 73 yards, including a 25-yarder in the second quarter when he beat Gonzalez up the middle. Two of his 30-yard catches came on the Titans’ winning drive in overtime. . . Marcus Jones is one of the few Patriots who can be called a playmaker right now. In last week’s loss to the Jets, Jones returned a punt 62 yards. Against the Titans, he had two more dynamic field goals, a 44-yarder late in the first half and a 25-yarder after the two-minute warning to set the Patriots up at halffield for a fourth-quarter tie. . . Jason Benetti is one of the best broadcasters in baseball. After listening to him in this game with analyst Mark Schlereth, subscribe to hear him call for more of the NFL as well.

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Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn.