Patriots QB Drake Maye hears 'MVP' chants during win vs. Browns - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye took off on 28-yard run late in the third quarter of a 32-13 victory over the visiting Cleveland Browns on Sunday, fans began chanting «MVP! MVP! MVP!»

Then, when Maye connected with receiver Kayshon Boutte on a beautiful deep ball for a 39-yard touchdown on the next play, those chants grew that much louder.

«I was joking with him last week about MVP, too. He doesn't like to hear it. I think it's the truth,» Boutte said of Maye, whose stellar play has helped the Patriots (6-2) win five straight games as one of the NFL's surprise teams. «We all see it. If you look around the league at the other guys, they're doing great stuff, too, but I think Drake is doing everything they're doing. There's nothing he's not doing.»

Maye was 18-of-24 for 282 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception against the Browns, while adding seven rushes for 50 yards. His performance helped turn a close 9-7 halftime lead into a rout, as his three third-quarter touchdown passes marked the first time a Patriots quarterback threw three touchdowns in a quarter since Tom Brady on Dec. 9, 2018.

Entering Week 8, Maye (+750) was behind only Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (+165), Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (+375) and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+400) in MVP odds, according to ESPN BET Sportsbook.

«To see the growth in Drake has been awesome. Obviously he's going out there and playing at a high level right now,» veteran tight end Hunter Henry said. «It's a lot of fun to go out there and play with him.»

Entering Week 8, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was listed by ESPN BET with the fourth-best odds to be named NFL MVP.

In his second NFL