Drake Maye continued to show MVP-caliber flashes last week, throwing for more yards than any quarterback had against a fast and fierce Falcons defense, and the Patriots came through when it mattered most.

That said, coordinator Josh McDaniels‘ offense has some things to clean up after the 24-23 nail-biter.

Maye was responsible for four takedowns in his second straight game taking six sacks. As impressive as he’s been under duress, Maye has been responsible for more sacks than any quarterback not named Jaxson Dart, and he’s committed three fumbles in two games.

The offensive line–which ranked as an elite pass blocking unit from Weeks 2-7–has also shown cracks against elite rushes from the Browns and Falcons.

Will Campbell has been the best pass-protecting rookie in the NFL, but he’s allowed four sacks in the past two weeks, his first since the opener. Jared Wilson has been inconsistent all season, trailing only Joe Tippmann in sacks allowed among guards. Mike Onwenu gave up his first sack of the season on last week’s disastrous two-minute play, and he struggled both one-on-one and against stunts. Morgan Moses hasn’t allowed a sack or hit since September, but he’s been knocked off balance by speed-to-power. Even Garrett Bradbury, who’s blown away expectations in pass pro, has suffered some quick losses in recent weeks. TreVeyon Henderson deserves credit for good vision and slow deaths in blitz pickup, but he did contribute to a Maye table-top.

Screws must be tightened quickly against the Buccaneers, yet another team with a dominant pass rush, an elite corner in Jamel Dean, and a blend of youth and experience at each level.

Mike Vrabel had high praise for head coach Todd Bowles and his squad while breaking down the defense earlier this week.

“They’ve got veteran players that play physical, two really aggressive corners,” Vrabel said. “Obviously, the safeties, playmakers with [Antoine] Winfield [Jr.], but up front, Vita [Vea], [Haason] Reddick, and [Yaya] Diaby. Lavonte David’s been doing it at such a high level… And then what Todd adds is just a lot of pressure, great disguises, bringing multiple players from off the football. It’s not just a linebacker; you could have a corner, you could have a safety, [you] could have the nickel, and the coverage changes. And you’ve seen them force a lot of turnovers, especially on third down, when quarterbacks are making quick decisions, that they make the wrong decision. So, 10 turnovers in the last four games, this will be critical that we take care of the football.”

Vea, Diaby, and Reddick, and edge Anthony Nelson can collapse the pocket all by themselves, but Tampa Bay can also rain fire from any position at any time.

Linebacker SirVocea Dennis is tied for the 10th-most pressures among linebackers, while David’s three sacks are tied for the fourth-most at the position. Rookie slot Jacob Parrish leads all corners with two sacks, and only Seahawk Nick Emmanwori has more pressures. Safeties Antoine Winfield and Tykee Smith are also top ten in pressures at their position.

While New England must be ready for the blitz, McDaniels was quick to point out there’s a method to Bowles’ madness, which could mean different things on different days.

“I don’t know how many times we’ve competed against each other, but it’s a lot, and none of them are easy,” McDaniels said. “You’re exhausted at the end of the game. There’s a challenge to the way you enter the game, and then all of a sudden, the game takes on a different reality. There have been games where he’s blitzed us endlessly and other games where it’s been more tempered, but there’s always a reason for it. I’ve been so impressed with that, and if he finds something that’s an issue, he’s going to make it an issue as long as he can.”

Whether the Buccaneers bluff all game or decide to send the house, Bowles and his defense won’t make things easy for Maye and McDaniels on Sunday. But if the Patriots can start fast and exploit some key vulnerabilities, it could be too much for Tampa Bay’s battered offense to overcome.

Here are my keys to the Patriots pulling off an upset and extending their six-game win streak.

Run Right

Nothing slows down a pass rush better than running the ball, but that’ll be easier said than done against the Buccaneers’ ground defense. According to Next Gen Stats, no group is averaging fewer yards allowed after contact, and Tampa Bay is stuffing runs at the fifth-highest rate in the league.

Vea and David lead a front full of impactful penetrators. Dennis has been a standout against the run, trailing only Quinnen Williams in stop rate among qualified defenders and missing zero tackles. Parrish, Smith, and outside corner Zyon McCollum are also among the most productive run-stuffing defensive backs.

As formidable as the Buccaneers have been, Tampa Bay is averaging the league’s fifth-most yards allowed before contact, and teams have had success running to the offense’s right at defensive ends Logan Hall and Greg Gaines. Diaby has also been a bit boom-or-bust when teams target the perimeter.

The Seahawks and 49ers ripped off chunks to the sideline and on zone cutbacks inside. Seattle and the Lions also gashed the Buccaneers inside on gap concepts.

Inconsistency has plagued the Patriots’ ground game, and Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) is slated to miss his second game, but the unit is stacking improved performances.

TreVeyon Henderson has set career-highs in yards after contact two weeks straight in positive showings, and Terrell Jennings has emerged as a physical rotational player.

Most of that production has come on downhill runs behind right guard Mike Onwenu, right tackle Morgan Moses, and the Patriots’ tight ends, so the stars could align for a respectable day on the ground if Vea and the linebackers don’t wreck things. Converted fullback Jack Westover’s increasing role has also made the offense less predictable, and two-back sets were a staple of McDaniels’ (brief) run plan in these teams’ 2021 matchup.

Unleash Play Action

The Patriots used play action on just five dropbacks against Atlanta, their second-fewest in a game this season. This has typically been an area of strength for the offense, but New England didn’t convert on any of these dropbacks against a stingy Falcons defense.

This week, New England has a chance to bounce back against a Buccaneers team that’s allowing the fourth-most yards per play against play action.

Sam Darnold and Mac Jones shredded Tampa Bay’s defense on downfield in-breakers, particularly crossers and digs. Maye could be missing his favorite dig target in Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) this weekend, but DeMario Douglas and Stefon Diggs were open on crossers all game against Atlanta. Douglas has also proven to be dangerous deep in schemed matchups against safeties.

Time in the pocket and downfield opportunities will be tough to come by in obvious passing situations, so maximizing play action will be crucial to generating explosive plays.

Target TreVeyon Henderson

While TreVeyon Henderson hasn’t been the dynamic threat most expected out of training camp, he’s popped as an outlet receiver the past two weeks.

The Buccaneers’ emphasis on aggressiveness up front and sound coverage deep makes them a tough test for any young passer, but it’s also left them vulnerable underneath.

Jahmyr Gibbs had three explosives on quick throws to the right flat, and Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey turned third-down dump-offs into chunk gains. Even bigger backs, David Montgomery and Nick Chubb, have had big plays out of the backfield, including a pair of successful screens.

Dennis has been the common theme in these struggles. The linebacker’s 484 receiving yards allowed are the most for any player this season, and he hasn’t disrupted a single pass in his area. McDaniels excels at exposing a defense’s weak link, and there’s precedent for his backs having success against a Bowles-led defense.

Brandon Bolden and Damien Harris combined for 81 yards against Tampa Bay in 2021, largely on schemed touches. Tight-end Jonnu Smith also gained 12 yards from a split-back look to beat a blitz, which could be relevant one week after Douglas’ backfield score.

If you’ve been clamoring for a true breakout performance from Henderson, this matchup might be the game for you.