NASHVILLE – The connection between Kayshon Boutte and Drake Maye looks special.
Two weeks ago, the receiver caught a 19-yard pass to set up a game-winning field goal in Buffalo. Last weekend, Boutte caught two touchdowns and then a 21-yard pass to ice the game in New Orleans.
On Sunday, the receiver-quarterback combination was at it again.
Boutte caught two impactful passes for 55 yards. That included a 39-yard touchdown in the Patriots’ 31-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. After the game, the receiver said it was a play he and Maye had been working on.
“It felt good, something we worked on all week — big throw. Big catch,” Boutte said. “We took advantage of lazy cornerback play, lazy safety play, and (it was) just a big play.”
The timing of the touchdown was important.
In the first half, the Titans were battling with the Patriots, and Tennessee just took a 13-10 lead with 1:48 left in the half. Less than a minute later, Maye hit Boutte for the 39-yard score. That gave the Patriots their first lead of the game, and they never looked back.
On the play, Boutte was wide open, running past Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and safety Quandre Diggs.
“There’s not too many opportunities like that where it’s just wide open, you and the ball,” Boutte said. “It’s one of those plays you’ve got to make. You don’t want to come back after the game and be like, ‘Damn, I should’ve had that.’”
Boutte also had a big catch in the previous drive. On second-and-12, the receiver was in the right spot at the right moment to haul in a 16-yard catch. That series ended with an Austin Hooper touchdown reception.
Boutte is now on pace to surpass the 800-yard mark this season. Over the last three games, it’s clear that he and Maye have a special connection.
“We’ve been working on it, too. I don’t know if any of you are surprised or anything like that,” Boutte said. “Great receiving play. Great quarterback play. It all goes back to trust. He trusts that I’m going to be in the spot he needs me to be, and I trust that the ball is going to be where it needs to be.”
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