Drake Maye

Drake Maye said he expects to play in Week 18 against the Bills.

Head coach Jerod Mayo also said on Wednesday that he expects Maye to start “if he’s healthy and ready to go. The Patriots are sitting on the No. 1 overall pick and will likely face a number of backups in their final game of the season, with the Bills already securing their spot in the playoffs. Given their current draft slot, the Patriots have no reason to want to win in Week 18, which was thought to maybe tilt the scales in Jacoby Brissett’s favor as the Week 18 starter. That said, it sounds like the team is willing to go with the rookie in the season finale and let the chips fall where they may.