The Patriots will have a new quarterback under center as they welcome the 4-1 Houston Texans and look to break a four-game slide. Earlier this week the team announced that they would make the switch to rookie third-overall pick Drake Maye, making New England the fourth NFL team to start a rookie at the game's most important position in 2024.

Can Maye provide a needed spark and breathe new life into a stagnant passing attack that ranks among the league's bottom in most important categories? Can the Patriots defense slow down one of the most explosive offensive attacks in the league?

Here's what to watch for with Maye as well as the other players who should most impact the contest.

Drake Maye – Maye played 57 snaps in the preseason, completing 61.8% of his passes and tossing one touchdown to no interceptions. Once the season started, Maye was relegated to a backup role with the team still giving him ample opportunities to develop during practice with the first team. Against the Jets, he saw some mop-up action with 16 plays, completing 4-of-8 passes but also taking two sacks. Now Maye will be thrown into the fire against one of the NFL's best defenses. The rookie has impressive athleticism and a live arm, new issues for Houston to consider as they build their game plan. Any rookie's first start can be unpredictable, but simply by starting the clock on Maye is a positive to build off of. He's sure to show flashes of his talent but the biggest question is can he avoid the major mistakes that could quickly transform the game?

Antonio Gibson – With Rhamondre Stevenson's status in question with a foot injury, Gibson could be called upon to carry a heavy load on Sunday. Gibson has been outstanding in a limited role thus far, he's already just 58 yards off his rushing total from 2023 with the Commanders and has delivered some explosive plays that the Patriots desperately needed. Can he still deliver with a bigger workload? It won't be easy for him against a stout Texans run defense that ranks fifth in the NFL in DVOA, but it's clear that if the Patriots are to keep the pressure off of Drake Maye, they'll need to be able to run the ball consistently with Gibson.

Pop Douglas – After a quiet first two games that saw him catch just two passes for 12 yards, Douglas is starting to come on and could receive a boost from the arrival of Maye. In the last three games, Douglas has 16 catches for 141 yards but has shown a consistent ability to separate and get open. If Maye can get the ball out quickly, Douglas could be in for a lot of targets from the rookie quarterback, while Ja'Lynn Polk, whom Maye spent plenty of post-practice time working with, is another receiver who should be heavily involved.

Marte Mapu – Mapu was one of the biggest bright spots from the Miami loss, entering the game after missing nearly all of training camp and going wire-to-wire, playing a variety of positions while also calling the defense. It was an impressive effort from the second-year defender. It's exciting to imagine how Mapu might develop if his heavy workload continues. The Patriots defense needs a player like him, especially with uncertainty surrounding their starting safety statuses.

Joshua Uche – Uche was part of a better third down performance against the Dolphins, picking up his second sack of the season and will be a key pass rusher off the edge for New England.After a stat-less start against the Bengals, Uche now has two sacks in three games as the defensive game plans continue to evolve and make use of the highly athletic Uche. His ability to bend the edge remains his biggest strength and the Patriots will need him to challenge Houston's tackles and get after C.J. Stroud.

Christian Gonzalez – The Patriots are catching a break with emerging superstar Nico Collins landing on IR, and that would likely mean Gonzalez will have to take on veteran Stefon Diggs in some critical spots. Gonzalez has proven that his abbreviated rookie season was no aberration, he's been a bright spot on defense as his eye-popping speed and fluid movement skills continue to be a huge piece of the defense. Against Houston's vaunted passing attack, the Pats will need Gonzalez more than ever.

C.J. Stroud – Stroud burst onto the scene last season as a rookie, establishing a path that Patriots fans would love to emulate with Drake Maye. After leading the Texans to the playoffs last season, Stroud has continued to ascend in 2024, leading the league in passing yards. Over the last two weeks, Stroud has surpassed 300 passing yards in two wins over the Jags and Bills, but without Nico Collins the Patriots defense could have an opportunity to slow Stroud down. He's one of the game's young stars and a player the Patriots will have to contend with if they're to get back to contender's status in the AFC.

Stefon Diggs – Without Collins, Diggs becomes Stroud's number one target and he's one player who needs no introduction to the Patriots coaching staff. Once again, Diggs is off to a productive start with 31 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns. It's a good bet that the Pats will use Christian Gonzalez to slow him down in key spots. If he's able to do so the Patriots could have some matchup advantages in the passing game, but that will make disrupting Stroud even more important. Diggs is a receiver who can do it all and must be accounted for on every snap.

Will Anderson – Anderson was last year's third-overall pick and he had seven total sacks as a rookie. While his numbers don't jump off the stat sheet so far in 2024 with just 2.5 team-leading sacks, Anderson is a highly disruptive player who will give the Patriots tackles a lot of problems. Together with Danielle Hunter, this is a potent pass-rushing duo that has already recorded over 50 pressures. Making sure the edges are blocked is a big key for New England, however they can only offer so much help to either side. Anderson and Hunter are big problems.

Cam Akers – With Joe Mixon likely to miss the game, veteran Cam Akers will take over the primary rushing duties for the Texans. He's had underwhelming production thus far, but given New England's problems against the run last week it's a good bet that Houston will look to test the Patriots front with Akers to take some pressure off of Stroud. Perhaps the most important key for the Patriots defense is keeping the explosive plays off the board, especially on the ground. If Akers can get going, Houston can control the clock and the game.

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