Drake Maye's day in Munich lasted exactly one drive. The New England Patriots quarterback was ruled out with an ankle injury on Sunday after Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson sacked him on third-and-goal — and in a twist nobody in the stadium saw coming, Hutchinson was hurt on the very same play. The Lions went on to win the game 35-10.
The play came five and a half minutes into the game, on New England's opening possession. Maye was climbing the pocket on third-and-goal from the Lions' 13-yard line when Hutchinson caught him from behind and dragged him to the turf. Maye's ankle appeared to get caught underneath Hutchinson's body weight as he went down. He was doubled over on the sideline while the Patriots kicked a field goal for a 3-0 lead, then limped to the locker room at the start of New England's next drive. The Patriots first listed him as questionable to return, then ruled him out with about six minutes left in the first half. He finished 3 of 4 for 48 yards.
Hutchinson never got to enjoy the sack. He leapt into the air to celebrate, raised his right fist, and landed awkwardly — his right knee buckling as he came down. He limped off too, was listed as questionable with a knee injury, and was also ruled out for the rest of the game. Detroit has not announced a diagnosis for either player. Hutchinson is one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL, and losing him would be a major blow to a Lions team fighting to keep pace in the NFC North.
Backup quarterback Tommy DeVito took over for New England and could not get the offense moving. The Lions took control behind running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown — who scored twice in Munich, in his mother's home country — helped stretch the lead until the game was out of reach. The Patriots also lost receiver A.J. Brown early to a hamstring injury, and right tackle Morgan Moses left briefly with a knee injury before returning.
The timing could hardly be worse for New England. Maye was the runner-up for league MVP honors in 2025, and he is the player the Patriots' whole season runs through. Losing him on the first drive of a showcase game in Germany turned a winnable afternoon into a 35-10 rout before halftime had even arrived.
The hit itself became a second argument before the game was even over. Fans online called it a textbook hip-drop tackle — the banned move where a defender unweights himself, swivels around the ballcarrier and lands on the back of his legs — and demanded a flag that never came. Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira disagreed on the broadcast, saying the play did not fit the definition at all. Three things have to happen, he said: the tackler has to unweight himself, swivel all the way around the back, and land on the back of the legs below the knee. He called it more of a horse-collar type of tackle — but not a horse collar, either. No flag was thrown, though the league can still review the play and fine Hutchinson even without a penalty.
THE STORY SO FAR
Sunday, Nov. 15, first quarter, about five minutes in: On third-and-goal from the Lions' 13, Aidan Hutchinson sacks Drake Maye. Maye's ankle is caught under Hutchinson's weight. New England kicks a field goal for a 3-0 lead while Maye is doubled over on the sideline.
Moments later: Hutchinson jumps to celebrate the sack, lands awkwardly and his right knee buckles. He limps off. Both players are listed as questionable to return.
Second quarter: Maye is ruled out with an ankle injury, with about six minutes left in the half. Hutchinson is ruled out with a knee injury. Tommy DeVito takes over at quarterback for New England.
Final whistle: Detroit 35, New England 10. Jahmyr Gibbs leads the Lions' rout, and Amon-Ra St. Brown scores twice in Munich.
THE SCOREBOARD
Final score: Detroit Lions 35, New England Patriots 10, at Allianz Arena in Munich. New England led 3-0 on its opening field goal, then never scored again. Detroit answered with St. Brown's 56-yard touchdown and never trailed after that.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The Patriots catch one break: they are on their bye next week, which gives Maye extra time to recover before New England plays again. The team is expected to update his status in the coming days. Early reporting raised the possibility of a high-ankle sprain, but that is not a diagnosis — the team has said only that it is an ankle injury. If Maye cannot go after the bye, Tommy DeVito would start.
Hutchinson's knee is the other wait. Detroit has said nothing official, and the Lions need their best pass rusher healthy for the stretch run in the NFC North. Both teams will have a clearer picture — and so will fantasy managers and bettors — once the injury reports land this week.
