Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte didn’t know extent of his highlight-reel TD until replay

FOXBORO — Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte made one of the great postseason touchdown catches in Patriots history Sunday, hauling in an over-the-shoulder throw from Drake Maye one-handed over Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

Boutte was asked Monday morning where that catch ranks in his own personal highlights.

“I never thought about that one yet,” Boutte said. “I think I’m still enjoying the moment, though. I still kind of look back and I was wondering, like, ‘how did I catch that?’

“I never realized that it was one hand until I got to the sideline and was watching it on the screen.”

Stingley was Boutte’s college teammate at LSU. The Patriots’ wide receiver credited Stingley with helping make him better through practice reps.

Boutte did acknowledge that Stingley’s coverage likely forced him to make the catch one-handed.

“I would just say on deep balls, corners kind of get away with holding your left arm and the wrist and stuff like that,” Boutte said. “So, I mean, obviously, if I was able to catch it with two, it would have been over the shoulder, but I think maybe I was held a little bit. Just one hand, made a play.”

The play was eerily similar to the first touchdown throw of Maye’s career, which was also the first touchdown catch of Boutte’s career. That play, in Week 6 of the 2024 season, also came with Stingley in coverage.

“It was the exact same route, same end zone, same corner, on the same person,” Boutte said.

Boutte remembered that Maye allowed him to keep that ball.

The Patriots face another top-tier defense in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game when they travel to play the Broncos. Boutte has a history against Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II, having played him in LSU-Alabama games.

 

Espace publicitaire · 300×250