New England’s youngest players stepped up in the Patriots’ 19-3 win over Chicago on Sunday, and coach Jerod Mayo was quick to praise their performances. “ [Maye] still continues to go out there and make plays,” Mayo said. “He’s going to make mistakes, but this is part of his evolution, his growth and development.”

Midway through his Friday morning press conference, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo took a curious detour. He pivoted, voluntarily, from discussing the merits of choosing a go-ahead two-point conversion versus a game-tying extra point to his personal growth as a head coach.

Jerod Mayo has notes on what's gone right and wrong in his first season as Patriots head coach, and is vowing a big jump in Year 2.