FOXBORO — After Drake Maye's incredible touchdown at the end of regulation on Sunday, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had a decision to make: He'll take the extra point and go into overtime against the Titans, or he'll go for two and win the victory road.

After watching Maye scramble for 12 seconds before throwing a touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson in the end zone, Mayo decided to kick the extra point and play some more football at Tennessee. New England ultimately lost 20-17 in overtime when the Titans ended their only possession with a field goal and Maye threw a game-winning interception.

Mayo didn't go into a detailed explanation of his decision after Sunday's loss, but said Monday morning that he thought about it a lot in hindsight as the team headed back to New England.

Why the second guess?

“Because we lost the game. It’s that simple,” Mayo told reporters in a video conference.

If the Patriots had won in overtime, no one would question Mayo's decision. But the Patriots lost 7-2, so that decision remains in the spotlight Monday.

Why didn't the Patriots play the Titans twice?

Mayo said Sunday that he felt taking the extra point and going to overtime was the right thing for his team. He continued with this approach on Monday morning.

“At the start of the season we went for two and didn’t make it. You are criticized. If you score the (extra point) here, you will be criticized. “I will always do what I think is best for the team,” Mayo said. “We can talk about analytics and use those things, but at the same time there is a flow to the game.”

“As head coach, the decision – and the consequences – are mine,” Mayo added.

The Patriots converted a two-pointer against the Jets last Sunday when Jacoby Brissett hit Stevenson with a short pass, giving the team a 25-22 lead in the final minute. The Patriots failed on a two-point attempt two weeks earlier in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars in London when Ja'Lynn Polk slipped on his route and Maye's pass fell incomplete. That would have reduced New England's deficit to 25-18, which ultimately led to the team's 32-16 loss.

Did fatigue play a role in Mayo's decision?

Before we move on, it's worth revisiting Maye's magic at the end of regulation. Not just because it's the Patriots' “Game of the Year,” but also to get a sense of how long New England's quarterback and offense have struggled.

It was a complete fire drill, as Maye made every effort to avoid would-be tacklers (and in one case, his offensive lineman) before making his throw while being hit. Sure, the kid is only 22, but he was exhausted after the play.

“Shoot, I was just trying to catch my breath,” Maye said after Sunday’s loss. “I couldn't even think about going as a couple. I think just looking back, it's easy to say: we've been on such an intense ride for so long. I think it's hard to go with two people. I don't think it's easy to look back now and say our defense was fresh, came out in overtime and tried to get a stop.

And Maye wasn't the only patriot running around like a madman in the play. His linemen held their blocks while Maye struggled, and his receivers did what they could to create separation.

Mayo was asked again on Monday whether fatigue played a role in his decision.

“There were several factors at play,” he said. “Again, I just did what I thought was best for the team.”

What were the other factors in Mayo's decision?

The head coach didn't say it, but the lack of a running game and the inconsistent play of his offense played a role in Sunday's decision at the end of regulation time. Early in the game, the Patriots faced a second-and-1 but failed to gain a single yard on two consecutive plays. Overall, the Patriots' running backs had just 15 yards on 10 carries against the Tennessee defense.

The Patriots have also had problems with goal line situations all season. They've only scored once on their three shots from the two-yard line this year.

The odds were slim that the Patriots would convert in this situation. Still, at 2-6 with nothing to lose but one more game at the end of regulation time, the Patriots could have been aggressive. It would have given Maye more valuable in-game learning experiences, and if the QB had pulled off even more magic, it would have been a defining moment for Mayo's Patriots.

Instead, the Pats played to overtime and lost.