The Drake Maye slump has become the biggest story of the New England Patriots’ 0-3 start, one year after the quarterback finished second in MVP voting. Maye has thrown one touchdown pass and six interceptions through three games, and his 58.6 passer rating is the NFL’s worst among quarterbacks with at least two starts, according to CBS Sports.
The numbers sit far from his 2025 form. Maye completed 72% of his passes that season for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and his 113.5 passer rating led the league, according to the team’s website.
Inside the Drake Maye slump
The turnovers are the starkest part. Maye’s six interceptions are the most by a Patriots quarterback through three games since Drew Bledsoe threw eight in 1994, the Associated Press reported.
The low point came in Week 3. Jacksonville beat New England 35-6 on Sunday, Sept. 27, and Maye went 14 of 25 for 199 yards with two interceptions and a fumble, according to Sports Illustrated.
Pressure has fed the Drake Maye slump. Seattle sacked him six times in Super Bowl LX, and the Seahawks sacked him three more times in the season opener. Pittsburgh and Jacksonville each added three.
A thinner supporting cast
Maye has also lost help around him. Wide receiver A.J. Brown has been out since Week 1 with an ankle injury, and right guard Mike Onwenu has a fractured ankle, according to TSN.
The receiving group looks different from last season, too. New England has since moved on from Stefon Diggs, and Romeo Doubs is now part of the group.
Vrabel: Maye is pressing
Coach Mike Vrabel has pointed to pressing as the heart of the Drake Maye slump. “We need to stop trying to choke the life out of every single play,” Vrabel said, adding that the quarterback needs to relax.
Vrabel also reminded reporters that Maye is 24 and still developing. Former NFL quarterback Phil Simms, as reported by Yahoo Sports, pointed to mechanics, saying Maye has added a wrist flick before throws and is trying to guide the ball.
Maye took responsibility after the Jacksonville loss. “I gotta look myself in the mirror and take this as a turning point,” he said.
What’s next for the Patriots
New England visits Buffalo on Sunday for its AFC East opener against a Bills team that is 3-0. The matchup is a tough test for an offense that has struggled to find rhythm. See our Patriots vs. Bills preview for the key questions.
Brown’s return would help, and Maye has shown he can play at an elite level. For now, though, ending the Drake Maye slump starts with a clean game from their quarterback to avoid an 0-4 hole.
