Drake Maye Didn’t Play Well In September Last Year Either

By Steve Atkinson 

Did we forget the Patriots started 0-2 a year ago? Drake Maye was awful against the Raiders and had too many turnovers in the game against Pittsburgh, which they lost. He did better in the warm weather in the Miami game and also did well in the warm weather in Carolina against the Panthers. Then in Buffalo, he went off and really had the game of his career. Those plays in Buffalo to get the win were elite. Yes, the schedule played a big part in last year’s success, but in the playoffs, when it got cold, he didn’t play well. Lost to a real defense in the Super Bowl, then opened 2026 with the same tough defense and lost.

Too Early To Judge Drake Maye

Sunday, in the win over Pittsburgh, Drake Maye was shaky, like he was a year ago. He tried and finally connected with Romeo Dobbs, but AJ is definitely missed in that offense. Mack Hollins was absent, Kyle Williams made one catch, and Demario Douglas made one catch. Hunter Henry made maybe two catches and then tried to make one that was intercepted because it was a bad throw. Did we all forget Maye had a bad September last year? It’s because he was the runner-up in the MVP with an easy schedule, then when it came down to the playoffs and it started to get colder, he didn’t play as well.

I guarantee that in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, he’s gonna be a lot better because the weather will be warm, and Maye will have a day like he did last year against the Tennessee Titans. I wouldn’t worry about Drake Maye until after the Buffalo game if it’s anything different from last year in Buffalo.

Drake Maye Should Improve Next Week In The Hot Weather

The Steelers game this year definitely was a mess. Aaron Rodgers is absolutely finished and holding that team back. The Patriots’ defense was good, but it says more about the Steelers’ offense.

Well, our identity needs to be about affecting the quarterback. It needs to be about creating turnovers and being able to force teams into longer yardage situations. If that, each week, requires us to pressure, then I think that’s what we’ll try to do. If we feel like it doesn’t, I think we’re multiple enough to be able to do that based on what we feel like it is each week. So, we know that you have to affect the quarterback, you have to be great in the red zone, and you have to be able to create some turnovers

Vrabel said also today that Drake Maye panics.

I don’t think so. Again, I didn’t slow it down. When the linebacker drops that deep, we should probably just get it down to Reggie [Gilliam]. I think he realizes that and knows that. Those are the decisions that the quarterback makes. Those are the decisions that Drake makes. Again, if they get us – they’re that far off in coverage and he panics that far, then we have to go somewhere else with the ball.

Drake Maye panicked last year too; Stefon Diggs bailed him out and made some ridiculous catches, like in that Buffalo game last year in October. Romeo Dobbs will have to be that guy Drake goes to in situations like that. Sunday against Pittsburgh was better; it has to keep getting better in the future.