Drake Maye In The MVP Conversation

By Steve Atkinson 

After improving to 6-2 for the season, Drake Maye is now third in the MVP race, trailing only Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. He has already broken and tied records for completion percentage. The Patriots got off to a slow start once again on defense, but Drake Maye and the offense pulled away in the third quarter. The incorporation of the West Coast offense has benefited Maye, as Josh McDaniels has successfully adapted the scheme to fit his skill set. The only area Drake really needs to improve on is learning how to slide.

Maye can spread the ball around and find an open receiver at any moment. Mack Hollins made some good catches as did Demario Douglas. Boutte continues to be Maye’s favorite target catching the ball for another long touchdown pass. Stefon Diggs even caught his first touchdown pass. Maye was asked yesterday if he heard the MVP chants

No, I didn’t hear it. The guys were making fun of me about my slide back in the huddle on the long run, so I didn’t hear it. But the fans have been awesome all season. It’s been really cool really to see the difference from last year to this year. Man, it’s been a journey. They’ve been through it, and the fans have been through it the last couple years. So it’s just credit to them. We did the intros today for the first time, so we didn’t know how that would go. That was pretty cool. I know the fans have been awesome. Like I said, I think they’re the best fans in the league, and they continue to show out every week.

The one thing about Drake is he isn’t about himself like Aaron Rodgers who all he cares about is stats. Maye is mostly about team which Vrabel has preached since day one and Maye sees the difference from last year to this year. No excuse for the Kraft’s to waist a year of Drake Maye last year. Now he’s in the MVP conversation in his second year and his numbers are crazy. Here was Drake after the game about Josh McDaniels.

He was — his demeanor at halftime, he could tell that he was calming us down. He knew that we were good. Just classic Coach McDaniels drive. He’s just dialing it up multiple times and getting guys open and really making it easy for me. He’s done it his whole life, and I feel like he was put on this earth to be an offensive coordinator. It was fun to be in the headset with him.

The Patriots play the Falcons next weekend and should improve to 7-2 before going to Tampa.