Cease piling on Drake Maye. A deep dive take a look at his struggles, what’s failing round him and why Patriots ought to consider he’ll bounce again

The primary interception was a pure pressure by Maye when there was a simple checkdown obtainable. The second interception was an outstanding learn and play by Julian Love, one of many smartest defenders within the NFL who instantly made a learn (he is keying the No. 2 eligible pass-catcher to his aspect; when that participant did not launch vertically, he then learn Maye’s eyes and made a terrific play).  

The third interception was a major instance of the problems plaguing the Patriots’ offense, and that Maye has been compounding: Mack Hollins launched his route inside, which finally ends up convoluting the entire idea. Nonetheless, Maye ought to throw that soccer away.

Commercial

The fourth one was a ton of points. Sure, Maye may get to a checkdown, however it will assist to not have strain in his lap — Maye has been pressured on 42% of his dropbacks to this point this season — and it will additionally assist for Hunter Henry to truly look on his route. 

The fifth interception ought to have been a throwaway, nevertheless it was additionally a horrible design and use of personnel. Jaguars defenders even stated afterward that they knew precisely what was coming. Travis Hunter, who made the interception, stated after the sport, “We bought these performs in follow. The coach did a terrific job scheming it up for us. He known as the proper name for us. All of us talked and we communicated on my aspect of the ball and I simply made it occur.”

And that is on high of Rhamondre Stevenson, not a burner, getting used to run the horizontally stretching route (into the quick aspect of the sector, thoughts you), Hollins (the man in there for blocking) not blocking anyone and Efton Chism III stumbling on his route.

That individual play is an ideal snapshot of every part going unsuitable with the Patriots: lackluster personnel with a predictable play topped off by Maye compounding the problems by making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. 

Commercial

And, lastly, the sixth interception was the precise learn towards that protection. However Kyle Williams is 5 yards quick on his stutter-stop route and permits the cornerback to get inside him. Not superb!

The quarterback has to handle the soccer. There’s an adage with quarterbacks to “not make a foul play worse.” And it is cropped up too typically for Maye this season regardless of his precise down-to-down effectivity and good decision-making. You possibly can level at his EPA proper now, however there are different quarterbacks who’ve began a season with poor EPA due to a excessive turnover fee in a small pattern measurement of video games. I can level at different QBs who’ve began with comparable and even worse numbers over the primary three video games, and so they turned out greater than wonderful. There’s Burrow (whose success fee wasn’t even near Maye’s this season) and Lawrence within the 2023 season and Dak Prescott in 2018. So, Maye’s EPA could also be warped proper now due to the turnovers, which have to enhance, however his down-to-down effectivity and decision-making have nonetheless been greater than wonderful. Particularly given absolutely the hell he has round him. 

Even his different knocks, similar to his excessive scramble and sack charges, are extra comprehensible given the circumstances and the truth that he is among the greatest scramblers since he is entered the NFL (and people scrambles are far more comprehensible whenever you see what he is working with down the sector). He is even been extremely environment friendly, with 9 of his 10 scrambles this yr leading to a profitable play. Even the sacks he has taken have a silver lining: he would not lose a ton of yards, rating second in yards misplaced per sack at 4.2.

The underlying subject, although, is that Maye HAS to make high-end throws to generate explosives and HAS to be excellent with the soccer in an offense that’s consistently feeling tight and static because it lacks any creativity within the run and move video games. And it lacks the personnel to assist alleviate that strain.

Commercial

Listed here are Maye’s throws which have gained 15 or extra yards for the Patriots this season. Solely two had been thrown beneath 15 yards. His 21.4 air yards per try on beneficial properties of 15 or extra yards is the very best within the NFL.

For comparability, Burrow’s air yards is at 15.9 yards on passes which have gained 15 or extra yards.

And Patrick Mahomes is at 12 air yards per try on his 15-plus yard beneficial properties.

It is actually good when you do not have to make fixed downfield forays to generate large performs . And Maye has to do it a ton. He did final yr, too!

However these throws can result in volatility, particularly if that decision-making will get rushed or the quarterback feels pressed.

Commercial

Supporting forged and scheme are a part of the issue

Wanting on the scheme and gamers round Maye, “underwhelming” is the good phrase I will use to explain it. Henry, by no means a burner however a gentle goal for Maye, has taken a noticeable decline in play and athleticism. Henry’s pace has dipped over the previous few seasons, from a high mark of 18.84 mph in 2024, to 18.12 mph in 2025, to 17.73 in 2026. His common route pace has dropped from 12.06 mph in 2025 to 11.53 this yr. And he simply hasn’t been as dependable.

There’s a basic lack of juice with the Patriots pass-catchers. Per Subsequent Gen Stats, Henry really leads the Patriots’ pass-catchers in missed tackles compelled this yr, with 1 (one). There is not any tie there, both. That is proper, the Patriots’ huge receivers have compelled the identical quantity of missed tackles this yr as you, pricey reader. They’ve made zero tacklers miss this season. Z-E-R-O. Thirty-year-old Chris Godwin, coming off an injury-riddled season in 2025, has compelled 5 missed tackles this yr. Emmett Johnson, the rookie backup operating again for the Chiefs, has compelled six! 

There’s hope that reinforcements will likely be coming quickly. A.J. Brown performed simply over a half earlier than occurring injured reserve with a excessive ankle sprain. Tight finish Eli Raridon, who has flashed early as a blocker and receiver in his younger profession, has additionally battled a thigh harm and a devastating private loss (sidebar: please preserve the Raridon household in your ideas). Each gamers may come again over the subsequent month. In order that, and in principle, a neater schedule by way of defenses over the subsequent few weeks, ought to assist. However there’s simply the sheer utilization of their different ability gamers that makes me sound the alarm about what is going on on with New England’s offense.

Commercial

There’s Romeo Doubs, the opposite offseason addition the Patriots made to the receiver room. And, by way of three weeks, I’ve to ask if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the Patriots’ coaches watched Doubs and the way he was greatest utilized in Inexperienced Bay. Like, in any respect.

Doubs, even going again to his time at Nevada, has been greatest used on breaking routes on the quick and intermediate stage. His reference to Jordan Love on outbreakers was significantly notable. 

What do the Patriots do with Doubs? For those who say use him on breaking routes, the plain reply, you would be unsuitable! They as a substitute use him on vertical routes like gos and stops, like he is Randy Moss.

Commercial

Doubs ran outbreakers on 22.5% of his routes in 2025, per Subsequent Gen Stats. That quantity is 11.7% this yr. And 44.2% of his routes are vertical this season, in comparison with 31% final yr.

This issues! Doubs has been very productive on breaking routes and is round league common on go and hitch/cease routes over the previous two seasons, identical to he was in faculty!

Combining his 2024 and 2025 numbers in Inexperienced Bay, Doubs had 75 catches on 108 targets for 956 yards on 466 breaking routes (each in-breaking and outbreaking) for a 110.7 QB ranking. Doubs averaged 2.1 yards per route on breaking routes, the identical quantity as Justin Jefferson over that point and slightly below names like Jaylen Waddle, CeeDee Lamb and DeVonta Smith.

He averaged a primary down on 12.4% of his routes. That ranks thirteenth amongst all receivers with a minimum of 400 routes over that interval. He is sandwiched between Ja’Marr Chase and Waddle within the rankings, and effectively above the league common of 8.8%.

Commercial

On 249 routes outlined as go and hitch routes, Doubs averaged 1.4 yards per route, under the common of 1.5. He recorded a primary down on 6.8%, hanging out with receivers like Adonai Mitchell and once more hovering across the league common of 6.5%.

Doubs has been focused simply thrice on outbreakers this season. The outcomes? Three catches for 100 yards.

It is not simply Doubs, both. Williams, who I discussed earlier than along with his lack of particulars on Maye’s final interception, has been pigeonholed as an remoted huge receiver who runs nothing however vertical routes. Whereas Williams was a big-play machine in faculty, typically on vertical routes, these large performs did not come simply as an remoted receiver. However for no matter cause, the Patriots cater their offense to DeMario Douglas and even Hollins. This lack of position variety impacts their different gamers, together with Williams. He has 22 whole routes in his profession from the slot, with three targets. Why is that notable? In faculty, Williams ran 143 routes his final two years at Washington State from the slot whereas racking up 3.51 yards per route run and 13.3% first downs per route run (in comparison with 2.34 yards and a 9.3% first-down fee from exterior alignment). The NFL is a completely totally different animal than faculty, after all. However, for a group missing large performs, it looks as if one thing to a minimum of attempt to assist create area and get a younger participant going.

Commercial

There’s even proof of idea for this final yr! Williams’ 72-yard landing towards the Buccaneers in Week 10 of the 2025 season got here on an over route when he was aligned in a condensed break up (a option to “create” a slot when solely two receivers are on the sector). 

If Williams seemingly lacks particulars along with his route-running, it looks as if a simple answer to simply let him run and use his pace.

It is not simply the passing recreation, both. The Patriots’ offensive line and designs within the run recreation additionally depart quite a bit to be desired. The Seahawks uncovered the Patriots’ move safety scheme in each current matchups. Defensive video games and twists consistently give them points, particularly with middle Jared Wilson and on the precise aspect that has confronted accidents.

To their credit score, the Patriots have tried to sprinkle in a safety scheme known as Sprint Cross to maneuver the pocket for Maye, assist the safety and let Maye proceed to assault downfield.

The run recreation continues to be simplistic in its design. It is sound, however sound can go solely to this point if the gamers aren’t placing it excessive. That is the place design and creativity take extra significance in a league predicated on matchups.

Commercial

The Patriots love operating the duo run idea, which in itself just isn’t a problem. Duo is nice to run within the present NFL ecosystem with how defenses are taking part in their bins and coverages. The Patriots have been above common on duo runs by way of success fee (45.7% in comparison with the league common of 40.8%). The difficulty is that they telegraph their duo runs and there aren’t any large performs occurring on them. They common solely 3.5 yards per keep on duo runs and have been stuffed seven occasions, essentially the most within the NFL, per Subsequent Gen Stats. They’re the one group within the league to common adverse yards earlier than contact on duo runs this season. They’ve performed good defenses to begin this season, however that is placing quite a bit on the Patriots’ operating backs to make one thing occur. 

The Patriots use movement on 45.6% of their early-down runs to this point this season, per Subsequent Gen Stats. They use movement on the snap on 26.3% of these performs. Each are lifeless final within the NFL. Now, movement is not pixie mud that makes every part higher, nevertheless it certain may help when the personnel is missing and defenses are keying in your favourite run performs!

And, identical to the Sprint Cross within the passing recreation, there have been flashes of latest concepts within the run recreation. They usually’ve been working! TreVeyon Henderson’s lengthy landing towards the Steelers got here on a deal with pull idea (generally called a dart run idea) that appeared to catch the Steelers fully unexpectedly as a result of it was such an inclination breaker for the Patriots.

Do this extra! Do one thing totally different! It will not damage to attempt! There must be higher methods to alleviate issues for Patriots gamers who aren’t profitable on their very own.

Commercial

If you’d like a play indicative of how offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels goes to play simply his hits, irrespective of the personnel, take a look at the Patriots operating an idea generally known as “Hoss Juke” for Douglas towards the Jaguars. Hoss Juke options mirrored seam routes on the within and cease routes on the surface, with a “Juke” route over the center that is meant to isolate the highest pass-catcher towards a hopeless linebacker. In principle, anyway.

For those who want an instance of how telegraphed the Patriots’ empty formation was, the Jaguars dropped 9 defenders into protection (seemingly alleged to be eight, however I believe dropping 9 was becoming).

Maye discovered Douglas on this play, however Douglas dropped it. In an ideal world, Maye rallies and throws the cease/hitch path to his teammate on the high of his display. However, pre-snap, I would not like a operating again towards Travis Hunter, both.

Commercial

Why Maye and Patriots can bounce again

What are the silver linings for the Patriots? The schedule for the offense will get a bit simpler beginning Sunday. Brown ought to come again over the subsequent couple of weeks, and similar with Raridon. And their protection has really been doing a little fascinating issues (it presently ranks first in EPA vs. the move and fifth in success fee, with the run protection being strong, however missing explosive performs, too). 

And the offense has moved the ball pretty effectively in every recreation earlier than Maye’s turnovers, penalties (just like the one which negated a Maye scramble landing towards the Jaguars) and a missed subject purpose for good measure. I’ve laid out points, nevertheless it’s positively not the worst offense ever and even near it. I take advantage of a home-brewed metric known as SUPLEX that mixes success fee and explosive play fee right into a easy measure, and the Patriots rank slightly below league common, at twenty first total.

And the quarterback will likely be wonderful. In truth, I believe he will likely be greater than wonderful, even with the turnovers and bizarre stuff surrounding his shoulder. (That flea flicker in Week 1 wasn’t an underthrow, by the best way. A.J. Brown simply ran his route WAY too early on it and the play was known as a bit too near the tip zone for my liking. A standard byproduct of operating flea glints is receivers too eagerly operating their route earlier than the quarterback even will get the ball).

Commercial

His down-to-down decision-making has nonetheless been wonderful. And whenever you look initially of his profession — a pattern measurement that features the Jerod Mayo expertise, a yr when Maye completed with the eighth-best rookie season by way of success fee since 2013 — the beginning of this yr and his “simple” schedule of 2025, Maye has been off to probably the greatest begins for a younger quarterback on document.

No caveats. You possibly can even embrace his playoff numbers and it nonetheless holds up. He ranks third in dropback success fee among the many 30 quarterbacks with 1,000 or extra move makes an attempt by way of their first three seasons since 2013, behind solely Mahomes and Brock Purdy. That 49.2% quantity jumps as much as 50.5% for those who take away the playoff video games.

For those who take a look at simply his success fee on throws, he is fourth, together with the playoffs, and second whenever you take away the playoffs. He is additionally the second-best scrambler by way of effectivity over that point interval whereas scrambling over 10% of his dropbacks (a quantity that might want to come down barely for longevity functions). He is third in EPA per dropback (see, pattern measurement!). He is seventh in explosive move fee. He is even second in completion fee, at 68%, for the “accuracy” wonks!

Even all 69 quarterbacks with 1,000 or extra move makes an attempt since 2013, there’s Drake Maye effectively into the top-right. He is subsequent to or above names like Peyton Manning, Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, Philip Rivers, Lamar Jackson, and Purdy (and Jimmy Garoppolo).

Appears good to me!

The ceiling is there on high of the effectivity. Now Maye and the remainder of the Patriots group have to begin rebuilding the ground earlier than it begins sinking even additional.