As the 2026 Super Bowl approached, concerns about Drake Maye’s throwing shoulder became a hot topic.
Following the Patriots’ disappointing 29-13 loss to the Seahawks, Maye addressed some of those concerns.
He revealed to reporters that he had received a painkiller injection in his shoulder before the game but felt no issues while playing at Levi’s Stadium. “I could feel my shoulder, but they raised it so I didn’t really feel it,” he said, adding, “I’m glad I went and I felt good.”
Despite the optimistic outlook on his shoulder, the game was not kind to him. Maye completed 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards, notching two touchdowns alongside two interceptions and a forced fumble, finishing with a quarterback rating of 79.1. A last-minute completion added some numbers but barely affected the game’s outcome.
Before the Super Bowl, questions were raised when Maye was listed as a “limited” participant in the Patriots’ virtual practice on January 28 after their AFC Championship Game victory. He missed practice two days later for what coach Mike Vrabel referred to as a “combination of injury and illness.”
However, come Monday, Maye seemed to dismiss the concerns, stating, “I feel good. I’ll be fine. I pitched well.” He expressed confidence in his performance leading up to the big game, indicating that he threw as he normally would during practice. Just two days before the Super Bowl, there’s nothing in the injury reports suggesting otherwise.
Unfortunately for him, the robust Seahawks defense kept him under pressure from the outset, sacking him six times. His two interceptions on Sunday were the first multi-pick game he had since Week 9 of 2024.
Although Maye finished second in NFL MVP voting to Matthew Stafford, his postseason efforts left something to be desired. In the three playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl, he completed only 55.8 percent of his passes, tallying four touchdowns against two interceptions. Ultimately, that 295-yard performance at the Super Bowl was his second-highest this year, but it felt like a case of too little, too late.
