Drake Maye’s Rollercoaster Season with the Patriots

Drake Maye had quite the regular season as the second-year quarterback for the New England Patriots. Leading the team to a remarkable 14-3 record, he showcased his impressive downfield passing ability, contributing to 69 explosive plays—ranking just behind the Los Angeles Rams. His performance even earned him a strong position in the MVP voting, coming in second to Matthew Stafford. It was almost a fairy tale.

But then came the playoffs, and everything changed.

Maye and the Patriots made it to Super Bowl LX, yet their journey was as much about the defense as it was about Maye. While the team had a solid passing game throughout the regular season, it seemed to vanish in the playoffs. By the time they faced the Seattle Seahawks—regarded as one of the best defensive teams in the league—New England’s offensive prowess seemed absent.

Fans were left wondering if any NFL team had ever been shut out in a Super Bowl.

This begs the question: how did Maye’s playoff performance measure up, and what’s next for the Patriots?

First, let’s revisit Maye’s impressive regular season. It’s notable that he had 69 explosive passing plays this year. A stark contrast to last season, where the Patriots struggled in this area. Additionally, in terms of quarterback efficiency—which considers completion rates and other metrics—Maye truly shone, surpassing expectations.

However, the playoffs told a different story. Although he was on the way to becoming a star, Sam Darnold ended up facing off against him in Super Bowl LX. Maye’s numbers took a noticeable dip during the playoffs, with his performance declining as they defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos.

During the regular season, Maye posted a completion rate of 71.9%, throwing for 4,393 yards, netting 31 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. His NFL passer rating of 113.5 was the best in the league. But in the playoffs, he completed just 43 out of 77 attempts for 533 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, which translates to an 83.96 passer rating—significantly lower than his regular season numbers. On top of that, he faced 15 sacks across three games.

In Super Bowl LX, he completed 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards, managing two touchdowns but also two interceptions—plus, he was sacked twice.

In sum, his playoff performance including the Super Bowl was underwhelming.

It’s worth noting that the decline in his performance isn’t merely a number game. Context is essential. The Patriots faced what is considered one of the easiest schedules in recent NFL history during the regular season. Conversely, the playoffs presented a tougher challenge with four of the league’s top ten scoring defenses, including Seattle’s elite squad in the Super Bowl.

This made life difficult not just for Maye but for any quarterback. A noticeable factor was the mounting pressure he encountered. During the regular season, he excelled even when pressured, achieving an adjusted completion rate of 72.4%. However, this dropped to 61.5% during the AFC playoffs, which correlated with his 15 sacks.

As pressure mounted, it’s common for a quarterback’s internal clock to accelerate, often leading to mistakes. For instance, in a win over the Texans, Maye felt rushed and ended up throwing short of his target. In the AFC Championship, he escaped pressure but missed throwing what could have been a touchdown.

This scenario illustrates the psychological strain quarterbacks face. With the more hits they take, the less comfortable they feel anticipating the next play. Even during moments of time in the pocket, a sense of urgency can still creep in.

As the Super Bowl approached, questions began swirling around Maye—was he overrated? How did his shoulder impact his play? Much attention fell on the offensive line, particularly on rookies like Will Campbell. His performance fluctuated during the season, and he struggled after returning from injury, recording 11 pressures in three playoff contests.

Yet, it’s important to view all of this in context. Maye’s exceptional regular season was indeed supported by a favorable schedule. The stakes escalated quickly when facing tougher competition in the playoffs.