Patriots’ concerns deepen after Drake Maye’s 35-6 loss in Jacksonville
On Sunday in Week 3 New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was largely responsible for a 35-6 loss to Jacksonville, a defeat that followed an uninspiring Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that Week 2 victory, coach Mike Vrabel told a reporter not to “ruin my Sunday” when asked about his quarterback.
Maye had been a revelation in the 2025 regular season and was the 2025 MVP runner-up, but the run of form that earned that status has shown cracks since the 2025 playoffs began. The Maye who threw just eight interceptions in 17 regular-season games in 2025 already has six interceptions in three weeks of this campaign. That contrast has sharpened scrutiny of his play and decision-making.
Sunday’s box score underlined the concerns: Maye completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions, was sacked three times and lost a fumble. Beyond the turnovers, critics pointed to the oddness of some of his reads and choices on the field. Some social-media commentators even joked that he could not make out Jacksonville’s teal uniforms on certain plays.
A decisive miscue came on third-and-goal with under a minute remaining in the first half, when New England trailed 14-3 and were positioned to shift momentum; Maye threw directly to Jacksonville corner Travis Hunter in the end zone. The play was singled out as particularly difficult to reconcile with the game situation, and observers questioned what Maye saw in coverage.
Maye’s recent struggles extend to last season’s postseason numbers: during New England’s four-game playoff run he threw six touchdowns but also had four interceptions, fumbled seven times and endured 21 sacks. Those figures form part of a trend the team will have to address as the season progresses.
New England’s defence, which had been a pillar of their Super Bowl run, was not dominant on Sunday either; it allowed Trevor Lawrence three passing touchdowns and failed to convert Jacksonville’s penalties into advantage. The article notes there should not be significant long-term concern on that side of the ball and suggests the unit can troubleshoot with scheme adjustments, such as reverting to man coverage, and by getting players back from injury — specifically Dre’Mont Jones and Craig Woodson.
Offensive personnel changes have compounded Maye’s situation: New England moved on from Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte despite Maye’s successful connection with them, and AJ Brown is sidelined with an injury that removed the planned replacement. With Brown out, Maye has been working with Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins, and the team also faces a tougher slate this season — the Patriots had one of the easiest schedules in 2025 and now have one of the six hardest. Maye is 24, and the article raises the possibility that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels may alter schemes to rebuild the quarterback’s confidence; it concludes with the blunt line, “Something must change.”
The Patriots sit 1-2 and will face the Buffalo Bills next; the piece adds that “This season is not lost but what we’ve seen so far is unacceptable.”