Entering the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game, Drake Maye argued the Patriots’ rematch with the Seahawks was nowhere near as significant as the Super Bowl in February.
A win wouldn’t level the playing field or erase the sting of losing on the big stage in San Francisco.
Maye didn’t say before the game what a full-blown collapse in the sequel could do for his confidence and the belief of the others in his huddle.
Well, we can make that read for you. It’s Maye Day in New England.
An unabashed disaster unfolded in the second half at Seattle where the Patriots allowed a win on a platter to plummet into doubts Maye isn’t the next Sam Darnold.
On the biggest stage and in the biggest games, Maye has a two-game streak of falling face first.
There was no offensive line or suspect play-calling to blame Wednesday night. Other than a Romeo Doubs drop the blame falls squarely on Maye. He was the culprit on each of the interceptions that ended New England’s final three drives and led to a 10-0 lead becoming a 13-10 letdown.
With Darnold on the sideline after five snaps due to a hip injury, Drew Lock rallied Seattle and had a chance to put New England away after a 9-yard scramble inside the 5 set up 2nd-and-1 with the game tied 10-all. Then Lock got caught looking at his playcall wristband for too long, pushing Seattle back five yards before missing on consecutive throws. Instead of a TD and a seven-point lead, the Seahawks had to settle for a 26-yard field goal and gave the ball back to Maye.
To be fair, Maye was exceptional on the final drive and converted a 4th-and-2 with his feet and a second fourth down with a sharp completion to Mack Hollins.
And he was very good for three quarters playing extremely safe, borderline conversative, with no gain of more than 15 yards until Rhamondre Stevenson turned a short completion into a 17-yard gain.
To be honest, Maye folded again under pressure. Seeing ghosts, perhaps.
His first pick was his first risky decision of the night, going long for Doubs down the left sideline into double coverage. Doubs was open two ticks earlier, but nickel cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett closed on the underthrow to corral the tipped ball. New England was instantly deflated from 10-0 and in position to force Lock into a two-minute offense type of situation to on their heels.
Mike Vrabel said many of the same things he shared after the Super Bowl defeat. He expects Maye to bounce back. The Patriots are looking ahead, not back, to the Sept. 20 home opener against the Steelers.
Maye can win beat Pittsburgh. Probably the next week at Jacksonville, too. We know he can win games. He has months before his next chance to prove capable of delivering in the clutch.
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