As the New England Patriots fell 13-10 in their season opener against the Seattle Seahawks Wednesday night at Lumen Field, quarterback Drake Maye watched a 10-point halftime lead slip away in the second half.
Three interceptions following halftime contributed to the collapse. Maye’s decision-making placed his team in difficult situations to maintain that advantage and close out the contest with an early-season victory.
“We had the game under control. I thought we had a good plan to try to start chipping
away and be patient; I lost patience, and it cost us,” Maye said after the defeat. “[They were] decisions that cost us the game on my part. I’ve asked myself to be better and realize it’s a long season, but at the same time (you) can’t have those [plays].
“It was unacceptable … That wasn’t how I play football or how I want to represent my game and playing quarterback for the Patriots.”
With 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter from Seattle’s 16-yard line, Maye lobbed a soft pass to wide receiver Mack Hollins toward the sideline in the end zone; however, the attempt fell short and landed in the hands of Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe, who secured the game-sealing turnover.
Trailing by just three points at the time, Patriots kicker Andy Borregales warmed up on the sideline to attempt a manageable field goal to send the game to overtime at 13 apiece. Maye’s ensuing decision prevented that opportunity.
“I was trying to get rid of [the ball], realized Mack [Hollins] was back there, and I didn’t put enough on it to get it out,” Maye said. “It was unacceptable. We had a chance to send [the game] to overtime at the worst.”
During New England’s prior drive, Maye’s second interception set Seattle up in Patriots territory. Its following drive concluded with the matchup’s go-ahead field goal.
The third-year quarterback, targeting DeMario Douglas over the middle of the field, attempted a late throw that allowed opposing safety Julian Love to jump Douglas’ route just past midfield. Maye’s first interception came after a lofty throw deep to Romeo Doubs in heavy coverage.
Early in the second quarter, Maye also had an opportunity to connect with A.J. Brown for a 34-yard touchdown connection. Yet Maye, despite the resulting defensive pass interference call, drastically underthrew his new receiver.
“The one to A.J. [Brown], I didn’t want to try to overthrow it on the flea-flicker,” Maye added about the play. “Ball placement is key in this league. I’m trying to make sure that I put [the ball] in the right spot, and I didn’t.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, when asked about Maye’s final turnover, explained that the signal-caller can’t throw three interceptions, which he says Maye “knows.” He also noted that New England “wants to be aggressive, but not reckless.”
Still, Vrabel trusts his quarterback, who was the NFL’s MVP runner-up just one season ago, saying the team has “nothing but the utmost confidence” in Maye.
“We have to stick together, and that starts with me getting back to work and having the right intention in practice,” Maye said. “These guys are here for me. They’ve done a great job supporting me and have had my back. I know I have their trust, but I need to keep on putting better football out there.
“It’s Week 1, but at the same time, we have to get this going early. We have to start off on the right foot, and I know what we had last year, but we have a new season and a new team. We need to build that.”
