New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye enters Week 3 needing a statement performance after two uncharacteristic outings to begin the season.
Maye had a down performance in Week 1. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound gunslinger completed 22-of-33 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions against the Seattle Seahawks. His three interceptions came on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter. The Patriots failed to build sustained momentum in the game, while Maye’s decisions contributed to the loss.
He played better in Week 2 as New England earned a convincing 20-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Maye managed the offense more efficiently, distributed the football and avoided some of his larger mistakes from the opener. He recorded
208 passing yards in the game, but he did throw one interception, making that his fourth of the season, which stood out in the win.
Maye’s early struggles stand in contrast to the great season that he had in 2025, when he only threw eight interceptions that year. He also led the league in completion percentage at 72 percent and emerged as one of the NFL’s most productive young quarterbacks.
Maye’s accuracy, volume passing (4,394 yards) and playmaking ability translated to him earning a second-team All-Pro nod in 2025 and leading New England to the Super Bowl at the end of the season.
The Patriots have not looked as strong as they were anticipated to be heading into the season through the first two weeks of the year. While A.J. Brown’s absence greatly hurts the team, New England has a comparable offensive lineup to that of last season, and Maye’s play is needed to direct that ensemble.
Last season’s AP MVP runner-up has not quite played up to par thus far in 2026, but he will need to prove he's capable of doing so against Jacksonville, to not only make a statement for himself, but also keep the Patriots from falling into a 1-2 hole to begin the year.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots QB Drake Maye needs to make a statement in Week 3
