Patriots QB Drake Maye mustered just 178 yards with 1 TD and 3 INTs in Wednesday night's loss to the Seahawks. He tossed the game's opening score to a wide-open TE Eli Raridon from 2 yards out in the second quarter. But it was downhill from there. Maye's first INT came on an underthrown 50/50 ball to WR Romeo Doubs that got tipped and picked off by CB Nehemiah Pritchett. The second was a bad decision and throw into traffic over the middle of the field that was easily swiped by S Julian Love. The third was the most egregious. Down 3 points with 26 seconds left and the ball at Seattle's 16, Maye lofted a pass off his back foot to an obviously covered Mack Hollins. Credit CB Josh Jobe for an impressive INT, but it was an unacceptable decision from Maye considering the situation.
What They're Saying
Maye after the game: "I thought we had a good plan to try to start chipping away and be patient. Lost patience and it cost us -- decisions that cost us the game on my part, on my end. I vow to myself to be better and realize it's a long season. But at the same time, you can't have those. It's unacceptable."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Bad Opener, Not Full Panic
This was always going to be a tough opener for Maye on the road against a Seahawks defense that ranked eighth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs last year. The task got tougher when A.J. Brown left with an ankle injury early in the third quarter.
But this was simply a bad outing for Maye. On top of the 3 INTs, he also badly underthrew a deep ball to Brown on a flea flicker that should have gone for a 36-yard TD.
Maye should bounce back in easier matchups, but he won't get the cupcake schedule he had last year. His next 3 opponents, the Steelers, Jaguars, and Bills, ranked 29th, 16th, and seventh vs. QBs last season.
The biggest issue, of course, is Brown's injury. With Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte gone, Brown's absence left Hollins, Doubs, and Demario Douglas as Maye's top 3 WRs. Doubs had an awful game, going catch-less on 3 targets, including an ugly drop on a pass that should have converted a 2nd and 14.
On the plus side, Maye continued to look dangerous with his legs in the opener, running 7 times for 47 yards. That will keep his QB1 value afloat even if the passing production doesn't match last year's.
We should learn more about Brown's injury over the next couple of days.
