EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had committed his third turnover, which was quickly turned into a touchdown, and was preparing to take the field again late in the third quarter of Sunday's 35-6 blowout loss to the Jaguars.Before he did, there was a moment on the sideline with head coach Mike Vrabel, who looked directly into Maye's helmet as he wrapped both of his arms around the quarterback's shoulder pads, play-sheet still in his left hand. Vrabel was doing his best to uplift Maye, whose start to the season has unexpectedly spiraled downward with six interceptions and a lost fumble. The defending AFC champions are now 1-2 heading into Sunday's road game against the 3-0 Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS).What has happened to Maye?He had said his comfort level entering the second season in coordinator Josh McDaniels' offense was high, but he has looked mostly uncomfortable -- which has led to poor decision-making, defenses successfully pressing him and myriad miscues as he has navigated injuries to No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown and other core players around him. Maye called the offense "unacceptable" -- the unit ranks last in the NFL in points per game (9.7) -- and said he planned to "look in the mirror and take this as a turning point."Vrabel cited a golf analogy in identifying one place for him to start."I think sometimes, we really want to make a good score, right? Sometimes we're so focused on it, we try to choke the life out of the golf club, and we're squeezing it so damn tight that the ball has no choice but to go sideways," Vrabel said on sports radio WEEI."We need to stop trying to choke the life out of every single play. We need to relax. We need to settle in and go play football and not try to force things that aren't there."Maye's struggles have contributed to the Patriots scoring the third fewest points through three games by a reigning conference champion in the Super Bowl era; their 36 trail only the 1999 Falcons (28) and 2007 Bears (33) Their 0.97 points per drive makes them the first team with less than one point per drive through three games since the 2021 Jets quarterbacked by Zach Wilson. And their minus-0.21 EPA per play is the worst by any team through three games since the 2023 Jets.Teammates and coaches have consistently mentioned that the team's early-season challenges aren't solely on Maye, though."I think this is just an offensive unit deal, a team thing," receiver Romeo Doubs said. "The fundamentals are key ... fundamentals aren't strong enough. I keep emphasizing on it because that's part of this league, this game. You cannot win games doing your own thing. You have to have some sort technique and some professional initiative to get things rolling."Maye has no touchdowns and five interceptions when targeting wide receivers, a group adjusting to being without Brown since early in the third quarter of the season opener at Seattle due to a right high ankle sprain. In the past two games, Maye has targeted Mack Hollins a WR-high 11 times, followed by Doubs (8), DeMario Douglas (7), Kyle Williams (5) and Efton Chism III (3). Hollins has led the group with eight receptions (for 108 yards) while Doubs has the most receiving yards with 145 (on six catches). According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Patriots receivers rank 30th in average route speed at 12.85 mph when passes are completed to them.Brown, who was present in the locker room Monday and walking with a normal gait according to observers, is out for at least the next two games while on injured reserve. Sources familiar with his injury wouldn't be surprised if his absence extends beyond that, but players' recoveries often vary, and Brown was wearing cleats and a small ankle wrap Monday.The running game, meanwhile, has flashed at times but has been too inconsistent (tied for 19th in the NFL at 3.9 yards per carry). And blocking has also been an issue. Maye was pressured on 47% of his dropbacks against the Jaguars, according to ESPN Research, which is his highest total this season and the fourth highest of his career. Overall, Maye has been pressured on 41.4% of his dropbacks, up from 33.9% in 2025. His off-target percentage against pressure is a whopping 36%, up from 17% last season. That ranks 26th in the NFL.Losing starting right guard Mike Onwenu to a broken right ankle in the first half of a Week 2 win over the Steelers created a sizable void at the line of scrimmage. And then his replacement, veteran Greg Van Roten, was knocked out of Sunday's loss with a thigh injury in the second quarter.Another factor in Maye's early-season struggles? How defenses are scheming against him.ESPN Research noted that Maye faced zone on 51% of his dropbacks last season, but that has jumped to 65% this season. Specifically, defenses' usage of Cover 2 with two deep safeties to take away the long ball has increased from 19% last season to 32% this year. Maye dominated against man coverage in 2025, leading the league with an 89.2 QBR, 68% completion percentage and 9.0 yards per attempt. His 23 passing touchdowns against man looks ranked second in the NFL behind MVP Matthew Stafford (34). But now Maye is seeing way more zone coverage."We have to get this thing right, by all of us," Vrabel reiterated, adding he has had no thoughts of giving Maye a break on the sidelines.Teammates continue to rally behind Maye, too: "That's my quarterback. When I got here, I was excited to work with him. And I look forward to growing with him," Doubs said.So, what now? Vrabel pointed to the practice field when asked how he might help Maye loosen his grip on the golf club."Confidence comes from your preparation, and it comes from going out there. I can't manufacture confidence," he said. "You have to practice. You have to hit those plays in practice and you have to feel good about it."We just have to be able to make sure that we're on the same page, that everybody knows what is expected of them, have a few details, and then go play football."The challenge ahead for Maye is amplified by the teams the Patriots face -- a trip to the undefeated Bills in the third-ever game in Buffalo's new stadium, then a home game against the resurgent 3-0 Raiders. Drop one of those games, and the Pats will have already matched their loss total from all of 2025. Lose both, and it would put them in a most vulnerable spot to defend their AFC championship.
