The Patriots went into their Week 4 matchup against the Panthers with a lot to prove and some disappointing losses to overcome. Despite facing beatable teams to start the year, they are close to ending the first month of the season with a losing record, but the hope is that things change against a struggling Panthers team.
It's a game that Drake Maye has been looking forward to since he grew up a fan of the franchise, and even stated this week that longtime Panther and former Patriots starting QB Cam Newton was his favorite player growing up.
That might explain his celebration after scoring the second touchdown for the Patriots on Sunday, rushing into the end zone for a five-yard score and hitting the iconic Superman celebration that Newton was known for throughout his career.
👌 https://t.co/VIZ2TrEyFv pic.twitter.com/2h70XEZ1LL
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 28, 2025
Was it mocking the team he grew up rooting for? Or was it paying homage to the quarterback he loved to watch?
Regardless, it helped put the Patriots on top and further their lead going into the second quarter.
The Patriots take an early lead against the Panthers after a rough start on both sides of the ball
Given how much Maye discussed his fandom for the Panthers leading up to the game, it's likely he wasn't taunting them after the score.
But even if he was, that's the kind of attitude Patriots fans love to see from their quarterback, as he continues to prove he is the future of the position for the team.
It hasn't been an easy start to Maye's career, and there are plenty of things he needs to clean up about his game to elevate the offense to the level they need. However, the young quarterback has already impressed with his poise and maturity, which has also translated to his natural leadership, taking ownership of the offense and getting them dialed in each and every week.
Sunday's matchup marks just the 16th start of his NFL career, which is something many analysts and fans seem to overlook when discussing his performance so far. He's shown all the traits that anyone would want in their future franchise star, and there's a lot of optimism that he will only continue to grow under the watchful eye of Josh McDaniels.
Seeing him so checked in, like he was on this touchdown celebration, just adds even more excitement for what's to come.