Typically, an unexpected appearance in the Super Bowl, no matter how the game turned out, would be considered an accomplishment for any team, especially one like the Patriots during the 2025 season. But that hasn't been how most analysts and fans outside of New England have interpreted the loss, with many questioning Drake Maye's talent and the legitimacy of last season's wins.
The quarterback has received the most diabolical responses to his performance against the toughest defense in the league, even though his offensive line struggled mightily and nearly cost them the game.
Regardless, Maye has been on the receiving end of some harsh takes, with the latest being The Ringer's Steven Ruiz to join the conversation with a take so wild, it's hard to fathom that he's actually being serious and not just trolling.
NFL writer wants Drake Maye and the Patriots to regret their Super Bowl LX appearance
In his latest quarterback rankings for the 2026 season, Ruiz lists Maye sixth, which isn't a terrible spot on the surface. But it is when you consider that he put Justin Herbert ahead of him, even ahead of Matthew Stafford, last season's MVP.
Even worse was his explanation for his decision, claiming the Patriots and Maye would have been "better off" had they failed in the playoffs rather than failing in the Super Bowl.
“Drake Maye would have been better off if the Patriots had gone one-and-done in the playoffs. I don’t know whether we’ve ever seen a quarterback’s reputation take a bigger hit after a run to the Super Bowl.
New England’s offense was horribly outmatched against the gauntlet of elite defense it faced in the postseason, and Mauye didn't take advantage of the few opportunities he was given,” Ruiz wrote. “It was a bad showing for the MVP runner-up.”
This sounds like a take from either a bitter Patriots fan that can't handle a Super Bowl loss, or a fan of another team that was simply unhappy that their team didn't make the Super Bowl instead because how well does this make sense?
Quarterbacks shouldn't be dinged because they failed to win a Super Bowl. That would make for a lot fewer legends in NFL history, which doesn't seem right. Not to mention, it's hard to imagine analysts discrediting big-name quarterbacks for not making the big game at all, like Josh Allen or even Aaron Rodgers, who hasn't been in a Super Bowl since 2010.
Their lack of appearances hasn't taken away from their talent, nor would making it all the way to the Championship and leaving without the Lombardi Trophy.
If anything, Maye should be praised for being just 23-years-old and leading his team to the biggest game of all, with a new head coach and staff and an entirely new offensive roster around him. His second-year jump was nothing short of impressive, leading him to be the runner-up to the MVP Award, and that shouldn't make a Super Bowl appearance regretful.
It will become an invaluable experience that can lead the team to more success and set up a brighter future than they have seen since Tom Brady left six years ago.
That is something plenty of other teams wish they could have, rather than constantly being one-and-done or falling just short of the Super Bowl, like the Buffalo Bills.