Patriots might finally unleash the part of Drake Maye that scares defenses most

There's nothing New England Patriots fans like to hear more than analysts and others dismissing their chances in Super Bowl LX, or any other game for that matter. Others seem to minimize the fact that the Patriots not only have the NFL's best coach in Mike Vrabel, but they also have the MVP, quarterback Drake Maye. Maye gets the job done no matter how much pressure any opponent drums up, as his 8.9 yards-per-pass average under pressure this season attest.

Maye, as some thought earlier, has taken the NFL by storm this season. He was really good (though thoroughly mishandled) as a rookie in 2024. Yet, he was still named to the Pro Bowl with a terrible supporting cast. Now, after a roster remake for the ages by Vrabel, Maye has scaled the NFL heights and taken his team to the Super Bowl, a dinged-up shoulder notwithstanding.

Now, Maye and that ailing right shoulder will take on the Seahawks on Sunday for all the NFL marbles, and who's to say that they can't take them down and win the Lombardi Trophy?

The young, supremely confident, talented, and unflappable Maye will do anything and everything to get the job done. Don't sell him or the team short.

Drake Maye gets the job done under extreme pressure (aka duress)

Maye led his team to the Super Bowl despite being under extreme pressure all season long and into the playoffs. In the regular season, he was sacked 47 times. That's been followed up by 15 in three playoff games. He seldom sees a clean pocket. Now, research shows just how effective he's been under duress.

While the Seahawks can bring the pressure, Maye is an expert at escaping it. It sets the game up as an interesting competition between a team like Seattle that can bring the heat, and a young quarterback who is built to escape it.

Drake Maye's running is the key to the Super Bowl LX

The attribute that could prove detrimental to the Seahawks may very well be the young quarterback's running ability. Because of myopic play-calling, there have been few programmed quarterback runs for the MVP-candidate Maye in 2025. It's a mistake that only Maye's elusiveness in escaping pressure and uncanny passing accuracy (72 percent completion rate) have ameliorated.

If the Patriots' coaching staff can adapt to his arm issue and maximize his running ability with more programmed runs, the dividends could bring a seventh Lombardi Trophy to Foxborough.

Drake Maye's injury is an issue. His running is the answer to the problem if the Patriots use it as a tool and not just in an emergency. The offensive line will give up pressures and sacks. Yet, by using programmed quarterback runs and other deception plays, the Patriots can overcome them.

We'll see if they turn their mobile QB loose. This is the last game; there's no reason at all not to do so.