The New England Patriots didn't get off to the best start of the season, so to speak. Much of that fell on Drake Maye and the offense; the defense did a solid job for the most part, but the quarterback just couldn't get it together.
A 1-3 start to the season would've been a catastrophe, more so by losing to their biggest threat in the division. Knowing that, and realizing he was struggling and trapped in his own head, Maye's teammates rallied around him.
After the win, the Patriots' quarterback gave his teammates his flowers, acknowledging how much it meant to have everyone in the building hype him up before a must-win game. Clearly, it helped him get the monkey off his back.
Drake Maye must build on his strong performance against the Bills
“That's just the positon playing in the NFL. You turn the ball over and you feel like you left plays out there," Maye admitted (h/t Patriots on CLNS). "That's what happens. I got full trust in myself. The amount of times that teammates came and pumped me up this week was cool. It was cool to see and that's what makes this game so special.”
Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick against the Bills' stout defense. He didn't drop the ball, didn't force throws, and took much better care of the football this time.
For the first time this season, he was the same player who finished second in MVP voting and led the team to the Super Bowl in just his second year in the league. He scrambled with purpose, not just to avoid hits and layer his throws, but he wasn't afraid to push the ball downfield if needed.
This was a gutsy effort all across the board. From the defensive line pressuring Josh Allen to Efton Chism II making one of the best plays we'll see all season, everyone chimed in to make Maye's life easier for a change.
Confidence is paramount for a quarterback. This is a week-to-week league, and recency bias will always be a factor. Pro athletes must know how to shut down the outside noise, but it's hard to shake off all the negativity when it feels like the sky is falling, and it's been that way since last year's playoffs.
Maye is a born leader, and he's earned the locker room's respect. They know how hard he works and how much he cares, and that's what teammates are supposed to do in adversity. That also shows how strong the bond is in that building, and how much more than a rough start to the season it would take to tear them apart.
Plenty of football to be played this season. Last year, an early win over the Bills sparked a 10-game winning streak and a trip to the Super Bowl. Maybe history will repeat itself in 2026, now that the quarterback has regained his confidence.
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