Through 11 games this season, we’re almost running out of nice things to say about Drake Maye. So when someone says something a little different about the guy, it’s worth highlighting.
Currently sitting with the second-lowest odds at FanDuel to win MVP, the 23-year-old has been outstanding in 10 of his team’s 11 games. Outside of a bad showing in Week 1 against the Raiders, there are very few blemishes on Maye’s MVP resume heading into Week 12. He’s leading the league in passing yards (2,836) and completion percentage (71.9%), is second in passer rating (113.2) and QBR (73.4), and is third in passing touchdowns (20). Add in what he’s been able to do with his leagues while also throwing only 5 interceptions, and it would be hard to argue that there’s anyone in the league playing a better all-around game right now than Maye.
With the Patriots (9-2) heading into Cincinnati to take on the Bengals (3-7), the expectation is that good times will keep on rolling for the first place team in the AFC East, and an outsized portion of those expectations are because of the play of New England’s young QB.
With the Bengals ranking dead-last in the NFL in total defense (31st against the pass, 32nd against the run), Maye’s season of accuracy and big plays should continue when their Week 12 games kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET.
“Drake's been so accurate this year,” NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry said on Wednesday during head coach Mike Vrabel’s pre-practice press conference. “What kind of work have you seen him put in to refine or improve that part of playing the position? How much of that just might be innate?”
“I think probably a little bit of both,” said Vrabel. “I think that Josh [McDaniels] and Ashton [Grant] have tried to work hard on that. I also think Drake is talented.
“And, again, it's like a pitcher. I don't know if there's a pitching coach that really taught Greg Maddux how to paint the plate and put the ball wherever he wanted it. So, I think there's some natural skill there, but then I think that they work on those things. They work on platform, throwing off at different places, still remaining accurate, climbing the pocket, working with a base and all those things. And then there's other times where it's just natural athletic ability, hand-eye coordination and putting the ball in good spots.”
Maddux, a first ballot Hall of Fame starting pitcher in 2014 after a decorated 23-year career, was called “The Professor” for a reason. While he was never going to overpower anyone with his listed 6-foot frame, the Texas-native was famous for his ability to paint the corners of the zone better than just about anyone in the history of Major League Baseball. His work on the mound earned him four consecutive NL Cy Young Awards from 1992 to 1995, eight All-Star appearances, four MLB ERA titles, three seasons as the NL wins leader, a retired No. 31 with both the Cubs and Braves and entry into both of those team’s Halls of Fame. Add in his unmatched ability to play defense as a pitcher, winning 18 (!) Gold Gloves in 19 seasons from 1990 to 2008, and there may not be a player in the history of baseball more in-tuned with the finer details of the game than Maddux.
One thing Maddux has that Maye doesn’t?
A World Series championship while pitching for the Braves in 1995.
And while Maye will never have a chance to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy, his play this season has vaulted the Patriots into a surprising echelon in 2025 of teams that have a real shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
A lot can happen between now and Super Bowl LX on February 8, but that we’re even having a discussion about the possibility of Maye being able to carry New England to this game is among the very best storylines in the NFL in 2025.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.