Drake Maye is back.
After a poor start to the season, throwing just one touchdown with six interceptions amid a 1-2 start, the 24-year-old has flipped the script, completing 48 of 71 passes (67.6%) for 643 yards and seven touchdowns with only one interception over his last two games.
His 643 passing yards are the most he’s thrown for over a two-game span in his career. It’s only the second time he’s surpassed 600 passing yards over two games. His seven touchdowns are tied for a career-high over a two-game span, and after throwing four touchdowns against the Raiders on Sunday, he has thrown at least three touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
What changed?
Was it a physical limitation from the shoulder injury that landed him on the injury report ahead of Week 4’s matchup against the Bills, where this turnaround began, or was it a confidence issue? Mike Vrabel discussed the factors that go into Maye’s performance during his weekly appearance on The Greg Hill Show on WEEI (full interview below).
“I don’t even know how to begin to answer that question, because I think it’s not fair to anybody. When you look at player performance, we have to give guys everything that they need during the week, [in] training camp to be prepared situationally. Whether that’s two-minute, that’s end of the game — but then also kind of figure out where they are based on their actions,” Vrabel said.
“And I always say this, a guy may not have to tell me that he doesn’t love a certain coverage, or that he doesn’t love a certain route, or that he doesn’t love a certain play call. You kind of see it in their actions, the way that they play, and the speed at which they play. So we have to determine what our guys are confident in by watching and seeing what they do at practice. So, there are a million things that come into play when you’re not performing. Whether that’s decisions, protection — it takes all 11 when we go out on the field, and it’s an extension of the coaching staff. So, I’m not going to try to determine every single bad play and why it happened. Those are usually: is it a technique breakdown, or is it a decision? And then, obviously, is the play call the right play call? We have to try to continue to move forward from what we did yesterday. Still have to find ways to run the football, to be able to get them on the move, get them outside the pocket, throw some screens, love taking his shots. So, just finding a balance of all those different things.”
Drake Maye's struggles the first 3 weeks- More HEALTH or MENTAL? Patriots HC Mike Vrabel joins! #Football #NFL #DrakeMaye https://t.co/G9X7YBOVRR
— WEEI (@WEEI) October 12, 2026
In Sunday’s win over the Raiders, Maye completed 26 of 34 (76.5%) passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns. He also picked up 25 yards on the ground and ran for a touchdown in the third quarter, his first rushing score since Week 15 of last season.
Maye became just the second quarterback in Patriots history to throw four touchdown passes and run for a touchdown in the same game, joining Steve Grogan, who accomplished the feat in Week 14 of 1987 against the Jets. He led Week 5 quarterbacks in passing yards, touchdowns, and passer rating (150.9).
“We protected him well. I thought that he was decisive. I think the receivers did a great job. Everybody did a good job. It was good to see the tight ends get involved,” Vrabel said. “I think spreading the ball around, just get the ball to the guys who are open, in the progression, as long as he’s got an eligible number. I think that’s kind of what you are seeing. Everybody is getting touches. We’re decisive with the football, and I felt like we were able to overcome some mistakes and miscues as well.”
"We protected him well. I thought that he was decisive" Patriots HC Mike Vrabel joins #live at @gillettestadium! What did Vrabel like/see from Maye's decision making? What does Vrabel make of the DEPTH? #NFL #DrakeMaye #TeamDepth #fyp https://t.co/3VXwhENWdM
— WEEI (@WEEI) October 12, 2026
Perhaps the most impressive part of Maye’s performance on Sunday was his ability to play a turnover-free game against a defense that entered the day with the most takeaways in the league (nine). It was Maye’s first game without a turnover since the AFC Championship Game.
“I know that he’s worked on it,” Vrabel said of Maye’s decision-making. “I think that he’s trying to be decisive. I think the best decisions are ones that are done decisively and done confidently, and then just knowing and being able to predict where the ball may go, but then not be locked into it."
Maye will look to put together back-to-back turnover-free games for the first time since Weeks 17 and 18 of last season when the Patriots host the Jets on Sunday.
