‘That’s our chief.’ Maye’s teammates not shocked by turnaround

“Anyone may have been down on themselves. Not him. He got here to work.”

Drake Maye earned loads of reward from his teammates on Sunday. Photograph by Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures

October 11, 2026 | 7:36 PM

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FOXBOROUGH — Drake Maye doled out loads of harm in opposition to the Raiders on Sunday afternoon, accounting for 399 whole yards of offense and 5 touchdowns in a 45-17 win at Gillette Stadium.

However as anticipated, the 24-year-old quarterback wasn’t going to pat himself on the again after New England’s lopsided win in Foxborough.

Very like how he unfold the wealth along with his targets in opposition to Las Vegas — with six completely different gamers recording not less than three catches — Maye handed out reward to simply about each a part of New England’s operation on Sunday.

There was credit score given to Josh McDaniels and the Patriots’ teaching employees. A salute to the offensive line and the run recreation. And a tip of the cap to a banged-up pass-catching corps that also shredded Las Vegas’ secondary.

“It’s simply superior for me to see guys like Caleb [Lomu] getting in there and taking part in his butt off and completely different guys and Pop [DeMario Douglas] have been taking part in and operating routes properly all 12 months and at last getting rewarded,” Maye mentioned. “I simply like to see guys that do the correct issues time and again and at last get rewarded within the recreation, and I believe that’s probably the greatest issues about my place is having the ability to unfold the wealth and see different guys succeed and it’s stunning to observe.”

As for the reward centered round Maye’s personal play underneath heart? His teammates have been greater than able to return the favor.

“The best way our offense was shifting the ball, seemingly scoring each possession — it positively takes some stress off the protection. … Nevertheless it’s simply enjoyable to see Drake smiling huge on the sidelines,” linebacker Robert Spillane mentioned. “That confidence is clearly again, and simply watching him lead and push the ball down the sector was enjoyable.”

A disheartening 1-2 begin to the season stemmed from Maye’s sub-standard play — particularly coming off a 2025 season by which he was runner-up in NFL MVP voting.

Getting into final week’s street bout in opposition to the Payments, Maye was seemingly rudderless whereas making an attempt to navigate Josh McDaniels’ offense — throwing for only one landing and getting knocked for seven turnovers.

However within the two video games since then, the Patriots have delivered assertion wins over the Payments and a shocking Raiders membership — with Maye finishing 48-of-71 throws for 643 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 79 speeding yards, one speeding rating, and two whole turnovers.

It’s a turnaround that hasn’t shocked many in New England’s locker room.

“We’ve bought a quarterback that’s a hell of a frontrunner,” offensive deal with Morgan Moses mentioned. “This entire crew believes in him and he’s our man. It doesn’t matter what goes on, we all know the capabilities that he has and he by no means will get down, he by no means will get too excessive. And that’s what you need in your chief. We sit up for having 10 behind us each recreation.”

“Because the QB goes, so goes the crew” is seemingly a foregone conclusion in immediately’s NFL.

However even throughout these weeks the place Maye appeared adrift and routinely making uncharacteristic selections, DeMario Douglas mentioned that the third-year QB didn’t let these missteps on the sector bleed into his demeanor within the locker room — serving to pull the crew out of that lackluster begin to the 2026 marketing campaign.

The stakes will not be as excessive as Maye’s preliminary struggles in opposition to Seattle and Jacksonville. However Douglas, Kyle Williams, and a number of other different gamers additional down New England’s depth chart felt like Maye in early-season struggles, with lofty expectations including to the strain.

However Douglas — contemporary off the primary two-touchdown efficiency of his NFL profession — mentioned that following in Maye’s footsteps supplied the blueprint he wanted to bounce again on Sunday.

“That’s our chief. I really feel like, for the offense and protection. How he carries himself, it means lots,” Douglas mentioned. “I really feel like how he carries himself is by instance. I really feel like for us, we have to carry ourselves like that too. The ups and downs — nonetheless bought to remain straight, man. And I really like how Drake carries himself. It’s a blessing.

“Anyone may —from these previous video games, anyone may have been down on themselves. Not him. He got here to work. He got here to work and he nonetheless was like, ‘Hey, I would like you.’ I bought your again, Drake. It’s like that on this crew, and I really feel like, man, that’s what’s been taking us to that subsequent step.”

A resurgent Drake Maye is nice information for the Patriots — and dangerous information for the remainder of the NFL.

However Maye isn’t the one participant on New England’s sideline who feels as if this roster is beginning to discover its stride after a rocky begin.

“I’m simply pleased with these guys for stepping up,” Maye mentioned. “I imply, offense, protection, general as a soccer crew, that’s a – I believe we speak about identification with Coach Vrabel. I imply, that’s a Coach Vrabel soccer crew of stepping up, being able to benefit from your alternative, and he all the time says when any person will get their alternative, he’s excited to observe them play, and I believe guys reside that. You noticed that immediately.”