The New England Patriots’ offense is off to a seriously slow start, and quarterback Drake Maye admitted the unit is “finding themselves” after just two games. For offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, this isn’t some shocking revelation, though. He’s calling it a completely “normal” part of the process this early in the season. Thursday, McDaniels said this time of year is usually just an extension of the work they put in during training camp.
Josh McDaniels: “Progress is a Big Word”
McDaniels knows this dance well. He’s been through plenty of these early season struggles. Think about it, we all have these huge hopes for how the season will kick off, right? But the reality is, it takes a ton of hard work and improvement. Last year, the running game picked up steam as the season went on. McDaniels thinks nobody is truly where they want to be right now, and the most important thing is the progress they make moving forward. Maye even pointed out they were in a similar spot last season, sitting at 1-2, before absolutely exploding for 42 points in Week 4 against the Panthers, which then sparked an insane 11-game winning streak. McDaniels said he’s seen this play out in 2014, 2018, 2021, and 2025, plus a few other years. The first month is all about “growth and improvement.” He stressed that “progress is a big word,” and “if you jerk the wheel and turn the car into the wall, you’re going to have a problem.” Sounds like he’s telling everyone to chill out and trust the process, even if it feels tough right now.
Maye’s Struggles and the Group Effort
Part of that much-needed growth has to come from Drake Maye himself. Through two games, the 24-year-old has thrown four interceptions and taken six sacks, trying to figure out that tightrope walk between being aggressive and patient. McDaniels didn’t sugarcoat the mistakes, but he also reminded everyone that offense isn’t a one-man show. “It’s always about the group,” he repeated. “It takes 11 people on offense to make a good play go.” Maye has his part, the rest of the players have theirs, and the coaches need to put them in the right spots. He acknowledged Maye made some “really good plays” the other day, but they absolutely need to “clean up” putting the ball “in harm’s way.” It’s a full team responsibility to get this unit clicking.
So, where do the Patriots go from here? It’s all about that progress McDaniels is preaching. They’ve got to keep grinding, keep improving, and not panic. The journey is just getting started, and they’re betting on hard work to turn this slow start around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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