The Patriots actually pulled off a 20-3 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers for their home opener, but let’s be real, Drake Maye is nowhere near out of the woods after what we saw against *our* Seahawks to kick off the season. This guy was supposed to be in MVP form after 2025, with new weapons and an improved offensive line, yet here we are. He definitely looked *better* this time around, but “better” and “good” are two totally different things, especially when that Seattle meltdown is still fresh in everyone’s minds.
The “Improved” Maye Is Still Making You Sweat
Maye’s stat line against the Steelers finished at 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards. He spread the ball around to nine different receivers, with Romeo Doubs snagging 3 catches for 96 yards. That sounds decent, right? But the decision-making still looks shaky at times. In the third quarter, he threw an ill-advised pick, underthrowing Hunter Henry right to Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. Luckily for the Pats, their defense stepped up and Pittsburgh couldn’t convert, but man, you can’t be doing that. He did bounce back with a gorgeous 63-yard bomb to Doubs, rolling right and unleashing it, but even that drive stalled, forcing a field goal. He didn’t turn the ball over in the first half and generally made better decisions, but still took three sacks in the first half because he held onto the ball too long. A win is a win, but it’s not exactly inspiring confidence.
That Seahawks Game Is Still The Real Story
You just can’t talk about Maye’s start to the season without bringing up his performance in Seattle. What we saw in that fourth quarter against the Seahawks was unnerving, to say the least. Three fourth-quarter picks from Maye in a *winnable* game just handed us that victory. That was the backdrop for this Steelers matchup, and it explains why everyone’s still scrutinizing every single throw. It’s a tough break for him to be without A.J. Brown, who suffered a high ankle sprain *in Seattle* and is out for 4 to 6 weeks. The Patriots needed a strong run game, and they got it from TreVeyon Henderson, who ran for 76 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, including a big 39-yard score. That, along with Elijah Ponder scooping up an Aaron Rodgers fumble for a fourth-quarter touchdown, really sealed the deal for them. Maye didn’t complete any passes over 20 yards against us in Seattle, but he did connect with Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon for 30-yard gains against the Steelers, showing *some* progress.
What’s next for Maye and the Patriots? Well, they got the win, but they’re still facing questions about their QB. It’s clear that the bad taste from that game against *our* Seahawks is lingering, and he’s got to shake it off if he wants to live up to that “MVP-type” hype. Let’s see if he can keep getting “better” without actually getting great.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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