Drake Maye has already thrown an NFL-high six interceptions through three games, and that turnover problem directly cost his Patriots a chance to beat our Seahawks in Week 1. This third-year quarterback is making a mess early in the 2026 NFL season, and the numbers are just brutal.
Dude’s Giving the Ball Away: The Turnover Breakdown
Maye’s struggles hit rock bottom on Sunday when the Patriots got absolutely hammered by the Jaguars, losing 35-6. Get this: New England failed to score a single touchdown in a loss for the first time in over two seasons, and Maye was a huge reason why. He was responsible for three more turnovers against Jacksonville. First, he was sacked and lost a fumble late in the first quarter. Then, just before halftime, from the Jaguars’ 2-yard line, he launched a horrible high pass that got picked off in the end zone by Travis Hunter. As if that wasn’t enough, he threw a second interception late in the third quarter which gift-wrapped a Jaguars red zone touchdown. That’s a 21-point swing just from those three plays in a game they lost by 29! Maye was thankfully pulled in the fourth quarter to spare him more pain. For the season, he’s up to seven total turnovers already, with six of them being interceptions. Compare that to last season, his sophomore breakout where he led them to the AFC Championship, when he only had 11 total turnovers all year. He’s already three-quarters of the way to his 2025 interception total of eight through only seven games. If he had just protected the ball better, the outcomes in Seattle in Week 1 and Jacksonville in Week 3 could have been way different.
No Protection, No Go-To Guys: What’s Really Happening
So, why is Maye suddenly so bad at protecting the ball? Two big things stick out. First, the guy is still getting absolutely clobbered. He was sacked 47 times last season, averaging almost three sacks a game. This year? He’s already been sacked nine times in just three games. His pass protection hasn’t gotten better, and neither has his awareness in the pocket. While his athleticism lets him avoid some hits, he’s clearly rushing his passes and just can’t get comfortable. The second huge issue is his receiving corps. Mack Hollins, believe it or not, is their most productive target. Think about that for a second. With Stefon Diggs gone to Washington and A.J. Brown hurt, Maye has nobody he can trust to get open quickly. Hollins and Romeo Doubs are deep threats, not short-yardage safety valves. Demario Douglas and Kyle Williams aren’t consistent in the short game either. Even Hunter Henry and the tight ends aren’t getting enough looks. Maye is relying too much on the big-play success he had last year with his deep ball. Last season he completed an incredible 72 percent of his passes, averaging 8.9 yards per attempt. This season, before the Jaguars game, he was down to 67.3 percent and 7.0 yards per attempt. Against the Jaguars, he completed a dismal 56 percent.
Can Maye get it right soon? That’s the million-dollar question for New England. He’s got to find a way to protect the ball and get comfortable, or his team is going to keep falling hard. The Emerald City saw firsthand in Week 1 what happens when Maye turns it over, and you can bet the rest of the league is watching to see if he can fix this.
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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