Can we already write off the 2026 Patriots? Because after a humiliating 35-6 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, the vibe around New England is less “Super Bowl contender” and more “major catastrophe.” Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye might have looked like the next big thing when they snagged a Super Bowl appearance in their very first year together, but those days feel like they’re already gone. Remember when Vrabel was Coach of the Year and Maye was nearly the league MVP? Turns out, that was the good old days, and now they’re looking like a distant memory. This season is shaping up to be as bad as last season was good, and Maye and the 1-2 Patriots are dealing with a Super Bowl hangover that feels like it’s going to last all fall.
Drake Maye’s Regression Is Alarmingly Bad
Seriously, what happened to Drake Maye? Last year, he was easily one of the best quarterbacks in football, tossing 31 touchdown passes to just eight interceptions. He played with poise, stayed accurate even when his offensive line was crumbling around him. Now? He’s alarmingly ineffective. Against the Jaguars, he was a miserable 14 of 25 for 199 yards and two soul-crushing interceptions. Those numbers are basically his season averages through three games, with less than 600 total passing yards, one measly touchdown pass, and a whopping six interceptions. He’s making incredibly bad decisions out there. Both picks against Jacksonville went to well-covered receivers who had zero chance. One, in the end zone, Maye threw on the run, off his back foot, and right into a defender’s hands. That’s not the guy who almost won MVP. He looks lost at times, and Patriots fans have to be panicking about their third-year pro.
Vrabel’s Distraction and a Team Without Answers
It’s not just Maye, though. Vrabel looks like he has absolutely no answers for this team. They’ve got no running game to speak of, no pass rush that can make an impact, no consistency, and absolutely zero spark. You know that Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks that ended their season last year? Well, it was a lopsided affair, and maybe that defeat set the tone for this mess. Vrabel was supposed to be laser-focused on the NFL draft and building on that Super Bowl run, but he was reportedly embroiled in some personal drama this offseason with NFL insider Dianna Russini, even hitting up a marriage counseling retreat. He’d probably argue that his distraction-filled offseason has nothing to do with the Pats’ current problems, but with every stumble, every brutal loss, that’s getting harder and harder to believe. This team is anemic, their defense can’t get off the field on third downs, and they’re just getting worn down by their own offense. This all falls squarely on Vrabel and his coaching staff.
The Patriots might have faced a bigger jump in strength of schedule, but they should be good enough to at least not embarrass themselves. With their 1-2 record, Maye’s struggles, and Vrabel looking for answers, the only thing they have to look forward to right now is trying to escape this nightmare season before it gets even worse.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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