As the New England Patriots fell 13-10 to the Seattle Seahawks in their season opener Wednesday night at Lumen Field, quarterback Drake Maye watched a 10-point halftime lead evaporate in a second-half collapse defined by three interceptions. The third-year signal-caller, who finished as the NFL’s MVP runner-up just one season ago, shouldered the blame after a performance that left the Patriots searching for answers on September 10, 2026.
“We had the game under control. I thought we had a good plan to try to start chipping away and be patient; I lost patience, and it cost us,” Maye said postgame. “[They were] decisions that cost us the game on my part. I’ve asked myself to be better and realize it’s a long season, but at the same time (you) can’t have those [plays]. It was unacceptable … That wasn’t how I play football or how I want to represent my game and playing quarterback for the Patriots.”
Late-Game Decision Proves Costly
With 26 seconds remaining and the Patriots trailing by three, Maye had a chance to send the game to overtime. Facing fourth down from Seattle’s 16-yard line, he lobbed a soft pass toward wide receiver Mack Hollins in the end zone, but the attempt fell short and into the hands of Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe, sealing the game. Kicker Andy Borregales had been warming up on the sideline, ready to attempt a manageable field goal to tie the game at 13.
“I was trying to get rid of [the ball], realized Mack [Hollins] was back there, and I didn’t put enough on it to get it out,” Maye explained. “It was unacceptable. We had a chance to send [the game] to overtime at the worst.”
Interceptions Pile Up in Second Half
Maye’s first interception came on a lofty deep throw to Romeo Doubs in heavy coverage. Early in the second quarter, he also underthrew new receiver A.J. Brown on a flea-flicker, though a defensive pass interference call bailed out the Patriots. “The one to A.J. [Brown], I didn’t want to try to overthrow it on the flea-flicker,” Maye said. “Ball placement is key in this league. I’m trying to make sure that I put [the ball] in the right spot, and I didn’t.”
During New England’s prior drive, Maye’s second interception set Seattle up in Patriots territory, leading to the go-ahead field goal. The third came when he targeted DeMario Douglas over the middle, allowing safety Julian Love to jump the route just past midfield.
Vrabel’s Trust Remains
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged Maye’s miscues but reaffirmed his confidence in the young quarterback. “He can’t throw three interceptions, and he knows that,” Vrabel said. “We want to be aggressive, but not reckless.” Vrabel added that the team has “nothing but the utmost confidence” in Maye, who was the NFL’s MVP runner-up just one season ago.
Maye echoed his coach’s sentiment, emphasizing the need to move forward. “We have to stick together, and that starts with me getting back to work and having the right intention in practice,” he said. “These guys are here for me. They’ve done a great job supporting me and have had my back. I know I have their trust, but I need to keep on putting better football out there. It’s Week 1, but at the same time, we have to get this going early. We have to start off on the right foot, and I know what we had last year, but we have a new season and a new team. We need to build that.”
As the Patriots regroup, the pressure mounts on Maye to recapture his MVP-caliber form. According to insights from Vulius Sports, the young quarterback’s ability to learn from this early stumble will define New England’s season. For fans eager to support their team, Vulius offers official Patriots merchandise to gear up for the long haul.
Looking to represent Josh Jobe? Grab your Josh Jobe jersey or design a personalized NFL Jersey at Vulius.
