Drake Maye’s Ball Security Could Decide Super Bowl 60 - Here’s Why
Drake Maye has had a sensational rookie campaign, leading the New England Patriots to a 14-3 record and the No. 2 seed in the AFC. But for all the poise and playmaking he’s shown, there’s one glaring issue that’s followed him into the postseason spotlight: fumbles.
Maye put the ball on the ground eight times during the regular season - tied for sixth-most among quarterbacks in 2025. That might raise eyebrows at first glance, but it’s not entirely out of character for a mobile quarterback still adjusting to NFL speed. In fact, his per-game fumble rate was lower than that of other dual-threat QBs like Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, and Daniel Jones.
But once the postseason kicked off and defenses ratcheted up the heat, the ball security cracks widened. Maye coughed up six more fumbles across the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds.
His efficiency dipped, and New England’s path to the Super Bowl started to lean more heavily on its defense. Even in the AFC Championship Game - a frigid, snow-covered slugfest against a loaded Denver Broncos defense - Maye managed to avoid turnovers, but just barely.
Heading into Super Bowl 60, that fumble trend isn’t just a stat line - it’s a storyline. And it could be the difference between a championship parade and a long offseason of what-ifs.
Why the Fumbles? It Starts with Pressure
Let’s be clear: Maye isn’t out there being reckless. The ball security issues aren’t about decision-making as much as they are about survival. He’s simply getting hit - a lot.
New England cruised through one of the softest schedules in recent memory, facing a string of defenses that ranged from average to solid. That helped Maye get comfortable behind an offensive line that took time to gel.
Rookie Will Campbell and veteran Morgan Moses started the year shaky - Maye was sacked 12 times in the first three games - but they gradually found their footing. Even with occasional blowups like back-to-back six-sack outings against Cleveland and Atlanta, Maye generally managed to diagnose pressure and protect the football.
But January football is a different beast.
In the playoffs, Maye has faced three defenses that don’t just bring pressure - they live in the backfield. The Chargers, Texans, and Broncos all unleashed waves of edge rushers who made life miserable for the rookie. Guys like Nik Bonitto, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Odafe Oweh, and Tuli Tuipulotu didn’t just win matchups - they disrupted the rhythm of New England’s offense.
Campbell and Moses, who had held up decently down the stretch, were suddenly overwhelmed. Maye was often forced to react to pressure coming from the blindside or just outside his peripheral vision. Most of his postseason fumbles came as he stood in the pocket, trying to make something happen while the edges collapsed around him.
One fumble came after a scramble - Maye escaped the initial wave, picked up a few yards, and then had the ball knocked loose from behind. That’s the fine line mobile quarterbacks walk: extend the play, but don’t expose the football. Maye’s instincts are good - he’s shown a willingness to pull the ball back in and take the sack rather than risk a turnover - but the sheer volume of hits has taken its toll.
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Maye was sacked on 8.7% of his dropbacks in the regular season. In the playoffs?
That number has nearly doubled to 16.3%. With that kind of spike in pressure, it’s no surprise the fumble count followed.
Frankly, the fact he didn’t fumble in the snow against Denver - a defense that sacked him five times - feels like a minor miracle.
What It Means for Super Bowl 60
Now comes the final test: a Super Bowl showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, a defense that knows how to get after the quarterback.
Seattle finished fourth in the league in pressure rate during the regular season - just two spots behind the Broncos. They’ve got the tools to make life difficult for Maye, especially with Demarcus Lawrence looming as a potential game-wrecker off the edge. But there’s a twist here: for all their pressure, the Seahawks haven’t been great at turning it into takeaways.
Seattle forced just nine fumbles in the regular season - and they lost more fumbles (13) than any other team in the league. So while they can bring the heat, they haven’t consistently cashed in on those opportunities.
That presents a fascinating chess match. If Maye and the Patriots can flip the turnover script - protect the ball, stay ahead of the sticks, and maybe even force a few takeaways of their own - they’ve got a real shot at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
But if the Seahawks’ front seven starts to feast and Maye’s ball security woes resurface under the brightest lights, it could be a long night for New England.
The rookie’s been resilient all year. Now he just has to be careful. Because in a game this big, one loose football could be the one that gets away.