Drake Maye Faces His Biggest Test Yet: AFC Title Game in Denver
Drake Maye’s second NFL season has been nothing short of electric. He’s vaulted into the MVP conversation, led the Patriots to within a game of the Super Bowl, and shown flashes of the kind of franchise quarterback New England’s been looking for since the Brady era. But as the Patriots head into Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Broncos, Maye finds himself under the microscope - not just for his playmaking ability, but for his ball security.
Head coach Mike Vrabel knows exactly what kind of performance his young quarterback will need in Denver. And he’s not sugarcoating it.
“Lead our offense,” Vrabel said this week. “Be the conductor.
Help us handle the environment. Find as many positive plays as you can.
Take care of the football. Own the operation.
Then you’re going to have to make some big-time throws. That’s just kind of how this thing goes.”
That’s a tall order, but it’s the reality of playoff football - especially on the road, especially in Denver, and especially against a Broncos defense that’s been living in opposing backfields all season long.
The Ball Security Question
There’s no denying Maye has delivered some high-level throws in the postseason, helping push the Patriots past two tough opponents. But he’s also been a little too generous with the football.
Through two playoff games, Maye has fumbled six times, losing three, and has thrown a pair of interceptions. That’s five turnovers in two games - not exactly the clean sheet you want from your quarterback in January.
And it’s not just the turnovers. Maye’s been sacked 10 times in the postseason - more than any other quarterback over that stretch.
That’s a stat that should raise eyebrows, especially considering who’s on the other side this Sunday. The Broncos led the league with 68 sacks during the regular season.
They come at you in waves, and they don’t need much time to get home.
“When you get sacked a bunch, the ball is going to come out,” one NFL executive told The Athletic. “That’s going to be Denver’s formula all week, and that’s what the Patriots will combat. I’d expect to see a lot of running the ball and the screen game early.”
Translation: Expect New England to try and slow down that Broncos pass rush with quick throws, misdirection, and a heavy dose of the ground game. But at some point, Maye’s going to have to stand in and make those “big-time throws” Vrabel mentioned - and do it while protecting the football.
Staying Steady in the Storm
One thing that’s stood out about Maye this season - and especially in the playoffs - is his resilience. Mistakes haven’t rattled him.
The fumbles and picks haven’t snowballed. He’s stayed locked in, and that’s something Vrabel continues to emphasize.
“No different than what we’ve expected of him the entire season and how he’s produced,” Vrabel said. “It’s great to see some not-so-positive plays that don’t affect some things that have to happen later in the game for us to succeed.”
That kind of mental toughness is rare in a 23-year-old quarterback. It’s also essential in January.
Maye’s been able to bounce back from his miscues, but against a defense as opportunistic as Denver’s, the margin for error shrinks. One turnover can flip the game.
One misread can end a drive - or a season.
No Taking the Broncos Lightly
Yes, Denver will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix. Jarrett Stidham gets the nod instead, and that’s led some to assume the Patriots have a smoother path to the Super Bowl.
But inside the locker room, there’s no such talk. The Patriots aren’t booking flights to Las Vegas just yet.
This is still the AFC Championship. This is still a road game at altitude, in a hostile environment, against a defense that thrives on pressure. Maye’s going to have to be more than just a playmaker - he has to be the steady hand, the tone-setter, the conductor Vrabel described.
As of Friday morning, the Patriots were 4.5-point favorites on the road. But spreads don’t win playoff games.
Quarterbacks do. And on Sunday, we’ll find out if Drake Maye is ready to take the next step - not just as a star in the making, but as a quarterback who can lead his team to the Super Bowl.