Drake Maye’s second NFL season has been nothing short of electric. The Patriots' young quarterback put up MVP-level numbers throughout the 2025 regular season, showing poise, precision, and the kind of command that had New England fans believing again. But as the 2026 playoffs have unfolded, Maye’s postseason performance has been a bit more turbulent-and the Patriots have had to lean on their defense to keep the Super Bowl dream alive.
Through two playoff games-both wins at home-New England has advanced past the Chargers and Texans, but not without a few nervous moments. Maye’s ball security has been shaky, and slow starts have kept both games closer than they needed to be heading into the fourth quarter. The defense, however, has stepped up in a big way, delivering timely sacks and turnovers to bail out the offense when needed.
Now, the Patriots are heading into the AFC Championship Game as the No. 2 seed, set to face top-seeded Denver on the road. And while the Broncos earned their spot with a dramatic overtime win over Buffalo, it’s not Bo Nix they’ll be trotting out under center-it’s Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriot turned starter who’s stepped in as Denver’s signal-caller. That matchup gives New England a clear edge at quarterback, but it also puts more pressure on Maye to play like the franchise QB he’s shown he can be.
Let’s not sugarcoat it-Maye’s playoff numbers so far haven’t matched his regular season brilliance. He’s completed 33 of 56 passes for 447 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, good for a passer rating of 93.4.
He’s also been sacked 10 times and lost three fumbles. That’s a lot of hits and a lot of giveaways, especially for a quarterback who posted a 72.0% completion rate, 8.9 yards per attempt, and a 113.5 passer rating during the regular season.
The pressure has been real, both literally and figuratively. Rookie left tackle Will Campbell has had his hands full, and Maye has taken a beating in the pocket.
Now he’ll face a Denver defense that just forced five turnovers from Josh Allen and ranks ninth in the league against the pass. And waiting on the edge?
Nik Bonitto, one of the league’s premier pass rushers, who’s surely eyeing that left side of the Patriots’ line.
Still, there’s reason for optimism. The two defenses Maye has already faced-Houston and Los Angeles-ranked fifth and sixth in the league in pass defense, respectively.
And both were among the AFC’s best at generating takeaways. The Texans had 29 in the regular season (second in the AFC), and the Chargers had 23 (fourth).
Denver, by comparison, forced just 14 takeaways during the regular season. That’s a significant drop-off-and a potential opportunity for Maye to settle in and play cleaner football.
But that’s only if he protects the ball. Head coach Mike Vrabel reportedly challenged Maye before the Texans game to be smarter with his decisions.
While Maye responded with three touchdown passes to help New England pull away, he also turned it over three times-two fumbles and an interception-and took another five sacks. That kind of volatility won’t cut it in Denver, especially on the road in a high-stakes environment.
The Broncos’ secondary, led by All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II, is physical, fast, and opportunistic. They’re going to test Maye’s patience and discipline.
If he forces throws or holds onto the ball too long, they’ll make him pay. And while Maye clearly has the talent edge over Stidham, playoff football has a way of leveling the playing field when mistakes pile up.
The Patriots have the pieces to reach Super Bowl 60. Their defense is humming, their run game has done just enough, and Maye-despite the turnovers-has still made big-time throws when it’s mattered most. But to take that next step, to win his first road playoff game and punch New England’s ticket to the big one, Maye has to elevate his game again.
He doesn’t need to be perfect. He just needs to be better than he’s been.
Clean up the ball security. Trust the quick reads.
Let the defense do its job. And when the moment comes, deliver the kind of throw that made him an MVP candidate in the first place.
The Patriots believe in their guy. Now it’s time for Maye to reward that belief-with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.