Drake Maye vs. Josh Allen: Round Two Has Playoff Implications and MVP Weight
Drake Maye has already made a statement in his second NFL season - and he’s not done yet. The New England Patriots are riding a 10-game win streak, sitting atop the AFC East at 11-2, and now find themselves on the verge of clinching their first division title since 2019. But to do it, they’ll have to go through Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills one more time.
The last time these two quarterbacks squared off, it was Maye who walked out of Highmark Stadium with the win. That 23-20 victory in Week 5 didn’t just snap expectations - it jump-started a Patriots surge that has completely flipped the AFC East hierarchy.
Now, with the rematch set in Foxborough, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A New England win would not only complete a season sweep of Buffalo but also lock up the division crown.
Still, Maye knows what he’s up against. Allen isn’t just a division rival - he’s one of the most physically dominant quarterbacks in the league. And Maye, to his credit, isn’t shying away from that reality.
“It’s a little different when you’re playing the MVP,” Maye said during a Tuesday appearance on WEEI Afternoons. “One of the best players in the league… Shoot, I hate to say it, but he’s fun to watch when he’s playing. Big fan of him off the field… He’s been great to me.”
There’s a mutual respect here that goes beyond the lines. Allen, for his part, has spoken highly of Maye in the past, calling the former UNC standout “super talented” and “one of my favorite young quarterbacks in the league.” According to Allen, Maye has “his head on his shoulders the right way” and “just does things the right way.”
That’s high praise from a player who’s carved out a reputation as one of the league’s fiercest competitors - and it’s not just lip service. Maye’s performance in their first meeting backed it up: 22-of-30 passing for 273 yards, showing poise and precision in a pressure-filled game. Allen wasn’t far behind statistically - 22-of-31 for 253 yards and two touchdowns - but it was Maye who engineered the game-winning drive.
This weekend’s rematch has all the makings of a heavyweight bout. Two quarterbacks with top-tier arm talent and mobility.
Two teams with playoff aspirations - one looking to stay hot, the other desperate to stay alive. And for Maye, another chance to build his MVP résumé.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t downplaying the moment. “It’s a championship game,” he said Monday.
“They’re both really good at what they do. Josh has probably got a couple pounds on him and can probably throw his shoulder in there a little more than I’d want Drake to.
But I think they’re both great competitors. A lot of respect for Josh.”
Vrabel’s not wrong - Allen’s physicality is a unique weapon, and he’s been known to bulldoze defenders when the moment calls for it. Maye, meanwhile, brings a different kind of edge: calm under fire, a sharp football IQ, and the ability to make every throw on the field. He’s shown that he can go toe-to-toe with the best - and win.
Sunday’s game won’t just decide the AFC East. It could shape the playoff picture across the conference and put Maye in the thick of the MVP conversation.
If he can outduel Allen again - this time with the lights even brighter - it won’t just be another win. It’ll be a defining moment in a breakout season.
So buckle up. Maye vs. Allen, Part II is coming - and everything’s on the line.