The Patriots’ turnaround has come fast, and Drake Maye is a big reason why.
After opening the season with two losses in their first three games, New England has steadied itself with back-to-back statement wins over the Buffalo Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders. The latest one was the kind that gets attention across the league: a 45-17 rout in which Maye looked every bit like a quarterback hitting his stride.
Maye finished 26 of 34 for 374 yards and four touchdowns against Las Vegas, and he added another score on the ground. Earlier in the season, he was making too many mistakes, whether that meant interceptions or missing open targets. Lately, though, he has cleaned things up, and the Patriots have looked far more dangerous because of it.
Phil Simms says the New England Patriots are the BEST TEAM IN THE NFL 😮@PhilSimmsQB | @heykayadams | @Patriots pic.twitter.com/DIYNyGJR9M
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) October 16, 2026
That dual-threat element matters, too. Maye’s running ability could become a major factor later in the season when New England runs into strong defenses capable of taking away top receivers and forcing quarterbacks to win in other ways.
Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback and longtime NFL analyst Phil Simms liked what he saw enough to call the Patriots the best team in the league. Speaking on “Up and Adams” with Kay Adams, Simms pointed to Maye’s growth as a major reason New England has become so tough to handle.
“He had a hitch in his throwing motion that caused him to throw the ball where he didn't want it to go,” Simms said. “He fixed that in one week. If he keeps playing like that, he's a guy who can lead his team to the Super Bowl.”
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