Drake Maye walked off the Gillette Stadium turf with a familiar look of frustration - a stark contrast to the electric start he gave the Patriots on Sunday. What began as a showcase of his dual-threat talent ended in disappointment, as the Buffalo Bills stormed back to snatch a 35-31 win and keep their AFC East title hopes alive.
DRAKE MAYE WITH HIS 2ND HOUSE CALL OF THE GAME👀pic.twitter.com/CMjtIiaVmV
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2025
For Maye, this wasn’t just another loss. It was a gut-punch after a stretch where the Patriots had been building real momentum. But in true quarterback fashion, he didn’t shy away from the moment.
“Long stretch where we were feeling good about ourselves. Now this is a chance to respond,” Maye said postgame, via Chad Graff. That’s the kind of mindset you want from your franchise quarterback - someone who doesn’t just ride the highs but learns from the lows.
Maye, who's been climbing the MVP conversation with his arm, turned the early part of this game into a highlight reel with his legs. He didn’t just scramble - he attacked.
Two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter alone matched his season total and helped the Patriots build a lead that looked, for a moment, like it might hold. By the end of the opening frame, he’d already racked up 99 total yards.
And if you needed any more proof of how all-in Maye is, look no further than his work as a lead blocker on TreyVeyon Hendrickson’s 65-yard touchdown run. Yes, the quarterback was out front throwing blocks - not something you see every Sunday.
But Buffalo adjusted. And that’s where the game turned.
After the opening surge, the Bills’ defense clamped down. They limited Maye to just 198 total yards by the final whistle and held him to a modest 6.7 yards per completion. They also got home with pressure, sacking him three times - the second straight week he’s taken that many hits behind the line.
It was a tale of two games for Maye. The first quarter was all fireworks.
The rest? A grind against a defense that found its footing.
And yet, even in defeat, Maye’s mindset remained forward-facing.
“Just don’t let it beat you twice,” he said. “Move onto the next week. Move on from it … and know that we have important football ahead of us.”
That’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet but matters just as much. Maye’s already shown he can put up numbers. What he’s learning now is how to respond when things don’t go his way - and that’s the next step in his development as a franchise cornerstone.
The Patriots may have let one slip away, but if Maye’s approach is any indication, they’re not letting it define them. There’s still meaningful football ahead - and a young quarterback who’s clearly ready to lead the charge.