Drake Maye is making the NFL MVP conversation feel a lot less like a debate and a lot more like a coronation. After leading the Patriots to a 33-15 win over the Giants on Monday night, Maye has surged back ahead of Matthew Stafford as the betting favorite for the league’s top individual honor - and for good reason.
The 23-year-old quarterback was surgical under the primetime lights, completing 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. But it’s not just the box score that tells the story. It’s how he’s doing it - and who he’s doing it without - that’s turning heads across the league.
Maye was missing both his starting left tackle, Will Campbell, and left guard, Jared Wilson, against a Giants front that, despite the team’s record, can still bring the heat. That didn’t seem to faze him one bit.
He consistently stood tall in the pocket, maneuvered through pressure like a seasoned vet, and delivered throws that demanded elite-level precision. It wasn’t just about avoiding sacks - it was about creating opportunities under duress.
What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Maye isn’t just playing well - he’s elevating everything around him. He’s the engine, the spark, and the stabilizer for a Patriots team that’s now sitting at 11-2.
That record isn’t just a product of a soft schedule or a dominant defense. It’s a reflection of a quarterback who’s playing at an MVP level, week in and week out.
And when you dig into the advanced metrics, the case only gets stronger. Maye currently leads the league with a 111.9 quarterback rating, but perhaps even more telling is his accuracy in tight windows.
He’s completing 52% of his passes in those situations - a number that puts him in rarefied air. For context, most quarterbacks hover somewhere below 40%.
That’s not just good. That’s elite-level ball placement under maximum difficulty.
What’s striking about Maye’s game right now is how effortless it looks. Whether he’s stepping up in the pocket to avoid edge pressure, hanging tough with defenders in his face, or threading the needle between two defenders on a critical third down, he’s making the hard stuff look routine. And that’s the kind of trait you see in MVPs - not just guys who put up numbers, but guys who consistently make the people around them better.
There’s a calmness to the way Maye operates, a sense that no moment is too big, no throw too tough. It’s that poise, combined with elite accuracy and decision-making, that’s making him not just the face of the Patriots’ resurgence - but possibly the face of the league’s next generation of quarterbacks.
At this point, it’s hard to argue against his MVP credentials. He’s not just producing - he’s carrying a team, thriving under pressure, and delivering in the biggest moments.
The numbers back it up. The tape backs it up.
And most importantly, the wins back it up.
Drake Maye isn’t just in the MVP race - he might be running away with it.