Drake Maye just delivered the kind of performance that turns potential into proof.
Late Sunday night, with the Patriots trailing the Ravens by 11 in the fourth quarter, Maye put on his cape and led a game-winning drive that didn’t just boost New England’s shot at the AFC East crown - it may have vaulted him squarely into the MVP race. This wasn’t a fluke or a flash-in-the-pan moment. It was the latest - and maybe most convincing - entry in what’s shaping up to be a breakout campaign for the second-year quarterback.
Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Terry McAulay voice their shock about pass interference not being called against the Ravens on a Patriots deep ball. 🏈🦓🎙️ #NFL #SNF pic.twitter.com/CEGfOgTVA5
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 22, 2025
Maye finished the night completing 31 of 44 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns, but the stat line only tells part of the story. The real headline was his poise under pressure.
With the game - and possibly the Patriots’ postseason positioning - on the line, Maye orchestrated a drive that was both clinical and cold-blooded. He moved the offense with urgency and precision, showing the kind of command that’s rare for a quarterback this early in his career.
And yet, the drive wasn’t without controversy.
On a deep shot to Kayshon Boutte, Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey made contact well before the ball arrived - essentially tackling the receiver mid-route. It was as textbook a case of defensive pass interference as you’ll see, and NBC’s Mike Tirico called it out in real time.
But the flag never came. Cris Collinsworth was stunned.
The broadcast team turned to rules analyst Terry McAulay looking for an explanation, but he didn’t have one either. It was a head-scratcher, the kind of missed call that usually dominates Monday morning debates.
But here’s the thing: it didn’t derail Maye or the Patriots.
Instead of folding or letting frustration creep in, they kept their foot on the gas. Moments later, running back Rhamondre Stevenson broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run just before the two-minute warning, capping off the drive and putting New England ahead for good.
It was a statement - not just about the team's resilience, but about their identity. This Patriots squad, led by a young quarterback who’s playing well beyond his years, isn’t rattled by adversity.
They respond to it.
And now, as the dust settles, New England finds itself in a tie with the Denver Broncos for the best record in the AFC. The bye week - the only one in the conference - is within reach.
So is the division. And with Maye at the helm, the Patriots have more than just hope.
They have a quarterback who’s not just arriving - he’s already here.
Fans in Foxborough have every reason to be fired up. The officiating misfire could’ve been the story.
Instead, it’s just a footnote. The real headline?
The Patriots are surging, and Drake Maye is leading the charge.