This one will sting for Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.
In the 2026 NFL season opener on Wednesday night, the Patriots fell 13-10 to defending champion Seattle, and Maye tossed three interceptions — the last coming with 21 seconds left. New England was in position to try a 33-yard game-tying field goal, but Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe reached up for a fingertip pick in the end zone on third-and-5 from the 16 to seal the game.
Maye owned the mistakes after the game, saying he thought the team had the contest under control but that he “lost patience” and made decisions that cost them. He called the turnovers unacceptable and vowed to work to get back to the kind of quarterback play he wants to show for the Patriots.
Stat line: Maye completed 23 of 33 passes (69.7%) for 178 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, finishing with a 54.9 passer rating; he also ran for 47 yards at 6.7 yards per carry. New England also lost top offseason pickup A.J. Brown to an ankle injury in the third quarter. Seattle, meanwhile, lost starter Sam Darnold to a hip injury on the opening drive, and Drew Lock stepped in to guide the victory, finishing 16-of-22 for a 113.3 passer rating.
By way of context, Maye — a third-year QB who was the runner-up for the 2025 MVP — led the league in passer rating and completion percentage last season. His regular-season totals were 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 113.5 passer rating and a 72.0% completion rate; he also rushed for 450 yards and four scores. However, across New England’s four postseason games he posted an 82.2 passer rating and completed just 58.3% of his throws. The Patriots return home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 20.
Fan Take: This game is a reminder that even elite young QBs can have rough nights under pressure — turnovers like Maye’s change not just a matchup but how a team is perceived heading into the season. For the league, it underscores how quickly narratives can shift and why depth, situational poise and injury management remain crucial in any title chase.
Source: www.foxsports.com
