The New England Patriots went from a four-win team to a 14-3 Super Bowl contender in Mike Vrabel's first season as head coach, with Drake Maye emerging as one of the NFL's biggest stars and finishing second in MVP voting. Naturally, expectations were even higher heading into this season, especially after New England added All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown in a blockbuster trade.
But three games in, the Patriots are already below .500, and Brown is dealing with a high ankle sprain. It's not exactly the start anyone in New England envisioned, and ESPN's Dan Orlovsky has already raised a much bigger question. Appearing on "First Take" Monday, Orlovsky said he was losing confidence in Maye and Vrabel as a pairing, arguing that the young quarterback currently looks hesitant and too worried about making mistakes.
"Am I losing confidence in Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel as a team, as a grouping, as a pairing of head coach and quarterback? "Drake Maye looks to me like a quarterback who is scared to make mistakes right now. I have seen this kind of play itself out in the NFL when it comes to defensive minded head coach.
We've got a great defense. We've got good special teams. Don't give the ball away.
We'll play great defense, kick the ball, all that. And then I think quarterbacks, like, they get timid in those situations." More news: Jets Get Major Breece Hall Injury Update After Scary Quad Injury Through three games, Maye has completed 63.7% of his passes for 585 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions, while adding just 82 rushing yards. By this point last season, he had already thrown for 785 yards, rushed for 87 more, accounted for eight total touchdowns and just two interceptions, all while completing 72.6% of his passes.
The Patriots were also 1-2 after three games last season, but Maye looked noticeably more poised, decisive and explosive with the football. It's easy to point to the lack of weapons around him, especially with Brown injured and Stefon Diggs now in Washington, but that's only part of the picture. More news: Giants Land Former First-Round QB JJ McCarthy in Blockbuster Trade More news: Emotional Blow in Carolina as Star Corner Jaycee Horn Lands on IR Something simply feels off with New England right now, and it may go beyond the lack of playmakers surrounding Maye.
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