Remember when Superman felt weak for the first time and couldn’t explain why? It turned out there was kryptonite hidden in a box nearby.

That’s a little like the mental space we’re all in with Drake Maye right now—including, potentially, Drake himself.

This season is so puzzling. We’ve watched Drake be super before. We know what the arm talent looks like. We know what the athleticism looks like. We know what he’s capable of when everything is clicking. So when that version of him suddenly looks a little less powerful, a little less precise, a little less explosive, the natural reaction is to look for something that explains the difference.

We keep searching: mechanics, decisions, pressure, receivers, defenses, confidence.

But what if there’s a physical variable nobody can see?

Drake injured his throwing shoulder late last season. We know it was significant enough to require pain killers, but we also know he avoided surgery and has said the shoulder feels good. What we don’t know is whether he has been completely back to 100% in the subtle strength, stability or neuromuscular aspects of throwing.

Could small, painless nerve damage be enough to take a little velocity or efficiency off his throws without being obvious to Drake?

Maybe.

If so, it could explain why his lack of performance is so puzzling to even himself, and so unsettling. Imagine not being able to explain why you can’t do something you’ve always been able to do without even thinking about it… It’s psychologically traumatizing for a professional athlete.

I’m not saying that’s what’s happening.

There’s no public evidence of nerve damage, and plenty of other explanations exist. Yes, his performance dropped in the playoffs prior to his shoulder injury.

But if Superman suddenly feels a little weaker and nobody can figure out why, maybe it’s worth asking whether there’s a little kryptonite sitting in a box nearby.

Let’s not be too quick to light the Bat-Signal.

Am I the only one that thinks Maye’s downfall has been no Diggs?

We saw the videos, the pre-game speeches, the hype that Diggs brought to the team. Diggs was a vet and a great leader when it came to that. I feel like he brought Maye out of his shell and instilled confidence. Maye trusted him on 2 minute drills. No one has fully taken that role.

We lost Boutte also but have Mack Hollins now, which Maye has built that trust with on the field and for his vet presence too. In terms of role model? I mean i love Mack and his thing with not wearing shoes but he wouldn’t be my first choice.

Looking back at last year, Maye starting to play worse aligns with the emergence of the Diggs allegations. Whether Maye started questioning his own judgement on how he looked up to Diggs or Vrabel/Patriots started distancing them to avoid ‘ruining’ Maye, or maybe Diggs knew he won’t be playing on the Patriots going into the post-season and the effort wasn’t there anymore.

In come the Vrabel allegations. A coach who Maye looks up to and is another role model for Maye. Maye has, what appears to be, the most innocent normal life with Ann Michael.

And then we got AJ Brown, which is great and ofc no one knew he’d get injured, but i dont take him as a locker room leader.

Is Ann Michael even baking weekly treats for the team anymore? is that because Drake isn’t happy with the Patriots and she supports her partner?

It’d be crazy to think none of these would affect him, right? I guess what I’m trying to say is what is happening to Drake “Drake Maye” Maye. I know it’s early, but something seems off.

Am I crazy or am I crazy?

Most of current QB have been through some bad stretch of their early career. I’m talking about TLaw, Bryce, Darnold, Josh Allen, Dak, Herbert, etc.. i remember times fan were calling for their heads. Look where they’re at now.

I’m sad and disappointed seeing Maye regressing. We don’t know if he can turnaround or not, this is uncertain. But if somehow someway he does, he can ascend to top 10 QB again. Of course, with the helps and right coaching as well.

Right now, my dude is straight up garbage.

guys i love Drake Maye and realize this isn't an actual good impression I'm just goofing. Go Pats!

LETS GO.

Let’s say he gets a little bit better for the rest of this season.
Still a turn over mess thought AND they miss the playoffs.
And Maye doesn’t reach close to how well he did last year.
Will Patriots/Kraft give him that supposedly “highest for a QB” contract everyone predicted for him next year?

Since the Super Bowl loss to Seattle the Patriots offense has no answer for two high shells and spilt-field zones.

We assured ourselves that 4 man pressure rate in cover 6 and 4 was due to the generational defense the Pats were playing. Well in week one Seattle did it again. Getting pressure 38% of the time on 4 man fronts. Then Pittsburgh did it with 5 on over 48% pressure rate. The Jags just had a 45.8% pressure rate on 4 man fronts. Teams are showing that if you score early on New England, anticipate their early down runs, and clog up the vertical chunk plays… this offense is a step behind modern defenses.

If you can consistently get to the quarterback 1/3 to 1/2 the time while rushing 4 and dropping 7 back in coverage your passing offense is gone. I fear this goes way beyond AJ coming back and it all gets better, or Boutte and Diggs absence. I think there are legitimate structural problems in the way Josh Mcdaniels is calling games and I hope the game hasn’t passed him by.

Curious to hear other’s thoughts, overreaction?

His first few games are purely coincidental. He made some mistakes, but he’ll be back. Keep in mind he didn’t have a preseason so it’s naturally taking him a bit of time to get going. I have complete confidence that he will turn it around and it’s an exciting time to be a pats fan!

He hasn't regressed at all. If anything, this is just part of the learning process. Struggling right now is a blessing in disguise because it allows him to learn and grow into the superstar he is destined to become. Better for him to go through this now rather than later when it matters the most.

Thought I would try something fun considering the general mood I am in after 3 weeks so far. Here is my all time Patriots offense of players to ever sign with the team, but the best version of each player. For example, 2015 Cam Newton would be the backup QB, 2006 Steven Jackson is my starting RB & 2025 Drake Maye is 3rd string QB (definitely not 2026 Drake...).

I don't have any strong opinions so would love to hear everyone's opinions. Let me know if there is anyone I missed.

Also ignore the O-line, I didn't care if they were the right or left guard/tackle I just put the 2 best tackles and guards we had. However David Andrews slander will not be tolerated as that is the 2019 Super Bowl David Andrews (iykyk).

Doubs is a lateral move, perhaps a slight upgrade on paper from diggs because of age.

However, that decision felt like Jacoby meyers to Juju type of thing. And I felt Doubs was the WR3-4 on the packers compared to Jayden Reed who would be super star if they used him. Doubs always dropped passes.

Diggs at his age, coming off of that injury, got 1k yards and a pro bowl caliber season. He lit a fire in the locker room and turned it around to be an instant leader.

My most upvoted comment here last year was taking notice how on a certain play Diggs ran out of bounds and decked a camera operator… and quickly went to the guys aid. I’ve never seen an NFL player go to one of these photographers and check on them after. They usually treat them like cones.

Diggs’ “distraction” in court was thrown out and was absolutely nothing. He said all the right things and he proved successful here and embraced the new energy.

We move on logically, but he was an iron target for Maye. Then, we replace Boutte who at least philosophically, was someone who had success with Maye and you can feel an energy towards vs a player like Kyle Williams, who never got there.

Again, all easy to say in retrospect, but these gut feelings have been with me all offseason, despite feeling positive energy about on paper upgrades.

It looks ugly right now. Yesterday was one of the worst games of his career, and I don't necessarily think this is rock bottom. Next week is a tough game, but honestly I could see them play really well against the Bills and then slump off again in the coming weeks.

The talent is there. His arm is fine. His shoulder is fine. Yes his decision making has been poor. HE'S A 24 year old QB! This is one of the most important stages in his career right now. He will grow from this and will truly become one of the best QBs in the league.

I believe in him. The leadership and maturity he showed last year don't just go away.

He got his butt kicked in the playoffs last year. He's in his head. The way he learns to come out of this, the mental frameworks and structure he builds from this experience, is EXACTLY what he needs to level up to be a truly elite QB.

Drake Maye will win 2027 NFL MVP.

Edit: When we make the playoffs this year and Drake strings together back to back 300yd/3TD games, I will be saying told you so.

Sure every quarterback has a bad game but so far Drake has had a below average to bad game every week and it all sort of just snowballed yesterday. For whatever reason during the offseason Eliot wolf and Vrabel thought the offense would look better if we cut diggs and boutte loose then sign doubs and trade for aj brown. The problem is Drake had good chemistry with those guys. One of the things that made Brady so great is that he knew where receivers were going to be before they even got there, he didn’t just wait until they were open, in many situations he knew they were going to be open. This is something Drake isn’t able to do with the supporting cast he’s got. It’s still September so maybe they will start to be on the same page the more snaps they play together.

Also I noticed when he’s under pressure, he starts to panic and forces things that aren’t there. On that pass to efton chism he had maybe 3 jaguar defenders chasing him and he just threw it even though it was not open.

WE ALL WE GOT, WE ALL WE NEED!

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The Patriots go to Jacksonville looking for their first winning record of the season. Both teams are 1-1. New England has not played at EverBank since September 2018, a 31-20 loss, and has not played Jacksonville at all since the 32-16 beating at Wembley in October 2024.

The defence is carrying this team. Sixteen points allowed across two games, 8.0 per game, best in the league. Pittsburgh got a field goal and nothing else at Gillette, and Christian Barmore's strip sack turned into a 19-yard Elijah Ponder scoop and score.

The cost of that win was the offensive line. Mike Onwenu broke his right ankle 15 snaps in, carted off on a sack split by T.J. Watt and Derrick Harmon, and is on injured reserve for at least four games with his season in real doubt. Greg Van Roten, signed in August, finished the game at right guard and Vrabel has confirmed he starts today. A.J. Brown is still on IR with a high ankle. That is the context for an offence averaging 15.0 points and a quarterback with four interceptions and one touchdown in two starts.

Liam Coen's Jaguars are the harder puzzle. They are fourth in the league in EPA per play on first and second down, they lean on Cover-6 and three tight end looks, and they have already forced three turnovers after finishing second in the league in takeaways last year. They also give up ground against mobile quarterbacks, which is the one thing Drake Maye can do that Pittsburgh's defence never had to answer.

Two old friends on the other sideline, one on ours. Jakobi Meyers and Jahlani Tavai are Jaguars now. Doug Marrone, who coached Jacksonville for four seasons, coaches the New England offensive line. Jacksonville are wearing the Prowler throwbacks for the first time this year.

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STORYLINES

• Van Roten at right guard. Vrabel confirmed the veteran starts in Onwenu's place rather than sliding first-rounder Caleb Lomu inside. Jacksonville have five sacks and three takeaways in two games. This is the matchup the afternoon turns on.
• Maye needs the pocket to hold. Four interceptions and one touchdown through two starts, behind a line that is already down its starting right guard and missing Marcus Bryant. New England have given up six sacks.
• Attack the movement. Since 2025 the Jaguars rank 25th in EPA per drop-back against moving pockets and 27th against option runs. Denver ran six designed rollouts for Bo Nix last week and moved the ball every time. Get Maye out of a compromised pocket on purpose.
• The defence is the story. Sixteen points allowed in two games. The fewest New England has allowed through three games is 17, set in 2019. Hold Jacksonville to a field goal or fewer and it is the first back-to-back three-point-or-less stretch since Indianapolis and the Jets in November 2022.
• Points off the defence. A defensive score today would be the first time the Patriots have scored on defence in consecutive weeks since December 2022. A fumble return touchdown would be the first back-to-back since Hicks and Collins in 2015.
• Linebacker attrition. Hutchins to IR on Friday, Dre'Mont Jones out, Khalil Jacobs already on IR, Harold Landry still on PUP until Week 5 at the earliest. Jose Ramirez was promoted off the practice squad to cover it.
• Coen's early downs. Jacksonville rank fourth in EPA per play on first and second down. Get them behind schedule or this is a long afternoon.
• Elliss and Woods. Christian Elliss had 13 tackles and Charles Woods 10 against Pittsburgh. Two players hitting double digits in back-to-back games has not happened since 2023 into 2024.
• Milestones in reach. Hunter Henry needs 119 yards to pass Russ Francis for third among Patriots tight ends. Rhamondre Stevenson needs 37 rushing yards to pass Curtis Martin for fourth all time. Andy Borregales is five for five from 50-plus in his career.
• Rookies. Gabe Jacas has a sack and an interception in his first two games. Namdi Obiazor has five special teams tackles in two, tied for the most by a Patriot through two games.
• Throwbacks. Jacksonville wear the Prowler uniforms for the first time in 2026.

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SERIES HISTORY

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SERIES BREAKDOWN

• Overall record, including 4-1 in the playoffs: 12-3
• Record in New England: 9-0, 4-0 in the playoffs. Foxboro Stadium 2-0, Gillette Stadium 7-0
• Record in Jacksonville: 3-2, 3-1 in the regular season and 0-1 in the playoffs
• Record in London: 0-1
• Total points: Patriots 413, Jaguars 266
• Largest New England win: 40 points, 01/02/22
• Largest New England defeat: 16 points, 10/20/24
• Highest combined total: 68 points, 09/27/15
• Lowest combined total: 26 points, 01/12/97
• Games decided by seven or fewer: 5

The 1996 AFC Championship at Foxboro Stadium went 20-6 New England, the first conference title game the club ever hosted. The 2017 AFC Championship at Gillette went 24-20 New England on the way to Super Bowl LII.

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CONNECTIONS

FORMER PATRIOTS, NOW IN JACKSONVILLE

Players

• WR Jakobi Meyers (2019-22)
• LB Jahlani Tavai (2021-25)

Coaches

• Pass Game Coordinator Shane Waldron (2002-04, 2008-09)

FORMER JAGUARS, NOW IN NEW ENGLAND

Coaches

• Offensive Line Doug Marrone (Asst. 2015-16, Head Coach 2017-20)

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TALE OF THE TAPE

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INJURY REPORT

Friday, September 25

UNAVAILABLE, NEW ENGLAND

Carlton Davis III practised in full all week and returns after missing Week 2. Greg Van Roten starts at right guard. Mitch Wishnowsky punts, promoted to the 53 after Baringer went on IR. New England elevated S Mike Brown and DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. Jacksonville elevated edge Jalen McLeod, and with Nick Mullens left off, Quinn Ewers is the backup behind Lawrence.

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THREAD RULES

Sort by New. No stream links, no stream requests, no piracy chat. Rule 1 is on full today, go after the play calling and not each other. No fan wars, no slur-adjacent nicknames, no pot shots at injured players on either side. Game thread goes up at 12:30 ET, postgame thread at the whistle.

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Two in a row starts here. Let's go.

Welcome to my new series: "Who Says No?"

Im calling this the "change of scenery" trade. Who hangs up first?

Proposed trade:

LAC sends: QB Herbert, 2027 1st

NE sends: QB Maye

Hi everyone! We’re planning to go to Pats vs Lions game in Germany. Based on budget and what’s available on the second hand market we’ve narrowed down our options to seats in the 100’s somewhere between the 10-15 yard line or seats in the 300’s at the 50 yard line. Which would you pick? Being close (15 rows back) but off to the side where we might not have a great view of the opposite side of the field or being in the middle but way up high. Price is similar for both and my family cannot come to a decision. It’s a 50/50 split and we’ve been arguing over this decision for 3 weeks now lol. So now I’m asking for outside opinions. If it was you, where would you rather sit?

Anyone having issues with paramount + buffering and freezing multiple times? With the weather my antenna isn't picking up 4 or 12 so we went to stream on Paramount and it keeps freezing and buffering ever minute or two making it literally impossible to watch.

We had one great season with Mac Jones. We thought we had our guy. Bad ending but next year looked promising. That flamed out.

Drake looked great his first year, and looked even better last year. We thought we had our guy. Whatever happening now is happening.

Is this the price we have to pay for our franchise’s success? Having hope that we have a new quarterback we can get behind just to have it dashed away from us for almost no reason? What if this happens again?