Drake Maye threw two interceptions and lost a fumble before being replaced in the fourth quarter of New England’s 35-6 loss in Jacksonville.
The New England Patriots benched starting quarterback Drake Maye in the fourth quarter of a 35-6 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in Duval County, Florida. New England never reached the end zone during the game, and the Week 3 blowout dropped the team to a 1-2 record.
Maye turned the ball over three times before head coach Mike Vrabel replaced him with backup Tommy DeVito. Maye threw two interceptions and fumbled twice, losing one on a play without contact that he later blamed on a bloody snap. NFL reporter Albert Breer posted to X that Maye was done for the day following the turnovers.
Looking at Drake Maye stats from Sunday, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards and no touchdowns. He finished with an 11.9 Total QBR and threw his fifth interception of the season. CBS Sports gave Maye and the Patriots an F grade for the loss.
The early-season struggles follow a breakout 2025 campaign for Maye in his second year in the league. Last season, he finished second in MVP voting behind Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and led the Patriots to Super Bowl 60, where New England lost to the Seattle Seahawks. His third season opened with a fourth-quarter struggle in Seattle before Sunday’s loss in Jacksonville.
After the game, Vrabel told reporters that his concern level “is very high.” Calls also mounted around the league for New England to consider benching Maye, with a former MVP quarterback arguing that the Patriots should make a change.
Maye offered a harsh self-assessment after the defeat, calling his play “unacceptable” and admitting he “can’t get out of his own way.” Though he stated, “I think I’m back there seeing it,” he also described the blowout loss as a potential “turning point” for the Patriots. Maye said he still believes he can lead the team to success, adding, “Because that’s my job.”
