Three weeks into the season, the panic surrounding the New England Patriots was palpable. With a 1-2 record and a quarterback who had managed just one touchdown against six interceptions, the sky seemed to be falling in Foxborough. Fast forward two weeks, and the narrative has shifted entirely. The Patriots are back to .500, and Drake Maye looks every bit like the superstar who finished as an MVP runner-up just one year ago.
Following a breakout victory over Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, Maye put on a masterclass on Sunday, accounting for five total touchdowns and zero turnovers in a 45-17 dismantling of the Las Vegas Raiders. The win leaves both teams at 3-2, but it was the nature of the Patriots’ dominance that grabbed the league’s attention.
Maye was clinical, finishing 26-of-34 for 374 yards—an impressive 11 yards per attempt—while carving up a Raiders secondary that entered the contest ranked eighth in the NFL against the pass. Unlike the conservative, “dink-and-dunk” approach that defined his early-season struggles, the explosive downfield playmaking that fueled his 2025 All-Pro campaign was on full display.
The quarterback’s command was evident from the opening whistle. He led scoring drives on the Patriots’ first two possessions, including a 35-yard strike to a wide-open DeMario Douglas. Later, he connected with Kyle Williams for a 34-yard touchdown and showcased his versatility with a three-yard rushing score in the third quarter that effectively iced the game.
Perhaps most impressive was the sheer variety of his highlights. From tight-window accuracy to receivers like Efton Chism and Eli Raridon, to precision deep-ball tosses that hit his targets in stride, Maye appeared to be operating at the peak of his powers.
The question now facing New England is which version of Maye is the new normal. For those who believe in his trajectory, this two-game stretch is a return to form, proving that his early-season slump—and his difficult postseason run last year—were merely statistical anomalies. Supporting this optimism are his advanced metrics, which place him in elite company alongside Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy in terms of career dropback success rate.
“He looks like the guy we know,” was the sentiment echoing through the locker room as Maye potentially stares down his second consecutive AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
While the “sky is falling” crowd has quieted, the path ahead remains rigorous. To cement their resurgence and solidify their position in the AFC East, the Patriots must carry this momentum through a challenging slate including the Jets, Bears, Dolphins, Packers, and Lions before their Week 11 bye. For now, however, the ship has been righted, and the Patriots’ star quarterback is once again the driving force of the AFC.
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