Drake Maye threw three interceptions (Getty Images)
Maye finished 23 of 33 for 178 yards with one touchdown. Maye came into 2026 with a lot to prove. His 14-3 record last season and his run to the Super Bowl were undercut by persistent questions about the schedule he faced. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson managed only 2.8 yards per carry on 18 attempts.
Seattle had already lost Sam Darnold to injury early in the game. New England also lost A.J. Critics pointed out that Denver lost Bo Nix before the AFC Championship, making the path easier than it looked. And when the game was on the line, the quarterback who ranked second in MVP voting last year lost his composure at the worst possible moment.
The numbers don’t look catastrophic until you zoom in on the fourth quarter, where his decision-making fell apart completely. Brown to an ankle problem, which disrupted the offense. But the bigger issue wasn’t personnel. It was Maye’s head. This game was supposed to be a statement.
The offense looked labored even before the fourth-quarter collapse.
Maye’s Late Mistakes Cost Patriots in Season Opener
In the season opener on Tuesday night, the New England Patriots fell to the Seattle Seahawks 13-10. Quarterback Drake Maye, who had a 10-point lead at one point, struggled significantly in the fourth quarter, throwing three interceptions.
The final interception proved to be the most costly. With the Patriots in field goal range and only trailing by three points, Maye attempted a risky throw into the end zone under pressure instead of opting for a safer play. Kicker Andres Borregales had already successfully made a 50-yard field goal earlier in the game, making the decision to force the throw particularly critical.
Seattle’s Josh Jobe intercepted the pass with just 21 seconds left, sealing the victory for the Seahawks and leaving the Patriots with a disappointing start to the season.
“That’s not how I play football or how I want to represent my game,” he told reporters. He said he had “lost patience” and that his decisions had cost the team. He called the performance “unacceptable” and said he would get back to work. “We want to be aggressive, not reckless,” he said.
After the game, he didn’t deflect. Head coach Mike Vrabel was direct about it afterward. He acknowledged the loss wasn’t entirely on Maye, but drew a clear line. “You can’t throw three interceptions. Drake knows that.”