For the entirety of the regular season, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye played like an MVP frontrunner — and he was.
Maye finished second to Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford in MVP voting. Stafford finished with 366 points and 24 first-place votes, while Maye totaled 361 points and 23 first-place votes, marking the closest MVP race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were named co-MVPs in 2003.
But that regular-season magic disappeared for Maye during the postseason, and specifically Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Maye threw for 295 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, but he was sacked a season-high 6 times, and 235 of those 295 yards came in garbage time in the fourth quarter with the game all but decided.
Drake Maye’s Worrying Injury Admission
GettyNew England Patriots QB Drake Maye played in the Super Bowl with an injured throwing shoulder
Patriots fans who watched Maye play all season could tell something wasn’t quite right with their QB for the first three quarters of Sunday’s loss.
Maye was overthrowing his targets, missing open receivers, and his throws didn’t quite have their usual zip. And during his postgame media availability, Maye offered an explanation as to why — he was playing with an injured throwing shoulder.
“My shoulder feels…they shot it up, so not much feeling,” Maye disclosed. “It was good to go, and felt alright.”
While concerning enough that Maye needed painkiller injections to get through the game, the second-year QB didn’t use it as an excuse for his poor performance.
“I think it would be hard to say that [my shoulder cost us the game],” Maye added. “Was feeling good enough to be out there. I wouldn’t put the team in harm’s way to not be myself. Just didn’t make plays tonight.”
Many knew Maye was banged up heading into the Super Bowl, but they likely didn’t know the extent to how serious it was.
Maye was sacked 6 times by Seattle, and he didn’t have one playoff game where he was sacked fewer than 5 times. New England’s offensive line averaged 2.76 sacks allowed per game during the regular season, but that number soared to 5.25 sacks per game in four postseason contests.
Drake Maye Admits He Wants a Redo
Hindsight is always 20/20, but Maye knew in the moment there were some decisions he probably shouldn’t have made.
A reporters asked him after the game if there were any moments or specific plays that he’d like to have back, to which he admitted there was plenty he would do differently if given the chance.
“What would I like to have back? I’d like to go back to the beginning and redo it,” Maye told reporters. “But there’s so many plays that can decide and change the game. I think, what was it 19-7 or 22-7, and I have the fumble or whatever and they return it for a touchdown.
“There’s numerous plays in the first half where I feel like I could’ve made a better throw, or make a better decision. It really just comes down to who makes the plays and who doesn’t, and they made plays tonight.”
Patriots’ Drake Maye Admits to Getting Painkiller Injection Before Super Bowl LX