FOXBORO, Mass. — The path to the big-picture takeaway that arrives at the end of each New England Patriots game changes from week to week. Sometimes they get blown out. Sometimes you leave scratching your head about the coaching. Sometimes the defense allows a 19-play drive to the Indianapolis Colts that results in a touchdown — and the game-winning two-point conversion — with 12 seconds remaining in a 25-24 loss.
But the point after each Patriots game is basically the same: Drake Maye is really good, and the rest of the team is not.
Both sides of that coin have been underscored in so many losses during this trying season. Where Sunday’s game, the team’s 10th loss in 13 games, differs is in which side of the coin we should focus on.
Here’s the rosy way to look at the Patriots’ situation: It’s OK to start thinking recklessly optimistic thoughts about the future with Maye. Quarterbacks aren’t supposed to play the way he does at 22 years of age. They’re not supposed to be as accurate as he is in his eighth NFL start. And they’re certainly not supposed to produce as he is (24-of-30 for 238 yards with another 59 yards on the ground Sunday) when they have as few offensive weapons as Maye does.
Kid was MOVINGGGG@DrakeMaye2 | #NEPats
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/IFx4A8hDiN
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 1, 2024
The Patriots haven’t given their fans many other reasons to have faith. The 2024 draft class outside of Maye has been a mess. They added zero impact players in free agency. The coaching staff hasn’t left many with a great feeling about how they’re developing players or managing games.
So even though it’s only the start of December, it’s OK to start dreaming about not just what Maye can do for the Pats, but what the Pats can do for Maye. Tee Higgins in a Patriots jersey? Sure. Likely Heisman winner Travis Hunter in the draft? Why not?! Four new offensive linemen? Can’t hurt!
It may only be Week 13, but it’s already fair to be content with losses that put New England in position for a higher draft pick. That’s both a sad statement about where things stand with the team and totally reasonable given its 3-10 record this season and 8-26 mark over its last 34 games.
We could spend ample time breaking down the dozens of things the Patriots did wrong against the Colts that added another tally in the loss column, but that feels reductive at this point.
Outside of Maye, the Patriots have what is likely the worst roster in the NFL. That’s mostly on the front office. They also have developed such few players outside of Maye and routinely make in-game mistakes that keep them from winning. That’s mostly on the coaches. The idea that removing Bill Belichick would empower a new front office and coach who make better decisions hasn’t worked. That’s mostly on the owner.
So, yeah, everyone has a hand in how bad things are with the Patriots right now.
About the only decision the organization made in 2024 that looks really good at this point is the addition of Maye. Frankly, he has been good enough to save some jobs of top decision-makers within the Patriots who can pat themselves on the back for scouting, drafting or developing him.
Most importantly, he’s been good enough to offer hope about what the Patriots can be going forward. Behind the NFL’s worst offensive line and with the NFL’s worst group of wide receivers, Maye is outperforming a lot of quarterbacks with far better setups.
On Sunday, his touchdown pass to Austin Hooper was a thing of beauty.
BIG HOOP GOIN’ 🆙@DrakeMaye2 | @AustinHooper18
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/utHXeaSfRJ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 1, 2024
His 41-yard scramble showed why defenses have to play him differently. He scrambled out of would-be sacks multiple times to keep plays alive.
He orchestrated a go-ahead fourth-quarter drive, then (after the defense got waltzed on) somehow got the ball to midfield in 11 seconds. That set up another odd coaching choice from Mayo, who, instead of attempting a Hail Mary, opted to try something on a cold day that had never been accomplished in the history of the NFL — a 68-yard field goal from kicker Joey Slye.
“That was 100 percent on me,” Mayo said of the decision after the kick fell a few yards short.
It also doesn’t reflect particularly well on the head coach that the Patriots finished with more passing yards, more rushing yards, more first downs, more third-down conversions, more time of possession and fewer turnovers than the Colts — yet still couldn’t find a way to win.
It’s especially frustrating when Sunday was easily the team’s best remaining chance at a win this season. They have four games left and don’t face another team with a record below .500. If you can’t beat the Colts at home while intercepting Anthony Richardson twice, who can you beat? The Pats could finish with just three wins, which would be quite a rough debut for Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf.
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But, again, this game wasn’t about them. We already knew the roster was bad. It has been the same story with this team.
The difference now is how much of a sure thing Maye appears to be. It has only been half an NFL season with him as the starter, and it’s already fair to imagine all that he could bring to the Patriots. If he can play this well with this group, imagine if the Pats get him some help this offseason.
Hitting on the quarterback is the hardest part of a rebuild. There are a lot of teams with better players than the Patriots at 52 of the 53 roster spots. But until you have the quarterback, nothing really matters.
In what has increasingly become a lost season in New England, the Patriots at least know they have their quarterback. Now they need to hope they can figure out the other 52 positions.
(Photo: Eric Canha / Imagn Images)
