The 2026 NFL season was supposed to be Drake Maye's victory lap. Instead, it's been a full-blown crash. The New England Patriots sit at 1-2 after a 35-6 demolition by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, and Maye's numbers have fallen off a cliff.
Through three weeks, Maye has thrown one touchdown and six interceptions, failing to reach 210 passing yards in any game. He was benched in Jacksonville, a humiliating end to a day that had already gone sideways. For a quarterback who nearly won MVP last season, this isn't just a slump—it's a historic collapse.
According to CBS Sports researcher Doug Clawson, Maye's expected points added (EPA) per dropback has cratered to -0.21, ranking 29th in the league. Last year, he led the NFL with a 0.28 EPA per dropback. That 28-spot plunge is the largest September slide since the data was first tracked in 2000.
"By one metric, this is the biggest 180 by any QB this century," Clawson wrote on X. "No QB on record has had a bigger September slide (1st to 29th)."
Fans have been quick to point fingers at the schedule. Last season, the Patriots feasted on one of the weakest slates in NFL history. This year, they're facing one of the toughest. "Last place schedule vs all the worst teams vs 1st place schedule and all the best teams," one user posted. Another added, "Not having the 2025 cupcake schedule hurts, eh Drake?"
Maye himself hasn't shied away from the criticism. After the loss to the Jaguars, he called his play "unacceptable for three weeks," accepting blame for the team's struggles. But words won't fix the on-field product.
The road doesn't get any easier. Next up is a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills, followed by back-to-back home games against a surprising Las Vegas Raiders squad. Even the lowly New York Jets look capable of giving New England trouble. October closes with a visit to Chicago.
The schedule finally softens in early November with a matchup against the winless Miami Dolphins and a struggling Green Bay Packers team. But by then, the Patriots' season could be over. If they drop two or three of their next five, the AFC East title—and any hope of a top seed—will be a distant memory.
For now, Maye and the Patriots are left searching for answers, and the numbers suggest this isn't just a rough patch. It's a full-scale regression that has stunned the football world.
