Drake Maye proving to be the QB the Patriots needed

"No, I didn’t hear it," Maye said to Conor Ryan of Boston.com. "The guys were making fun of me about my slide back in the huddle on the long run, so I didn’t hear it. But the fans have been awesome all season. It’s been really cool really to see the difference from last year to this year. Man, it’s been a journey."

Drake Maye is the franchise quarterback the Patriots have waited for

Since Tom Brady left the team after the 2019 season, the Patriots have shuffled three separate quarterbacks through their system, including Cam Newton (2020), Mac Jones (2021-23) and Bailey Zappe (2022-23), all of whom failed to prolong the mystique of the Patriots' legacy. That's changed now that Maye has shown he's the man capable of taking on that mantle, which he acknowledged after the win, saying Patriot fans have "been through it."

"They’ve been through it, and the fans have been through it the last couple years," Maye explained to Ryan. "So it’s just credit to them. …. I know the fans have been awesome. Like I said, I think they’re the best fans in the league, and they continue to show out every week."

Maye ranks fourth in yards (2,026), tied for fifth in touchdowns (15) and is also a threat to run (250 rushing yards and two touchdowns). Maye, in his sophomore season, has shown no signs of regression. Showing why his name should be in the MVP discussion, the QB threw for 282 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the Patriots' win on Sunday.

Maye is tied for the longest streak (seven games) in NFL history for a quarterback 23 years old or younger with 200-plus passing yards and a 100-plus passer rating. Others to do so at the same age are the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes in 2018 and Hall of Famer Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins in 1984. 

Mahomes, Marino and three others, Aaron Rodgers twice (2011 with 12 games and 2020 with eight games), Tom Brady (eight games in 2007) and Peyton Manning (eight games in 2004), would all go on to win the MVP Award in their respective seasons after achieving this feat. Pats fans once again have someone to cheer for and someone to handle leading the team back to the promised land like Brady did.