Drake Maye’s Stunning 2025 Turnaround Powers Patriots to Playoffs

From a 4-13 season during his rookie year to a 14-3 finish in 2025, it’s been quite a turnaround for quarterback Drake Maye.

As a rookie, Maye experienced a tough campaign where he was forced to make the best of a patchwork offensive line, and turn the offense into something more than the anemic unit we saw last season.

It’s safe to say, that part has been mission accomplished.

Coming off a season where Maye finished with 2,276 yards passing along with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, 2025 has certainly been a remarkably different story.

Maye closed out Sunday completing 14-of-18 for 191 yards along with a touchdown, while also engineering four other touchdown drives where both Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson each had rushing touchdowns.

That saw Maye settle in up 38-10 as he walked to the sideline with just over 12 minutes left in the game.  Maye enjoyed the remainder of the contest as a spectator for the second time in as many weeks in favor of Joshua Dobbs, who finished the game.

As a result, it’s quite a contrast to where they were at this time last year.

“Yeah, I mean, we’ve come a long way,” said Maye after the game. “I think it takes everybody. It took everybody in the locker room, took every coach, and I think it starts now. It’s what we wanted, one of the goals, host home playoff games, and this is what we wanted to [do].”

For Maye, it’s been an incredible turnaround.  Coming off a rookie season where Maye threw 15 interceptions and had nine fumbles, six of which he lost, people certainly had questions.  They wondered if he’d be able to shed that style of play and be smart enough with the football to ultimately reach the potential so many felt he had.

Maye’s Future Was in Doubt Earlier This Season

Earlier this season, there were definitely doubts.  A loss to both the Raiders and Steelers early in the season started the chatter.  He was shaky in the opener against the Raiders, and a five-turnover performance two weeks later against Pittsburgh saw them suffer a tough loss that dropped them to 1-2 and seemed to be the turning point.

In that game, Maye threw a pick and lost a fumble, which ignited criticism of those who believed that style of play was just who he was.  Many of those same pundits and fans believed Maye ‘wasn’t the guy’ and that the Patriots would likely have to find another solution next offseason.

But Maye never waivered.  He kept putting in the work behind the scenes, stayed consistent and steady, and the results began to pay dividends.

It started when New England blew out the Panthers the following week in front of the fans at Gillette Stadium 42-13, and then followed that up with a 23-20 win over the Bills in what was their first real statement win of the season.