If New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was going to insert Tommy DeVito into the football game on Sunday with eight minutes left, this was not the scenario he was looking for.
The disastrous run of ball insecurity from Drake Maye turned a winnable game at Jacksonville into an embarrassment, 35-6.
“I’ve got to look myself in the mirror and take this as a turning point,” said Maye, who now has one TD pass and six picks on the year. “It’s been unacceptable for three weeks.
“These mistakes that I’m making personally aren’t them beating (us). It’s me beating myself.”
Vrabel has deep concerns
Two interceptions, two fumbles (one lost) and a 48.6 passer rating have Maye rattled and the Patriots suddenly reeling at 1-2.
“My concern level is very high for this football team,” said Vrabel. “I just want to coach and improve. That’s the biggest thing.”
There is no couching Maye’s malaise. Since he finished up the runner-up MVP regular season in 2025, the third-year QB out of North Carolina has imploded.
In seven games since, he has seven touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and nine fumbles.
The coach used the word “we” an awful lot – to his credit – but he is clearly referring to Maye.
“We have to take care of the football. We can’t force things,” said Vrabel. “We haven’t made good decisions with the football. We have to get it fixed … There’s going to be mistakes, but there’s just too many things that get us beat.”
Ugly fumble changes game
Maye literally handed the football to Jacksonville, in a scoreless first quarter, with no rush on him, as the ball slipped out of his hands unmolested. DaVon Hamilton pounced on it to set up Jacksonville’s first touchdown of the day and kick-start what became a Jaguars’ avalanche.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
“I think he knows what to do. I think we have to do it better,” said Vrabel of Maye, who was 14 of 25 for 199 yards.
“Sometimes, you can want it too badly.”
The quarterback, in his postgame, claimed that center Jared Wilson’s blood on the football caused him to lose the ball.
Taking points off board
Maye’s interception in the end zone was probably his worst throw of the year, rolling right and trying to force it in to Efton Chism, who was blanketed by Travis Hunter.
“I try to talk to him about just taking the ball and putting it where it’s supposed to go.
“We can’t be a robot here, we have to go,” said Vrabel of his quarterback trying to force the action. “Also, we can’t turn it over the way we’ve been turning it over.”
