Bill Simmons Critiques Drake Maye Amid Patriots' Struggles

WHO:

Sportskeeda - Bill Simmons critiques quarterback Drake Maye amid the Patriots' struggles.

patriots.com - Head coach Mike Vrabel leads the Patriots.

WHAT:

patriots.com - Drake Maye's performance against the Steelers received a "-4" grade, marking it as his lowest-graded game besides his first with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the 2025 season opener.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense ranks third in EPA per play (-0.175) and second in pass EPA (-0.197) through two weeks.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense has blitzed at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL through two weeks at 41.1% while generating a 46.7% pressure rate when they blitz.

patriots.com - The Patriots will face the Jaguars and Bills in the next two weeks.

Sportskeeda - Bill Simmons stated, "Drake Maye has been a mess" and blamed "post-Sedona Mike Vrabel" for the Patriots' shaky start to the 2026 season.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense ranks first in the NFL in EPA per drop-back in man coverage (-0.89) and has allowed a league-best passer rating of 36.3 through two weeks.

Boston.com - Rob Gronkowski expressed concern about Drake Maye, stating, "He’s panicking" and described him as "off-balance" amid his struggles.

Sportskeeda - Bill Simmons stated, "Drake Maye hasn't looked like his true self in the first two games of the 2026 NFL season."

patriots.com - Drake Maye has the fifth-highest turnover-worthy play rate (5.5%) with four interceptions and only one big-time throw to start the season.

patriots.com - Maye's performance against the Steelers received a "-4" grade, marking it as his lowest-graded game besides his first with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the 2025 season opener.

Boston.com - Julian Edelman commented, "Drake didn't look comfortable at all... his feet aren't set. He's like drifting."

patriots.com - The Patriots won against the Steelers with a score of 20-3 in their home opener.

patriots.com - Drake Maye is currently ranked 19th in EPA per drop-back through two games of the 2026 NFL season.

patriots.com - Maye has a turnover-worthy play rate of 5.5%, with four interceptions and one big-time throw.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense has allowed only one touchdown in the first two weeks of the season.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense ranks third in EPA per play (-0.175) and second in pass EPA (-0.197) through two weeks.

patriots.com - The Patriots lead the NFL in EPA per drop-back in man coverage (-0.89) and have allowed a league-best passer rating of 36.3.

WHERE:

patriots.com - The Patriots played their home opener against the Steelers.

WHEN:

patriots.com - The Patriots experienced a fourth-quarter collapse in Seattle in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

patriots.com - The Patriots will face the Jaguars and Bills in the next two weeks.

WHY:

patriots.com - Concerns about Maye's performance stem from the absence of his top two receivers from the 2025 season, Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte, and the early injury to A.J. Brown.

HOW:

patriots.com - The Patriots defense utilized a man coverage-heavy plan to shut down the Steelers offense.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense has blitzed at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL through two weeks at 41.1% while generating a 46.7% pressure rate when they blitz.

patriots.com - The Patriots defense utilized a man coverage-heavy plan to shut down the Steelers offense.

Drake Maye's recent performance against the Steelers earned him a grade of minus four, marking it as his lowest since his first game with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the 2025 season opener, a situation compounded by the absence of key receivers like Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. Meanwhile, the Patriots defense is making waves, ranking third in EPA per play and second in pass EPA, while also blitzing at the sixth-highest rate in the NFL and achieving a pressure rate of 46.7% when they do. Looking ahead, the Patriots are set to face the Jaguars and Bills in the coming weeks.