New England Patriots
“In case you make them, you are celebrating. In case you [don’t], you are sitting right here crying at a podium.”
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Simply 20 minutes after an important soccer recreation of his life got here to a crushing finish, Drake Maye was candid when requested if he had any second-guesses in Super Bowl LX.
“What [plays] would I wish to have again? Return to the start. Redo it,” Maye stated with a chuckle.
That temporary blip of humor undercut the crushing actuality that began to set in as Maye fielded questions simply exterior of Levi’s Stadium.
The 2025 Patriots season — as inconceivable because it was — didn’t get a storybook ending.
The “Street Warriors” had been lastly rendered mortal away from Gillette Stadium.
And as blue and inexperienced confetti rained down on the sphere in Santa Clara, Maye and the Patriots might solely look again on the a number of missteps that introduced them to an eventual 29-13 loss in Tremendous Bowl LX.
“Yeah, I feel there are performs that I’ll take into consideration for, in all probability, the following seven months till we’re again in September taking part in our first one,” Maye stated when requested of his miscues. “That’s the character of it.”
An explosive and environment friendly Patriots offense led the best way all season for New England — with Maye standing as its unwavering conductor along with his correct howitzer of an arm and knack for ducking strain.
Such wasn’t the case on Sunday night time towards an elite Seattle protection.
Maye wasn’t aided by a Patriots offense line that crumbled on Sunday — with Seattle racking up six sacks and 11 QB hits in a defensive masterclass.
However Maye can’t be absolved from what served as an offensive implosion from New England — with the Patriots recording as many punts as they’d receptions (eight) coming into the fourth quarter.
“Credit score to them, we had been shifting it strong within the first couple drives, then had a few unfavorable performs that might sort of put us behind the chains. Then from there, we simply couldn’t keep forward of the chains, third and quick we couldn’t choose up first downs,” Maye stated. “That they had some strain the place they obtained us just a few occasions.
“Obtained to be higher with the soccer, make higher choices, and I’ve obtained to make higher throws when the sport is like that. I’ve to make some throws to maneuver the soccer.”
Whereas New England’s offense sputtered all night time, it was miscues from Maye that gave Seattle the chance it wanted to ship drive the ultimate nails into the Patriots’ coffin.
Maye was knocked for 3 turnovers within the second half — two interceptions (together with a 45-yard pick-six from Uchenna Nwosu) and a strip-sack that was wolfed up by Byron Murphy II.
In whole, Seattle generated 17 factors off of these three turnovers from Maye.
“I feel we had been, what was it, 19-7 or 22-7, and I’ve the fumble or no matter [the call was], they return it for a landing, might’ve made a greater throw or make a greater resolution,” Maye stated. “It simply comes right down to who makes the performs and who doesn’t, they usually made the performs tonight.”
Maye and several other of his teammates did harp on the positives drawn out of a season rife with some promise.
New England is seemingly nicely forward of schedule in its roster retooling — boasting a franchise QB in Maye, a reigning Coach of the 12 months in Mike Vrabel, and a roster that has the means to improve itself by way of cap area and different offseason maneuvers.
That optimism was evident as Maye and the Patriots sit just some months away from mini-camp and OTAs.
“We’re again stepping into April, so, it’s a fast turnaround. I feel it’s been the largest factor, simply the relationships you construct, whether or not it’s new folks, outdated teammates that you just’ve had, or teammates from final yr that you just simply proceed to construct extra relationships, and simply the recollections.”
These recollections began to linger for Maye as tears started to nicely up in his eyes.
He paused for a number of moments whereas reflecting on Vrabel — who he deemed the “heartbeat” of this upstart membership.
There was a salute to the help workers and different personnel working behind the scenes — a gaggle that Maye stated doesn’t put within the work “for the cash or for the celebrity.”
And there have been his teammates — the buddies and brothers that he cast bonds with over the seven months en path to an sudden run to a title recreation.
“Man, I’m so proud,” Maye stated of his teammates. “That’s what in all probability chokes me up probably the most. This crew is one thing that I’m glad to be part of.”
“You’ve obtained to play at your finest, and people performs that may change the sport matter,” the Patriots 23-year-old QB added. “In case you make them, you’re celebrating. In case you [don’t] you’re sitting right here crying at a podium. So, that’s a part of it. I do know the postseason is what you play for, and I do know we’ll be again within the postseason and that’s what you play the sport for.”
The Patriots and Maye might be again on this stage in some unspecified time in the future. However few issues are assured in soccer.
New England’s QB will ponder these ideas for the rest of a brief — and painful — offseason.
What do the Patriots have to do within the offseason?
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