FOXBORO — Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has prevented turning over the ball in three of 5 video games this season.
The Patriots simply so occur to be 3-0 in those games, and so they’re 0-2 in video games that Maye has not protected the soccer.
It’s been a profitable components for the Patriots, and avoiding giveaways shall be key in Week 5 in opposition to the Saints, who pressured 5 turnovers final week in a 26-14 win over the Giants and rank fourth with a +5 turnover differential.
Maye averaged 1.23 turnovers per recreation final season. With simply three giveaways by means of 5 video games, Maye has averaged simply 0.6 turnovers per recreation in 2025.
He credit his offensive line.
The fellows up entrance are taking part in their butts off,” Maye mentioned. “They’re defending me nice. I joke with them on a regular basis; I believe the sacks I’ve taken have been mainly on me. So, possibly they’ve gotten beat just a few occasions, however they’ve achieved a fantastic job, and so they’re taking part in exhausting. Additionally, it comes with the scheme. We’re chipping on the sting, and we’re getting the ball out quick. The fellows have actually taken residence inside-out safety, and so they carry on taking part in each week and taking part in exhausting. They wish to proceed to run the soccer, and I believe that may solely assist restrict turnovers extra down the highway is with the ability to run the soccer and keep forward of the chains.”
Maye is correct. He’s been sacked 17 occasions this season, however PFF solely credit the offensive line with permitting two of them. Tight finish Hunter Henry and operating again TreVeyon Henderson have allowed one sack apiece, however the remainder have been on Maye.
It may well’t be overstated how significantly better the Patriots’ offensive line has carried out this season. In 2024, the road ranked tied for final in PFF’s pass-blocking effectivity metric, permitting 33 sacks, 37 QB hits and 222 complete pressures. They’re at the moment third in the identical metric, permitting simply two sacks, 9 QB hits and 44 complete pressures by means of 5 video games.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf, vice chairman of participant personnel Ryan Cowden and the remainder of the entrance workplace overhauled the offensive line, including starters in 4 spots by drafting left sort out Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson and signing heart Garrett Bradbury and proper sort out Morgan Moses. Proper guard Mike Onwenu, the one holdover from final 12 months’s beginning offensive line, has the very best PFF grade within the group.
Maye has thrown one among his two interceptions this season whereas beneath stress. He’s additionally fumbled twice beneath stress. His turnover-worthy play price is simply 1.6% in a clear pocket vs. 2.8% whereas going through stress.
Maye is sensible to reward his blockers, however he deserves credit score, as nicely. That 2.8% turnover-worthy play price beneath stress ranks Tenth-lowest amongst 35 certified quarterbacks, and it’s down from 4.5% final season (18th lowest). His turnover-worthy play price in a clear pocket ranks sixteenth lowest. It was 2.8% final season, which ranked twenty fifth.
And Maye continues to be taking dangers with off-schedule performs and throwing into tight home windows. His accuracy price has simply elevated this season from 74.2% as a rookie to 80.4% in 2025.
Maye has the third-highest completion share over anticipated in 2025 at 9.6%. It was 2.6% in 2024.
The younger quarterback has proven elite traits since being chosen third total within the 2024 NFL Draft, however extreme turnovers held him again as a rookie. With three turnovers by means of his first three video games, it appeared that subject had not been fastened over the summer season.
However after avoiding giveaways for 2 straight video games, it’s clear that ball safety has been a significant emphasis for Maye and the Patriots. They face a streak of 4 winnable video games in opposition to the Saints, Titans, Browns and Falcons, however they should proceed holding onto the soccer and profitable the turnover margin to beat dangerous groups.
