New England Patriots
“I believe from an attacking standpoint, if there’s any protection, there’s at all times a void.”
It’s a testomony to the spoiled sentiment now emanating out of New England nowadays that each heave Drake Maye uncorks down the sector is anticipated to be caught in spectacular trend.
Amid a season the place Maye has gone from promising second-year professional to MVP frontrunner, the 23-year-old QB’s knack for cooking up explosive performs has been a hallmark of New England’s high-octane offense.
According to NextGen Stats, Maye led the NFL with 112 downfield completions throughout the 2025 common season, together with 99 completions beneath strain.
Regardless of rating third within the league in air yards per go try (9.2), it’s a credit score to Maye’s environment friendly play that he nonetheless sported a league-best 72.0 % completion on the 12 months.
In complete, Maye’s 72% completion price was +9.1 % over anticipated given his propensity to let it fly on his throws — which stands as the very best mark by any QB within the NextGen Stats period (since 2016).
However on paper, Sunday’s playoff opponent within the Chargers may current some turbulence for New England’s high-flying offense.
Los Angeles defensive coordinators Jesse Minter’s zone-heavy protection has served as a thorn within the facet of opposing QBs all season lengthy, particularly on the subject of snuffing out explosive performs.
Past rating second within the NFL in interception price this season, the Chargers don’t let quite a bit sneak previous their bodily secondary. In complete, Los Angeles allowed the second-fewest variety of passing performs of 20 yards or extra this season with 37.
On the 12 months, QBs matched up in opposition to the Chargers are sporting a 75.0 passer ranking — the bottom within the NFL — and are solely finishing 60.79 % of their passes, the fifth-lowest mark within the league.
“One of many issues that they do finest is have eyes on the quarterback,” Maye mentioned on Wednesday. “They pressure loads of three-and-outs. I believe they’re one of many prime 5 defenses in forcing three-and-outs. They maintain individuals in entrance of you. They don’t have loads of X performs on them. They attempt to restrict massive performs, and I believe that’s one of many largest issues I see from them on tape.
“They’re good on the sting. They’re bodily, and I believe from an attacking standpoint, if there’s any protection, there’s at all times a void. So, I believe we’ve seen about all of them you possibly can see this 12 months, and we’ve had success and had some performs that we want we had again in opposition to them.”
Maye is true. The Chargers’ protection have executed an amazing job all season of conserving their eyes on the quarterback, limiting massive performs, and capitalizing on errors.
However as he added, there’s at all times a void in protection. And the Patriots’ younger QB has been top-of-the-line within the league this season at carving up zone defenses by discovering delicate spots throughout the sector.
As famous by Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar, the Chargers beneath Minter rank fourth within the NFL with an 80.7 zone protection price this 12 months.
That will be a welcome sight for a participant like Maye, on condition that he’s carved up zone defenses all season lengthy.
Lazar famous that Maye leads all certified quarterbacks in EPA (anticipated factors added) per drop-back in opposition to zone protection, particularly in opposition to Los Angeles’ most-utilized coverages in quarters and cover-three.
Specifically, Maye has thrived in opposition to cover-three schemes, sporting a formidable +72.7 anticipated factors in opposition to that set-up out on the sector.
Having three defensive backs hovering again to snuff out deep throws down the sector may restrict the home-run-hitting capabilities placed on show by Maye and New England all season lengthy.
However Maye has confirmed adept at capitalizing in opposition to cover-3 with the intermediate throws that oftentimes acquire chunk yardage and transfer the chains — particularly when dependable targets like Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry are attacking the seams between zones.
As he famous on Wednesday, Maye continues to be keen to check Los Angeles’ protection down the sector when the alternatives come up. However the Patriots’ QB can be more than pleased to take what the Chargers’ protection is giving him on Sunday.
That will not imply 40 to 50-yard bombs down the sector to the likes of Kayshon Boutte or Kyle Williams.
But when Maye is frequently ducking strain and hitting Diggs and Henry for 10-20 yards within the delicate spots of protection, the Chargers might need few solutions so far as slowing down New England’s offense.
“I believe you simply take possibilities after they’re there,” Maye acknowledged. “I believe in one-on-one protection, you’ve acquired to take possibilities. One-on-one, I like our guys. They’re making performs on the soccer after they have one-on-one protection, and I like placing ball placement and giving them an opportunity to go make a play.
“On the similar time, simply be affected person. Don’t get bored being environment friendly, executing beneath and letting issues come to you. I believe that’s the most important factor is beginning off, staying on observe on first and second down and realizing that after we’re behind the sticks, they’ve the benefit.”
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