Mike Vrabel Keeps Confidence In Drake Maye After 3 Fourth Quarter Interceptions In Loss

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye becomes the second quarterback in the past 25 seasons to throw three interceptions in the fourth quarter of a season opener.

Maye threw three interceptions in a 13-10 season opener loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Maye, along with the entire Patriots organization, was looking forward to their Week 1 game after falling short in the Super Bowl against the Seahawks.

Maye felt that his performance was “unacceptable.” “That wasn’t how I play football and how I want to represent my game and playing quarterback for the Patriots,” he said.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold left the game early in the first quarter with a hip injury; the Patriots, after a slow start, led 10-0 in the third quarter. The offense stalled, and after three interceptions from Maye, the Patriots suffered an upset loss to the Drew Lock-led Seahawks.

Two of Maye’s interceptions completed a Seahawks comeback after Maye threw a contested deep ball to receiver Romeo Doubs and a throw over the middle on 3rd and 14 to Pop Douglas. Those turnovers were converted to 10 fourth-quarter points for the Seahawks.

“I thought we had the game under control. I thought we had a good plan to try to start chipping away and be patient. Lost patience, and it cost us – decisions that cost us the game on my part, on my end. I vow to myself to be better and realize it’s a long season. But at the same time, you can’t have those. It’s unacceptable,” Maye said

Maye completed 23 out of 33 passes for 178 yards along with one touchdown and three interceptions.

The Seahawks took a 3-point lead deep in the fourth quarter, when the Patriots began to drive down the field. With 26 seconds left on the Seahawks’ 16-yard line, Maye drifted out of the pocket toward the right sideline and threw a pass fading back to receiver Mack Hollins, but Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe picked it off to seal the victory.

“It was something where we had a certain protection on, we were cutting with offensive tackles, and I was trying to get rid of it,” Maye said. “I realized Mack was there in the back and didn’t put enough on it to get it out of bounds. It was just unacceptable. With a chance to send it to overtime at the worst, and the only thing you can do is turn the ball for that not to happen,  that’s what I did.” Maye said

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the Patriots wanted to be aggressive but not reckless in late-game situations.

“It’s a long season; we’re going to hold our head up high. We have nothing but the utmost confidence in him. He’s going to make a lot of plays for us,” Vrabel said

The Patriots hope to bounce back after this defeat and get back to winning ways against the Pittsburgh Steelers.