Predictability, poor pass protection and an attempt to force Maye into a Brady-style system have produced turnovers and poor results. The article argues McDaniels needs a wholesale change to play-calling and personnel moves — and that Mike Vrabel must demand them.
Drake Maye’s early 2026 struggles are statistical and structural: one touchdown, six interceptions and multiple fumbles across three games.
The offense is being run like a Brady-style drop-back system despite Maye being a dual-threat quarterback, making play-calling predictable.
Fixes called for include a total refashioning of play-calling to exploit Maye’s mobility and trades to upgrade the offensive line to improve pass protection.
# Overview
The Patriots opened 2026 with a 1-2 record and a steadily worsening offense. Drake Maye, the franchise quarterback, has been turnover-prone early in the season: one touchdown pass, six interceptions and two fumbles in 2026, and 10 fumbles since the start of 2025. The piece argues those numbers are as much a product of scheme and personnel as of Maye's play.
# What's broken
The offense has been described as predictable and ill-suited to Maye's skill set. Josh McDaniels, hired by Mike Vrabel to coordinate the offense, is running a system shaped by years with a prototypical drop-back passer. Maye is a dual-threat quarterback with mobility. The current approach attempts to turn Maye into a Brady-style passer instead of designing a scheme around his strengths.
# Why McDaniels is the focal point
# Concrete changes the article recommends
# Who must act
The article assigns ultimate responsibility to head coach Mike Vrabel. While McDaniels is the offensive coordinator and the on-field architect, Vrabel hired McDaniels and must step in if changes are needed. That includes pressuring the front office to pursue offensive-line upgrades and holding McDaniels accountable for play-calling that better fits Maye.
# Short-term outlook
Week 4 against a team expected to be difficult to beat. With the current setup, a 1-3 record is the likely next result. The article portrays the season as at risk unless McDaniels and Vrabel implement the substantial changes it recommends.
# Bottom line
In his first year playing under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, quarterback Drake Maye started 21 games as he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl while finishing second in MVP voting. After seeing what Maye was capable of during his breakout season, opposing defenses are now adjusting. “There’s evidence of things
Josh McDaniels is taking the heat for the Patriots' offensive struggles, but Drake Maye holds the key to fixing New England's biggest problem.
A 1-2 start to the 2026 season has left many questions for New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel to try and answer. The biggest? Getting Drake Maye back on track. Through three games, Maye has thrown six interceptions in addition to losing a fumble. Decision-making seems to be the biggest issue early on for […]
Two games into the 2026 season, Drake Maye has not looked like himself. So far, the New England Patriots quarterback has thrown four interceptions to just one touchdown. Maye committed three of those turnovers in the fourth quarter alone against the Seattle Seahawks, effectively losing New England the season opener. Wh
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels isn’t running from what went wrong last February, when the Seattle Seahawks dominated his offense in Super Bowl LX. “I didn’t do a good enough job. Point it at me. They ‘out-everythinged’ us in the game,” McDaniels said on Sunday. “We have a lot of things we’ve
If Mike Vrabel is the Patriots' top man, he should make a major move now and move Josh McDaniels out of the offensive coordinator position. He should secure an OC who how to use a dual-threat quarterback now. Absent that, expect more pitiful performances.
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