'It's unacceptable': How Drake Maye's three-INT day doomed Patriots in season opener

‘It’s unacceptable’: How Drake Maye’s three-INT day doomed Patriots in season opener originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New England Patriots blew a golden opportunity to take the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, but quarterback Drake Maye had perhaps the worst game of his young career.

Maye, who almost won NFL MVP in 2025, entered the game hoping to improve upon his underwhelming performance in the Super Bowl. Instead, the quarterback produced three turnovers in the contest, the only turnovers in the entire game.

Considering Drew Lock was in the game for much of Wednesday night, Maye simply had to outplay the Seahawks’ backup quarterback, but as the game went along, Lock gained confidence while Maye got too erratic. That proved to be the biggest difference in the outcome.

Here’s how Maye blew the season opener in Seattle.

Drake Maye reflections on game-ending interception

The Patriots were in control of the game on the final drive, as they had the ball in field goal range down three points with under a minute to go. As the Seahawks didn’t have any timeouts left, New England was in position to at least tie the game and perhaps win the game with a successful drive.

All the Patriots needed to do was avoid a turnover, but Maye tried to do too much on the final play. Maye forced the ball to Mack Hollins in the end zone as cornerback Jackson Jobe made an acrobatic interception to seal the win.

JOSH JOBE TOE TAP INT

NEvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/MrmQx0a3fo

— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2026

After the game, Maye took ownership of the loss as he acknowledged he got too aggressive.

“Lost patience and it cost us,” he said. “Those decisions cost us the game on my part…Can’t have those, it’s unacceptable.”

Drake Maye arrives for his post-game press conference, and said a loss of patience led the game to slip away. He used the word “unacceptable” when speaking of his performance. pic.twitter.com/XYVDKLOmBe

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 10, 2026

Mike Vrabel also admitted that Maye was too aggressive and that the quarterback needed to do a better job at riding the line of aggressiveness.

“We want to be aggressive, not reckless,” Vrabel said after the game.

MORE: Drake Maye’s turnovers lead to Seahawks win

Drake Maye interceptions

Interception after Romeo Doubs drop

While Maye’s final interception was the nail in the coffin, he had three turnovers in the final quarter that each played a key role in the loss. The first interception was on a deep pass to Romeo Doubs as New England looked to extend the lead to two scores, but instead it kickstarted the Seahawks’ game-tying touchdown drive.

Tipped and intercepted by Nehemiah Pritchett!

NEvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/MbMdmJBzfE

— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2026

Julian Love interception leads to Seahawks lead

After the Seahawks tied the game, Lock once again turned the ball over as veteran Julian Love picked him off as Maye tried to pick up a first down on 3rd-and-14. That interception gave Seattle short field as the offense was able to get the Seahawks their first lead of the game with a field goal.

JULIAN LOVE WITH ANOTHER SEAHAWKS INT

NEvsSEA on NBC/Peacock
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/gj5YJDH3hT

— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2026

Game-clinching pick by Josh Jobe

Maye still had plenty of time left to overcome his mistakes by leading a game-winning drive to close the fourth quarter. While the quarterback got the Patriots into field-goal range, he was unable to finish the job as he threw one final interception.

Hang it in the Louvre 🎨 pic.twitter.com/kELbxui8yk

— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2026

Overall, all three of the Patriots’ fourth-quarter drives ended with an interception, handing the Seahawks 10 points and the game in the process. It also marked the first time in his career, professional or college, that Maye threw three interceptions in a game.

Maye didn’t even throw multiple interceptions in the same game last year until the Seahawks picked him off twice in the Super Bowl. The third-year quarterback was a great deep-thrower in 2025, but was off all game in that area to begin the 2026 season.

Drake Maye has thrown more interceptions on deep passes tonight (2) than he had all of last season (1). https://t.co/YCAwlIp3CY

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 10, 2026