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The New England Patriots have surged to a 9-2 record and the top of the NFL standings behind the play of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Working under head coach Mike Vrabel, Maye has shown significant improvement from his rookie season with increased confidence and consistent execution.
The strong start has created familiar feelings among Patriots fans who remember the early years of Tom Brady, though questions remain about whether the success stems more from Vrabel’s system or Maye’s individual growth. The discussion around crediting coaches versus quarterbacks for team success always surfaces when a young passer breaks through. Analyst Colin Cowherd addressed that debate directly when evaluating Maye’s recent performance and the Patriots’ turnaround.
“If you’re looking at last night, 80% of the NFL, winning games, comes down to your quarterback making 5/6/7 throws, or decisions. High-level execution that wins games. Mike Vrabel’s not winning that game last night with Justin Fields as his quarterback. Because it was a reasonably close game, but Drake Maye made six or seven decisions in throws that are incredibly high-level. That kid is so good on first down, it’s amazing,” Cowherd said on his show.
"Mike Vrabel’s not winning that game last night with Justin Fields as his quarterback."@colincowherd is impressed with how quickly Drake Maye is putting it together in New England pic.twitter.com/GkvIhtIG0R
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 14, 2025
Cowherd pointed to Washington as evidence for his argument. The team collapsed after Jayden Daniels went down with an injury this season, despite having the same coaching staff in Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury.
He noted that college football relies heavily on coaching advantages, but that dynamic shifts dramatically at the professional level. Mike Tomlin’s career trajectory supports that theory. Pittsburgh dominated with prime Ben Roethlisberger, remained competitive as Roethlisberger aged, and has struggled without elite quarterback play in recent years. Cowherd believes coaches like Shane Steichen and Andy Reid experienced similar patterns once they upgraded their quarterback situations.
Maye executed jump passes, perfectly timed sideline routes, and layered balls between defenders that most young quarterbacks avoid attempting. His first-down efficiency has been particularly impressive throughout the season.
Vrabel’s coaching has clearly elevated Maye’s development, but performances like this highlight where the primary difference exists. When a young quarterback can execute at that level consistently, it transforms everything around him.
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