Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel immediately made his thoughts clear on star Drake Maye's three-interception night against the Seattle Seahawks to open the 2026 NFL season
Mike Vrabel immediately responded to Drake Maye's tough night against the Seattle Seahawks
Mike Vrabel immediately responded to Drake Maye's tough night against the Seattle Seahawks(Image: X: @Patriots)
View 2 Images
Mike Vrabel immediately shared his thoughts on Drake Maye's horrendous outing against the Seattle Seahawks in the New England Patriots' 2026 NFL season-opening loss.
With the Patriots up 10-0 against a Seahawks team missing star quarterback Sam Darnold, who was ruled out of the game after fewer than 10 snaps with a hip injury, it appeared as if New England was in the driver's seat. However, Seattle came back on the strength of its defense, securing a 13-10 win.
Maye finished the game having completed 23-of-33 pass attempts for 178 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. The task of winning was made infinitely more difficult with the loss of star wide receiver A.J. Brown, who sustained an ankle injury in the third quarter.
Speaking to reporters after the loss, Vrabel said that while the Patriots' defense kept the Seahawks at bay for most of the game, "You can't throw three interceptions - Drake knows that."
Regarding his trust in Maye after his three-interception game, Vrabel remained confident in the 24-year-old, noting that there was a long way to go in the 2026 season and the fact that it has only been one game. "It's just a long season," Vrabel reiterated.
"We got to hold our head up high and we have nothing but the utmost confidence in him and everybody on this football team, and he's going to make a lot of plays for us."
Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots stands on the field during the second quarter of the NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 9, 2026 in Seattle, Washington
Drake Maye endured a horrific night against the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl LX(Image: Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
As for a lesson New England has to learn to take with them for the rest of the season, Vrabel stated, "We can't turn the ball over, and we have to create more turnovers."
Notably, Maye has four total games with multiple interceptions in his career. That said, this Seahawks team has accounted for two of those times, finishing 1-of-6 with three interceptions on throws of 15 or more air yards Wednesday night, along with his display during Super Bowl LX.
Regarding his rough night, Maye owned up to his mistakes and stated that part of his collapse in the second half was due to his failing to remain "patient" and instead trying to make plays that weren't there. "I think that's a big thing," he reflected.
"We were really good up to the point where I tried to put, you know, force one down the sideline of [wide receiver Romeo Doubs] where we were patient and, you know, dumping it off and kind of moved the chains, and, you know, we avoided a lot of three and outs, and that was, you know, something we try to, you know, just earn more plays in the close to come.
"So, you know, just stopped being patient and, you know, made decisions that, you know, ended up, like I said, that cost us the game."
He added, "I think just, you know, decisions that cost us the game, you know, on my part, on my end, and, you know, I've asked myself to be better and realize it's a long season, but at the same time, you can't have those.
"You can't have those, and it's unacceptable, and I know that they'll get you back to work because, you know, that wasn't, you know, how I play football and how I want to represent, you know, my game and, you know, playing quarterback for the Patriots."
The Patriots will be up against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 20.