FOXBORO — Something [clearly clicked](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/10/08/drake-maye-believes-patriots-offense-is-just-starting-to-reach-full-potential/) for quarterback Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense in [Sunday’s win](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/10/04/best-and-worst-what-we-learned-in-patriots-29-26-season-altering-win-over-bills/) over the Bills, but offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels isn’t ascribing it to wholesale changes to the game plan.
The Patriots’ offense sputtered out to a 1-2 start to the season before breaking out in Buffalo.
McDaniels was asked Thursday how Maye can build off his performance against the Bills, when he tossed three touchdowns with one unlucky interception and a lost fumble while adding value with his legs.
“I just think staying consistent,” McDaniels said. “I know this is hard to believe, but we didn’t really do a whole lot different from Week 1 to 2 to 3 to 4. We just tried to — we knew we hadn’t played the best brand of football that we could play. And again, I keep saying this: it’s about the group. The group has to play well in order for us to play well as an offense.”
McDaniels still feels like the Patriots didn’t play their “best brand of football” against the Bills.
Maye continued to be under pressure; he just stayed more poised with Bills rushers in his face for the most part, though he did lose his fumble while trying to get rid of the football while surrounded by defenders.
While Maye ran for 54 yards on eight carries, the Patriots’ running backs averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.
“That was far from perfect,” McDaniels said. “So, there was much to improve on that we’re going to work hard to try to make better, and hopefully we can do that. But I think his approach, being consistent with the things we’re trying to improve on for himself, but also the group as a whole, there are just so many areas where we can do better and make better decisions, use better techniques and fundamentals, and produce more offense. And so, hopefully, we’ll see that again Sunday.”
The Patriots take on the Raiders on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The Raiders are off to a 3-1 start, but their strength of victory is just .083. The teams they’ve beat — the Dolphins, Chargers and Saints — are just 1-11 on the season, though the Raiders did play the Chiefs close in Week 4 at home.
The Raiders’ defense has been impressive this season. They rank second in EPA/play allowed, 11th in success rate and 11th in total defensive DVOA while leading the NFL with nine turnovers.
Maye, who’s prone to fumbles, has to be especially cautious. The Raiders have forced 10 fumbles this season, recovering five of them.
“The defense is very opportunistic,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “They hunt the football and they forced 10 fumbles, which is very impressive as a team. They’re disruptive and do a lot defensively, which says a lot to not only their scheme and the coaches, but the players for being able to handle as much as they do. The multiplicity on first and second down, the looks that they give you on third down – it’s a great challenge.”
If Maye plays like he did against the Bills, then the Patriots should beat the Raiders. But he has to protect the football to avoid an upset.