Patriots won, but their offense sputtered again as Drake Maye continues to look for answers
The Patriots hoped the scoring issues in their season-opening loss to Seattle were just a Week 1 blip, mixed with some injury bad luck.
In Foxborough, Massachusetts, the New England Patriots secured a 20-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, revealing significant concerns with their offensive performance. The game highlighted quarterback Drake Maye's struggles, as he threw four interceptions in his third consecutive game where he has made costly mistakes.
Maye commented, "I have got to have answers," expressing his need to improve his decision-making and ball placement. The injury to wide receiver A.J. Brown, sidelined for four weeks with a high-ankle sprain, compounded the Patriots' offensive issues. Right guard Mike Onwenu, who suffered a serious ankle injury, will be out for several weeks, leaving offensive coordinator Mike Vrabel to adjust the lineup, which includes the addition of veteran Greg Van Roten.
Maye's performance has been inconsistent, with his pass efficiency dropping drastically, averaging just 7 yards per attempt. Despite these challenges, linebacker Elijah Ponder, drafted undrafted in 2025, showcased his talent with multiple sacks and tackles for a loss. The Patriots' offensive line will also require attention as they grapple with depth issues, particularly in securing a starter for the upcoming game against Jacksonville.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
