The New England Patriots got their first win of the season Sunday, and head coach Mike Vrabel wasn’t about to let a few perfectly valid questions about his quarterback spoil the celebration.
After New England defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3, Vrabel had a tense exchange with Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin, who pressed him about his level of concern over Drake Maye’s performance through the first two weeks of the season.
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Vrabel wasn’t interested in entertaining the question.
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks to quarterback Drake Maye during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 19, 2025. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“You’re not going to ruin my Sunday,” the coach fired back.
The exchange continued when reporter Greg Bedard also questioned Vrabel about Maye’s struggles, prompting the coach to make it clear that he wasn’t going to dwell on the negatives after a victory.
To be fair, though, the reporters had a legitimate reason to ask.
Maye hasn’t exactly looked like the quarterback who led New England to the Super Bowl last season, and Sunday’s win over Pittsburgh did little to put those concerns to rest.
The 23-year-old completed 14 of 22 passes for 208 yards, no touchdowns and one interception against the Steelers. While he connected with receiver Romeo Doubs for a 63-yard gain, the Patriots struggled to consistently move the ball and finished with just 13 offensive points.
Instead, New England’s defense did most of the heavy lifting, holding Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers to just 3 points and 235 total yards.
Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson provided the Patriots’ only offensive touchdown with a 39-yard run in the first quarter. Later, Christian Barmore strip-sacked Rodgers, and Elijah Ponder returned the fumble 19 yards for a touchdown to put the game away.
In other words, the Patriots won comfortably, but Maye wasn’t exactly the reason why.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel looks on from the sideline during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle, Wash. (Getty Images)
Sunday’s performance came just 11 days after a disastrous season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
In a rematch of Super Bowl LX, Maye threw three fourth-quarter interceptions as New England blew a 10-point lead and lost 13-10. His final interception came in the end zone with just 26 seconds remaining, ending a potential game-tying drive.
Maye finished that game with 178 passing yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Afterward, he acknowledged that he had abandoned the patient approach that had worked earlier in the game.
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“We had the game under control,” Maye said following the loss. “Thought we had a good plan to start chipping away and be patient and lost patience, and it cost us, decisions that cost us the game on my part, on my end.”
Through two games, Maye has thrown four interceptions and just one touchdown pass.
Drake Maye No. 10 of the New England Patriots stands on the field during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sept. 9, 2026. (Getty Images)
That’s a far cry from his 2025 campaign, when he threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns while finishing as the runner-up in NFL MVP voting.
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Vrabel is certainly entitled to enjoy Sunday’s victory, especially after the Patriots’ ugly collapse against Seattle.
Sure, the season is young. No need to overreact.
But with New England’s franchise quarterback — so far — struggling to recapture last year’s form, the questions about his performance aren’t going away simply because Vrabel wants them to.