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Patriots Drake Maye the next Tom Brady? Opposing defenses have played big role

Getting it out of the way quickly, nothing about this article is an attempt to minimize the opposing quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in Week 8. For the New England Patriots, QB Drake Maye is one of the big reasons HC Mike Vrabel wanted to go back to the team he played for, despite being passed over for the same position the previous year.

For those unaware, Maye is having a great start to his second season in the NFL. The third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. After an okay rookie season, Maye has completed 75% of his passes this year for 1,744 yards with 12 passing TDs and two interceptions. As an added bonus, Maye has carried the ball 44 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns as well.

Maye’s performance in Week 7 had him toppling Patriots great Tom Brady as he set a franchise record by completing 91.3% of his passes. Maye has been historically good:

Drake Maye is the first player in the history of the NFL with 200+ pass attempts and 50 or fewer incompletions in any 7-game span

— Dante Koplowitz-Fleming (@DanteKopFlem) October 21, 2025

He is also, by a decent margin, the most efficent quarterback in the NFL so far this season:

After slight dropoffs from Jared Goff and Sam Darnold last night, there's a new leader in EPA+CPOE — Drake Maye. pic.twitter.com/jqet23RODK

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) October 21, 2025

Forget the Brady comparisons, Maye now has people talking about Patrick Mahomes’ performances at a young age as the more apt comparison:

Don’t know if there’s ever been film this good from a 22-23 year old QB. 2018 Mahomes is the only one that comes to mind. Please watch the entire 2:43 of this pic.twitter.com/gkglCqfH5N

— Brady Penn (@bradypenn21) October 20, 2025

Now, all of that positivity doesn’t mean Maye is infallible and the Browns are doomed in Week 8 against New England. In fact, Maye will face the best defense he’s seen all year, by far, when he faces off with Myles Garrett and the rest of Jim Schwartz’s defense:

Drake Maye is awesome. Zero doubt in my mind. It’s also comical the level of defenses he has gotten to face this season. EPA ranks of every defense NE has faced this season:
31, 28, 25 (PIT without Highsmith and Porter), 23, 22, 21, 17 (Carolina). Clearly the Browns will be by…

— Clevta (@Clevta) October 21, 2025

Good versus good is one of the best parts of professional sports. For Browns fans, after watching the slop that was the Miami Dolphins in Week 7, it might be shocking to watch Maye orchestrate the Patriots offense this week. Cleveland’s defense must show up on the road if they want to quiet all the praise being heaped on Maye’s start to the season. For now, Maye’s first seven games have been very good, but the quality of opponent gives a slight pause to crowning the youngster just yet.

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Do you think Maye’s start is for real or partially due to the less-than-stellar defenses he’s faced? Do you think the Browns defense will bring him back to earth in Week 8?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-brady-opposing-defenses-have-played-big-role