FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had committed his third turnover, which was quickly turned into a touchdown, and was preparing to take the field again late in the third quarter of Sunday's 35-6 blowout loss to the Jaguars.
Before he did, there was a moment on the sideline with head coach Mike Vrabel, who looked directly into Maye's helmet as he wrapped both of his arms around the quarterback's shoulder pads, play-sheet still in his left hand. Vrabel was doing his best to uplift Maye, whose start to the season has unexpectedly spiraled downward with six interceptions and a lost fumble. The defending AFC champions are now 1-2 heading into Sunday's road game against the 3-0 Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS).
What has happened to Maye?
He had said his comfort level entering the second season in coordinator Josh McDaniels' offense was high, but he has looked mostly uncomfortable -- which has led to poor decision-making, defenses successfully pressing him and myriad miscues as he has navigated injuries to No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown and other core players around him. Maye called the offense "unacceptable" -- the unit ranks last in the NFL in points per game (9.7) -- and said he planned to "look in the mirror and take this as a turning point."