Drake Maye and Justin Herbert are two of the best QBs in the NFL.
Two of the best QBs in the NFL will face each other when the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round.
Maye, who could win the MVP Award this season, has never met Herbert, but the Patriots QB is a fan of the Chargers QB.
"Yeah, I don't know if I've met Justin," Maye said. "I don't think I have. I know him through people and heard great things. Obviously I love his game. I love the way he throws the football. He throws at a really high level. He can make plays on the move, can make plays off platform, can launch it.
"I think just the way he holds himself and cares about his teammates, he's really good the team and not about himself, I have a lot of respect for Justin and how he plays the game and plays at a really high level."
Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. The Patriots went 14-3 and are the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
Meanwhile, Herbert threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Chargers went 11-6 and are the seventh seed.
Maye will make his postseason debut against the Chargers, while Herbert will be playing in his third playoff game and looking for his first win.
The Patriots won only four games last season. Mike Vrabel should probably win the Coach of the Year Award for how quickly he turned the team around.
"Yeah, I think we've come a long way," Maye said. "I think it takes everybody. It took everybody in that locker room, took every coach. I think it starts now. This was one of the goals, home playoff games, and this is what we wanted. It's win or go home, and the mentality, nothing changes from that standpoint, but I think we just stay playing like us. We've built this identity and play to it, and I think good things happen."
The Patriots are Super Bowl contenders for the first time in the post-Tom Brady era. Let's see how far they go in the 2026 playoffs with Maye leading the way.