The New England Patriots [https://roundtable.io/sports/nfl/pats] announced that QB Drake Maye [https://roundtable.io/sports/nfl/pats/news/all-22-review-drake-maye-patriots-defense-delivers-clutch-comeback-win-over-bills] has been named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 4. It is the second Offensive Player of the Week honor for Maye. He earned his first honor last season following his performance in a 33-15 win against the New York Giants on December 1. New England upset [https://roundtable.io/sports/nfl/pats/news/new-england-stuns-the-buffalo-bills-in-week-4-thriller-patriots-roundtable-podcast] the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 by a final score of 29-26. Maye finished with three touchdown passes and 269 passing yards. The UNC product completed 59.5% of his passes. Maye's numbers still don't look good for the season, but at least he looked like 2025 Drake Maye on Sunday. Maye has four passing touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He's completing 62.4% of his passes for 854 passing yards. The Patriots are 2-2. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1, beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3 and beat the Bills in Week 4. Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford won the MVP award last season over Maye, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in just his second NFL season. The UNC product finished the 2025 regular season with 4,394 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns while completing 72.0% of his passes. Maye entered this season with 6,670 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns. It's puzzling why he looks so lost right now, but maybe his Week 4 performance will jump-start his season. The absence of A.J. Brown isn't doing Maye any favors. Since entering the NFL, Brown is fourth in the league in both receiving yards (8,029) and touchdown catches (56). Brown and Ja'Marr Chase are the NFL's only two players with at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven-plus touchdown catches in each of the past four seasons. Brown was placed on injured reserve after suffering a right high ankle sprain against the Seahawks in Week 1. Brown had 78 catches for 1,003 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pro Bowler entered this season with 8,029 receiving yards and 56 receiving touchdowns in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and Eagles. The Patriots face the 3-1 Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5. Maye enters that game with 7,524 career passing yards and 50 career touchdown passes. New England is averaging 16.3 points per game. That's 30th of 32 in the NFL. The offense must be better moving forward.
