Drake Maye remains far from the conversation surrounding Tom Brady among the New England Patriots’ all-time great quarterbacks.
The 23-year-old rookie is taking meaningful steps toward building his own legacy, and his Week 6 performance against the New Orleans Saints offered another clear sign of progress.
Maye has emerged as a revelation over the past six weeks, displaying poise and playmaking ability that has sparked whispers about potential playoff contention.
When reporters asked Maye about the playoff talk surrounding his team, the quarterback acknowledged the growing expectations while keeping his focus on the immediate task ahead.
“I think I’m just trying to keep going. One week at a time. That’s the goals since we got here. Coach Vrabel put on the goals: winning the division, making the playoffs, and having home playoff games. So that’s been the goal in mind since we got here,” Maye said.
Drake Maye on the Patriots playoff hopes:
“That’s the goals since we got here. Coach Vrabel put on the goals, winning the division, making the playoffs and having home playoff games.”
–@CLNSMedia | Q: @_AndrewCallahan https://t.co/5xoGlObRp9 pic.twitter.com/1C4drAlr1E— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) October 15, 2025
The Patriots have turned their season around with the young quarterback under center, and expectations continue rising with each passing week.
Those postseason hopes feel increasingly realistic as New England sits at 4-2 following three consecutive victories.
Maye carried the Patriots on Sunday, guiding them to a 25-19 victory over the Saints at Caesars Superdome.
He completed 18 of 26 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns while adding nine carries for 28 rushing yards.
Since a shaky opener against the Raiders, Maye has posted five consecutive triple-digit passer ratings while throwing nine touchdowns against just one interception.
His 69.2 percent completion rate against New Orleans marked the lowest in that stretch, yet he still joined Patrick Mahomes, Dan Marino, and Dak Prescott as the only quarterbacks under 24 with five straight games featuring 200-plus passing yards and 100-plus passer ratings.
If Maye maintains this form, a playoff berth is no longer just a goal.
NEXT: Mike Vrabel Reveals Why He Reached Out To Brian Callahan