SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Drake Maye was a reliable and steadying drive for the New England Patriots this season. The second-year quarterback by no means received the prospect to be that when his group wanted him most within the Tremendous Bowl.
Maye was the NFL’s most correct passer in the course of the common season and completed second in MVP voting, however he was hounded by the Seahawks’ “Darkish Aspect” protection all through. He threw two touchdown passes, however was sacked six instances, had two interceptions and misplaced a fumble that led to a TD by Seattle in New England’s 29-13 loss on Sunday.
“Positively hurts,” Maye stated. “They performed higher than us tonight.”
Maye, who was restricted in a single follow in the course of the bye week with a proper shoulder damage suffered within the AFC championship win over Denver, stated after the Tremendous Bowl he obtained a pain-relieving injection earlier than the sport.
“I shot it up, so not a lot feeling,” he stated of the shoulder. “It was good to go, and it felt all proper.”
Maye didn’t suppose the damage affected his efficiency towards the Seahawks.
“I wouldn’t put the group in hurt’s approach to not be myself,” he stated. “Simply didn’t make performs tonight.”
It was a humbling finish for a group that appeared poised to recapture a little bit of the magic of the Patriots’ run of six championships over 20 years. As a substitute, Maye sat after the sport together with his head down, in grass-stained pants and tears welling in his eyes.
“Household journey all this approach to watch us play. Don’t destroy their night time. As a result of it sucks and it hurts,” Maye stated.
Maye completed 27 of 43 for 295 yards and there have been few highlights earlier than he and the Patriots lastly discovered some traction within the third quarter.
Left sort out Will Campbell gave up two of the sacks on Maye because the Seahawks despatched a number of blitzes to his facet of the road. In response to Subsequent Gen Stats, Campbell allowed 14 pressures, probably the most allowed by any NFL participant in a recreation this season. However Vrabel stated nobody efficiency was chargeable for the offense’s lack of manufacturing.
“We will sit right here and attempt to put in on one man. You’ll be disenchanted as a result of that can by no means occur,” Vrabel stated. “It begins with us as a training workers. … That’s by no means going to vary.”
Trailing 19-0 after his fumble arrange a landing go by Sam Darnold, Maye lastly received a while to function within the pocket and threw a 35-yard TD go to Mack Hollins.
It introduced some life to the Patriots’ sideline.
However it was short-lived.
Maye’s go meant for Kyle Williams was picked off by Julian Love. The Seahawks added Jason Myers’ fifth subject objective on their ensuing drive.
Down 22-7, New England’s destiny was principally sealed when Maye was picked off by Uchenna Nwosu, who returned it 45 yards for a rating.
The Patriots, who got here in averaging 18 factors per recreation within the playoffs, have been held to 331 complete yards.
New England was denied a seventh Lombardi Trophy, which might have damaged a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for probably the most in NFL historical past. It was a thudding finish to a Cinderella-like season for the Patriots, who completed the common season 14-3 in coach Mike Vrabel’s first season — which got here off back-to-back 4-13 finishes.
“A part of our identification shouldn’t be being a front-runner,” Vrabel stated. “Similar to yearly, someone’s gonna lose this recreation, and we’ve to recollect what it appears like.”
The Patriots fell right into a 12-0 halftime gap and punted on eight of their first 9 drives. It might have been seven straight, however the closing one of many first half was a one-play kneel down.
The 51 complete yards gained by the Patriots have been the fewest in a primary half within the final 35 Tremendous Bowls.
“We couldn’t achieve any rhythm, any subject place,” Vrabel stated. “Defensively, we have been actually good towards the run and we weren’t. We have been simply taking part in catch-up.”
It additionally marked the fifth Tremendous Bowl with no landing within the first half. Maye additionally turned first participant to be sacked 3 times on the primary 4 drives of a Tremendous Bowl since Tom Brady in Tremendous Bowl 42 towards the New York Giants.
One of many causes Seattle’s protection was so efficient was it did a fantastic job of retaining New England’s offense in lengthy yardage conditions on third down. The Patriots needed to negotiate third downs of 9, 15, 17, 7 and 12 yards within the first half. They have been solely 2 of seven on conversions within the first half.
Probably the most emotion Maye displayed afterward was in fascinated by the shortcoming of a gaggle that received’t be the identical subsequent season.
“Had that sink in proper now. Hopefully a variety of the identical faces are right here. The character of the enterprise I do know it received’t be like that,” Maye stated, his voice cracking. “However, this group was superior.”
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