Drake Maye faced a brutal Super Bowl debut as the New England Patriots fell to the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, failing to escape Tom Brady’s towering legacy.
Maye’s Rough Start Against Seahawks Defense
The 23-year-old quarterback struggled from the opening whistle. The Seahawks’ fierce defense overwhelmed him, sacking Maye three times in the first half alone. Plays unfolded at a frantic pace, leaving him scrambling into trouble on runs and delivering short, ineffective passes.
No Super Bowl quarterback has ever recovered from such early pressure to claim victory, and the Patriots appeared scoreless through the first half, matching a historical trend where no team has won after failing to score before halftime.
Defining Defensive Plays
Early in the second quarter, Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills powered through a block to sack Maye, igniting celebrations on the Seattle sideline. Moments later, Maye started a drive from his own goal line, but punter Bryce Baringer soon took over after six futile plays.
In the third quarter, a short pass to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte fell incomplete on third and long, leaving Boutte visibly fatigued as Seahawks fans dominated Levi’s Stadium. Derrick Hall then stripped the ball from Maye with a sack just before the quarter ended, underscoring the merciless pressure.
Late Rally Falls Short
A streaker’s 80-yard dash delayed play, but Maye responded with a 35-yard touchdown strike to Mack Hollins early in the fourth, averting a rare Super Bowl shutout. However, linebacker Uchenna Nwosu intercepted a later pass and returned it for a touchdown, his first career score.
Maye connected with running back Rhamondre Stevenson for a late touchdown near the two-minute warning, but it offered little consolation in defeat.
Brady’s Comments Add Context
Tom Brady drew fan backlash earlier in the week, stating he had ‘no dog in the race’ despite his Patriots statue outside the stadium. Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane called the remark ‘sick,’ while others like Dave Portnoy criticized it sharply. Fans still cheered Brady during pregame announcements.
Brady’s Super Bowl weekend also featured headlines about his renewed connection with influencer Alix Earle, spotted together after New Year’s Eve sightings.
Maye now faces the task of rebuilding confidence after this humbling loss, with his response set to shape the Patriots’ post-Brady era.
