Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane has his quarterback’s back.
Spillane told WEEI that Drake Maye has been taking the brunt of the blame for New England’s 13-10 loss to the Seahawks in Week 1, a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl in which the QB threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.
“Everyone’s interaction is different, everyone’s relationship is different. All I told him was, ‘Dude, stop taking all the f–king blame for it,” Spillane said.
“He feels like he has to put all the pressure on his shoulders, but at the end of the day, this is a team game and we all support him and we know he’s gonna go out there this weekend and really knock your socks off,” he continued.
With Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold injuring his glute on the first drive of the game, the Patriots were given an opportunity for a road win to start the new season. But the offense never clicked, and Maye threw all three of his interceptions in a disastrous second half. He finished the game with 178 passing yards and one touchdown.
Last season, Maye finished second in MVP voting — just five points behind Matthew Stafford — with 4,394 total yards and 31 touchdowns.
Maye will be without his best weapon, wide receiver AJ Brown, for the foreseeable future after Brown suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss.
“You always talk in the quarterback room of being dialed in and being into practice and starting that in practice. I wouldn’t say just because AJ’s out that I’m trying to become this elevation,” Maye explained. “I think that takes everybody. It’s a team effort and realizing that a lot of guys need to step up and do extra things and strain a little bit harder for us to keep going in the right direction.”
