FOXBORO -- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has avoided turning over the ball in three of five games this season.
The Patriots just so happen to be 3-0 in those games, and they're 0-2 in games that Maye has not protected the football.
It's been a winning formula for the Patriots, and avoiding giveaways will be key in Week 5 against the Saints, who forced five turnovers last week in a 26-14 win over the Giants and rank fourth with a +5 turnover differential.
Maye averaged 1.23 turnovers per game last season. With just three giveaways through five games, Maye has averaged just 0.6 turnovers per game in 2025.
He credits his offensive line.
“The guys up front are playing their butts off,” Maye said. “They’re protecting me great. I joke with them all the time; I think the sacks I’ve taken have been basically on me. So, maybe they’ve gotten beat a few times, but they’ve done a great job, and they’re playing hard. Also, it comes with the scheme. We’re chipping on the edge, and we’re getting the ball out fast. The guys have really taken home inside-out protection, and they keep on playing every week and playing hard. They want to continue to run the football, and I think that will only help limit turnovers more down the road is being able to run the football and stay ahead of the chains.”
Maye is right. He's been sacked 17 times this season, but PFF only credits the offensive line with allowing two of them. Tight end Hunter Henry and running back TreVeyon Henderson have allowed one sack apiece, but the rest have been on Maye.
It can't be overstated how much better the Patriots' offensive line has performed this season. In 2024, the line ranked tied for last in PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric, allowing 33 sacks, 37 QB hits and 222 total pressures. They're currently third in the same metric, allowing just two sacks, nine QB hits and 44 total pressures through five games.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden and the rest of the front office overhauled the offensive line, adding starters in four spots by drafting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson and signing center Garrett Bradbury and right tackle Morgan Moses. Right guard Mike Onwenu, the only holdover from last year's starting offensive line, has the highest PFF grade in the group.
Maye has thrown one of his two interceptions this season while under pressure. He's also fumbled twice under pressure. His turnover-worthy play rate is just 1.6% in a clean pocket vs. 2.8% while facing pressure.
Maye is smart to praise his blockers, but he deserves credit, as well. That 2.8% turnover-worthy play rate under pressure ranks 10th-lowest among 35 qualified quarterbacks, and it's down from 4.5% last season (18th lowest). His turnover-worthy play rate in a clean pocket ranks 16th lowest. It was 2.8% last season, which ranked 25th.
And Maye is still taking risks with off-schedule plays and throwing into tight windows. His accuracy rate has just increased this season from 74.2% as a rookie to 80.4% in 2025.
Maye has the third-highest completion percentage over expected in 2025 at 9.6%. It was 2.6% in 2024.
The young quarterback has shown elite traits since being selected third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, but excessive turnovers held him back as a rookie. With three turnovers through his first three games, it appeared that issue had not been fixed over the summer.
But after avoiding giveaways for two straight games, it's clear that ball security has been a major emphasis for Maye and the Patriots. They face a streak of four winnable games against the Saints, Titans, Browns and Falcons, but they need to continue holding onto the football and winning the turnover margin to beat bad teams.