The New England Patriots find themselves contending with a challenging start to the 2026 NFL season as quarterback Drake Maye struggles with turnovers through the first three games. Maye has thrown six interceptions, a volume not seen by a Patriots quarterback so early in a season since Drew Bledsoe recorded the same number in 1994. This marks a significant departure for Maye, who, after throwing 10 interceptions as a rookie in 2024 and eight last season, has now entered unfamiliar territory despite leading the team to the Super Bowl last year.
As the Patriots prepare for a Sunday matchup against the undefeated Buffalo Bills, the team's record stands at 1-2, prompting questions about the factors behind Maye’s uncharacteristic performance. Analysts and team insiders consider multiple possibilities, including the absence of key receiver A.J. Brown, decision-making issues, and the potential lingering effects of a shoulder injury.
Historical context shows Maye is not alone in encountering such early-season turnover troubles. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, quarterbacks have produced at least six interceptions in the first three weeks of a season 146 times. The list encompasses Hall of Famers such as Peyton Manning, Joe Namath, Brett Favre, Eli Manning, and Drew Brees, as well as players whose careers failed to gain momentum, like Ryan Leaf, and those whose talent came with a high risk of turnovers, including Jameis Winston. Patriots Hall of Famer Steve Grogan faced similar challenges in multiple seasons during the 1970s and 1980s.
Career trajectories after such starts have varied. Some quarterbacks lost their starting roles, while others managed to reduce turnovers and stabilize their seasons. For example, Anthony Richardson threw six interceptions in the opening three weeks of his second season in 2024 before being sidelined with injury and eventually benched, though he returned later in the season. Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo’s six early interceptions in 2023 preceded his eventual loss of the starting position.
Statistically, quarterbacks who throw six or more interceptions early often finish with high interception totals—averaging more than 17 by season’s end. For many, the chance to recover can be fleeting: Kerry Collins was replaced by Vince Young after a similar start in 2006, and Archie Manning lost his starting role after throwing eight interceptions in 1983. Nevertheless, about two-thirds of such quarterbacks still start at least 70 percent of their team’s games, suggesting resilience is possible.
Some notable examples include Trevor Lawrence, who threw seven interceptions in the first three weeks of his rookie season but completed all 17 games that year with 17 picks, and Drew Bledsoe, who led the league in interceptions in 1994 but also helped the Patriots reach the playoffs. However, teams with quarterbacks struggling this early typically face uphill battles: only 19.2 percent of those teams have reached the playoffs, and 30.8 percent finished with winning records.
The most recent parallel is Kyle Orton’s 2005 rookie season with the Chicago Bears. After throwing six interceptions in the first several weeks, Orton finished with 13 over 15 starts before being benched late in the season. Chicago still made the playoffs, albeit with a different starting quarterback in the postseason.
Maye’s situation reflects a familiar challenge for NFL quarterbacks, but his experience and prior success demonstrate he has the ability to overcome this slump. For the Patriots, the early-season struggles are a setback they hope to correct as they seek to return to form.