The New England Patriots will travel to Denver to take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship on Sunday.
Denver will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix, but the story of their season has been the defense. They still have a defense loaded with stars, and Drake Maye will have his hands full trying to lead the offense.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss called out a major concern in Maye’s game ahead of his matchup against the Broncos ferocious defense. Reiss noted that Maye has a league-high 14 fumbles in 19 games this season. Denver has 71 sacks in 18 games, leading all of football, so hunting Maye could be an opportunity for their pass rush to get the football.
Fumbles are not all on Maye, however. The offensive line needs to do a better job protecting him as well. However, the tape shows that Maye has put the ball on the ground often and has done so six times in the last two games.
“I’ve got to do a better job stepping up and hit guys downfield when we had chances. I have to be better with the football when I’m taking off and running,” Maye said Sunday after beating the Texans, per Reiss. “From there, just know the football is the prized possession. When we don’t turn the ball over, and put the team in the best spots, I like our chances.”
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The Broncos’ defense is one of the best in the NFL, and without their starting quarterback, they figure to be even more aggressive getting after Maye. Mike Vrabel acknowledged the importance of keeping Maye clean on Sunday.
“Take care of the ball,” Vrabel said on WEEI 93.7 FM on Monday when asked where the Patriots need to improve this week. “Not let the quarterback get hit.”
Patriots fans got used to seeing Tom Brady protect the football in the playoffs, and so far, Maye has been a different experience. Brady fumbled 12 times in 40 playoff games with the Patriots. Maye already has halfway to that total in two games.
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