Dillon Gabriel Praises Drake Maye as Patriots QB Joins Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady in Elite Club
Drake Maye and Dillon Gabriel are at opposite ends of their contrasting careers. While Maye is a national hero for the New England Patriots, helping them reach a 6-2 start, Dillon is facing flak over the Cleveland Browns’ 2-6 losing streak, the latest being a 32-13 loss to Maye’s Patriots on Sunday.
Notably, Dillon’s mistakes from the game, primarily with pressure and the inability to push the ball downfield, resulted in two interceptions and a low passer rating for the young QB at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots’ defense also exploited Gabriel’s conservative tendencies and lack of explosive plays in the passing game.
Meanwhile, coach Kevin Stefanski reaffirmed that Dillon will get “more chances” during the postgame presser—an indication that Shedeur Sanders will need to wait for a few more weeks to enter the field. But what was evident during the game was Dillon’s weaknesses being exposed against a clutch QB like Maye.
“Yeah, he’s just been playing at a really high level this year,” Maye said in the postgame presser when asked about what he found interesting in Dillon. He took less than 5 seconds to answer the question and to move on to the next one. Interestingly, there weren’t too many questions about Shedeur being benched during the presser.
Coming back to the game, Maye finished 18-of-24 for 282 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 interception despite being sacked five times by Myles Garrett, who perhaps played his best game for a losing cause. On the other hand,
Meanwhile, what is notable about Maye this season has been his unreal consistency. With this stellar run, Maye became the fifth QB to record 200+ passing yards and a 100+ passer rating in seven or more consecutive games in a season. Previously, Tom Brady (2007), Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2020), Peyton Manning (2004), and Patrick Mahomes (2018) achieved this elite feat. Such an impressive record, isn’t it?
It is also notable that Maye is the second QB to achieve this feat in his second year, after Patrick Mahomes. The streak is likely to continue for Maye, as the Patriots are facing comparatively easy opponents (except the Bucs) in the next five weeks, with matchups against the Falcons, Bucs, Jets, Bengals, and Giants to follow before the Bills’ clash on December 14.
Statistically, Maye is enjoying a fruitful season, recording 2,026 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and 250 rushing yards with 2 rushing touchdowns, which are top-five QB numbers. Hardcore Patriots fans might even sense that Maye is the next Tom Brady-like generational QB.
Meanwhile, Mike Vrabel and Maye himself were quick to brush aside such comparisons with the QB GOAT. Instead, they wanted to take it game by game and help the Patriots enter the playoffs after setbacks in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 regular seasons. At the same time, the Browns will have a lot to think about their offense when fielding Dillon Gabriel in the next game.
Travis Kelce Makes His Opinion of Commanders Very Clear
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are back on primetime for Week 8 when they host the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium on “Monday Night Football.” The Chiefs will be looking to make it three wins in a row after back-to-back victories over the Detroit Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kelce, now in his 13th season with Kansas City, has been heating up of late. After a relatively slow start to the new campaign, the 10-time Pro Bowl tight end now has 31 receptions in seven games for 375 yards and two touchdowns. He will be looking to keep it going against Washington.
Kelce is no stranger to the spotlight. He’s been one of the most popular players in the league over the past several years with the Chiefs. This is exactly why the 36-year-old knows very well that Monday’s primetime showdown against the Commanders is going to be a good one.
In the most recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles legend Jason Kelce, the Chiefs star shared his honest thoughts on Washington.
“I mean, obviously, (a) talented football team,” Kelce said. “Outstanding coaches, they got a lot of vets on that team.
“They’re going to be ready. They’re going to be fired up for a Monday night game.”
The Commanders, however, will be undermanned against the Chiefs. Star quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a low-grade hamstring strain in Washington’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 and has been ruled out for the Chiefs game. Marcus Mariota, who came in to replace Daniels after the injury, will be under center against Kelce and Co.
Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN.
