Drake Maye Might Be In Serious Trouble against the Giants
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has taken the league by storm in his second season, leading starting quarterbacks in passing yards and completion percentage, while also ranking fourth in passing touchdowns and second in ESPN’s adjusted QB rating through Week 12.
Maye and the Patriots are 10-2 on the year, currently leading the race for the AFC’s top seed in the playoffs, which would give them a first-round bye. They won a close contest against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon, further solidifying their spot in the race.
However, as the team loaded onto the plane back to Massachusetts, they likely found it hard to celebrate. Two of the team’s starting offensive linemen — first-round left tackle Will Campbell and starting left guard Jared Wilson — were both carted off the field during the contest.
The fact that they were unable to walk off the field under their own power doesn’t bode well for their chances to play next week, especially since the team faces one of the toughest opponents they could encounter while missing two starters on the offensive line: the New York Giants.
Nov 23, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Giants haven’t been as productive as many expected them to be coming into the year, ranking 20th in pressure rate and 18th in pass rush win rate, per ESPN’s Sam Hoppen. They’ve still got loads of talent, however, with Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Burns himself is up to 11 sacks on the season, which is tied for third-most in the league.
Given their offensive success this season, one might assume New England’s offensive line has done a good job of keeping Maye protected. That would be incorrect. Maye has seen the third-most pressures of any quarterback in the league this year, with 157. He has performed well in these situations, with the fifth-best passing grade when pressured among starters, per PFF. However, if the Giants can take advantage of Wilson and Campbell’s expected absences next week, Maye might not be able to overcome the ensuing onslaught.
It won’t be the end of the world for the Patriots if they drop this game, but their upcoming schedule is what’s concerning. After they face the Giants, they’ll play the Bills again, then the Ravens. After that, it should be smooth sailing against the Jets and Dolphins, but if they lose three of their last five games, that could be all it takes to keep them from a first-round bye in the playoffs. Additionally, it would open the door for the Bills to charge back into control of the AFC East, taking away the Patriots’ home-field advantage in the postseason.
New England is certainly ahead of its rebuilding timeline, considering the team’s 4-13 record last year. However, after their electric start to the season, finishing as a Wild Card team would be an incredibly frustrating end, despite the low expectations heading into the year.
All of this is a long-shot nightmare scenario, to be clear. However, if Campbell and Wilson can’t go against New York, leading to Maye leaving the game battered and bruised, don’t be surprised if this storyline plays out.
Commanders' first statement offseason move is suddenly becoming crystal clear
Adam Peters is facing a tenure-defining 2026 offseason. The Washington Commanders surged to meteoric heights in Year 1 under his leadership. Things have nosedived just as quickly this time around, so there is a significant amount of hard work ahead.
Some harsh decisions are coming. The Commanders have plenty of salary-cap space but not many players under contract. They also only have six draft selections after Peters opted to stand pat at the 2025 trade deadline.
Not every complication is going to be resolved successfully; there are way too many holes for that. Peters must get younger across the board. If that involves upsetting some established veterans for a more sustainable future, it's a small price to pay.
Commanders need to extend Laremy Tunsil ahead of tiime this offseason
It'll be fascinating to see how Peters approaches matters. But the Commanders' first statement offseason move is suddenly becoming crystal clear.
The Commanders' aggressive offseason backfired. Peters ran it back with the same players who accomplished so much in 2024. He gambled on seasoned pros past their prime, and his big-money acquisition of defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is going just as fans feared. However, there was one massive move that cannot be seen as anything other than a home run right now.
Peters' decision to sacrifice considerable draft compensation to the Houston Texans for Laremy Tunsil was an outstanding piece of business. The Commanders have problems — lots of them — but the five-time Pro Bowl left tackle has been nothing short of exceptional, almost from start to finish.
Tunsil is a stone wall on the blindside. In 564 snaps this season, the former Ole Miss enforcer has given up just one sack, seven penalties, and 12 total pressures. His 87.3 pass-blocking grade from
Sure, the Commanders haven't had Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, or a consistent ground attack for most of the campaign, but that only makes Tunsil's performances even more impressive. It's also why one of Peters' first moves this offseason is giving the edge protector a new contract extension ahead of time.
The 2016 first-round pick has one more year on his deal, counting $24.95 million against the salary cap. He might be 31 years old, but tackles tend to play healthy (and well) way into their thirties. Extending him to a two or three-year deal is worth considering, and it should also provide Peters with more money to spend elsewhere in free agency.
In a season with very few things to legitimately cheer, Tunsil has emerged as a constant. And the Commanders need to avoid any unnecessary complications by giving him a lucrative reward at the earliest possible opportunity.
Considering they restructured his contract this season, that seems highly likely.
