NFL

Fresh off of his first Super Bowl appearance, Drake Maye was expected to shine in his junior campaign with the Patriots.

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The New England passer embraced the spotlight in Year 2 as New England’s starter, producing 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and a league-best 72.8 percent completion rate for the 14-3 Patriots.

One year on, things have proven increasingly more difficult for the North Carolina product. Maye’s numbers have tumbled precipitously through three games, leading some to compare his exploits to an unlikely source: Tua Tagovailoa.

Here’s a look at how Maye and Tagovailoa’s numbers through the first 33 games of their respective careers.

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Drake Maye vs. Tua Tagovailoa stats through first 33 games

Here’s a look at Maye and Tagovailoa’s numbers through their first 33 games. Both players achieved moderate success as young hurlers, with the figures suggesting that Maye was the more efficient of the two. 

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What the Drake Maye vs. Tua Tagovailoa stats meme gets right and wrong

At first glance, Maye and Tagovailoa’s figures look eerily similar. Maye is the more efficient of the passers, although Tagovailoa arguably achieved more success — at least from a team wins point of view.

Tua undoubtedly had a better supporting cast around him. The former Dolphins hurler was tasked with delivering arrows to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, both of whom eclipsed 1,000 yards during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

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New England has been anchored by its defense throughout Maye’s tenure. The Patriots surrendered the fourth-fewest points in 2025. They rank sixth in the metric through three games, suggesting a Mike Vrabel-led rearguard can blight even the most impressive attacks.

New England’s defense could arguably prove a steadier foundation to build a winning team — the Patriots surged to the Super Bowl despite failing to record more than 16 points in three of four playoff games. Hill and Waddle’s presence on the Dolphins’ roster, coupled with Mike McDaniel’s prowess as a play-caller, would lend itself to providing a stronger platform for Tagovailoa’s offensive gifts to flourish, however.

The Patriots faced a fairly underwhelming schedule en route during the 2025 season, facing off against sides with a combined winning percentage of just .429, the third-worst rate in the league last year. Miami was similarly fortunate during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with its foes finishing way below .500.

Maye reached higher heights across his first three years as starter, collecting a second-place MVP finish for his efforts as a sophomore. For all of Tagovailoa’s gifts, he wasn’t quite able to capture similar billing.

Still just 24 years old, Maye has plenty of time to turn things around after a dour start to the year. There are undoubtedly some similarities between the North Carolina product and his opposite number, who achieved moderate success before falling out of favor in Vice City. If Maye does overcome his early-season toils, it could make the latest meme to dance across social media a distant memory for New England supporters.

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