Jan. 23, 2026, 9:16 a.m. ET
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has set the bar high for quarterback Drake Maye ahead of the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
According to MassLive’s Mark Daniels, McDaniels spoke confidently regarding the prospects of Maye’s high level of play carrying over into their matchup against the Denver Broncos.
“I’m expecting him to play well. I’ve expected him to play well all year and he hasn’t let us down,” McDaniels said.
Though Maye’s four fumbles were a major cause for concern in the Patriots‘ 28-16 divisional round win over the Houston Texans on January 18, he made impactful plays that willed New England toward the victory.
The 2025 AP NFL MVP finalist will look to be more efficient, in line with his NFL-leading 72 percent completion percentage in the regular season, against a stingy Broncos secondary that limited passing attacks to a mere 57.8 percent completion rate — the second-best metric in the league.
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The championship offensive playcaller in McDaniels will be tasked with ushering in a new quarterback’s coming-out party in New England. Maximizing standout wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ usage more than the four receptions for 40 receiving yards he was limited to against the Texans, while continuing to put Kayshon Boutte in the best positions to succeed, will enable Maye to shake off some of the woes that he faced against Houston.
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