Ex-Patriots Legend Feels Drake Maye Is the MVP Frontrunner over Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes

Drake Maye furthered his MVP case by leading the Patriots to a sixth straight win.

Ex-Patriots Legend Feels Drake Maye Is the MVP Frontrunner over Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes

Drake Maye and Julian Edelman (Image via IMAGO)

Ahead of the New England Patriots’ Week 9 fixture against the Atlanta Falcons, Julian Edelman picked Drake Maye as the favorite to become the NFL MVP. Edelman’s choice left his FOX Sports colleague Charissa Thompson gobsmacked.

It’s hard to picture Maye in the MVP conversation after the Patriots lost two of their first three games. National media finally took notice of Maye’s skills after he outdueled the reigning league MVP, Josh Allen, and the Buffalo Bills.

The Patriots recorded five straight wins, including a 30-point victory over the Cleveland Browns defense that averaged only 16.6 points prior to the meeting. All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett, who sacked Maye 5 times in the game, acknowledged the 23-year-old’s skills with the football.

Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky also selected Maye as his MVP favorite over Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Orlovsky’s ESPN colleague Cam Newton took issue with it. To support his argument, Newton mentioned the strength of the Patriots’ schedule.

One thing that you have to understand and you know this more than anybody… In order to be the best, you have to do what? Beat the best. In this case, you did it once. But to beat the best, you have to do this twice.

Cam Newton said on First Take (H/T: Mass Live)

Longtime NFL sideline reporter and FOX presenter Charissa Thompson joined Newton’s team of non-Maye believers. Ahead of the Patriots-Falcons game at Foxborough, retired NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman picked Maye as the favorite to win the 2025 MVP on FOX NFL Kickoff.

“Got to be Drake Maye. It’s got to be Drake Maye,” Edelman said, to which Thompson replied, “Oh, come on!“

Edelman continued to bat for Maye and listed the reasons behind his decision.

He leads the league in completion percentage. He leads the league in deep balls. He’s gotten better each week… [However] we don’t give MVPs after Week 8, but he’s in the MVP category. He’s a mid-season MVP, and he continues to get better each week. He’s taking care of the football; he’s got a signature win against Josh Allen [and the Bills]. Like, he’s playing his butt off.

Drake Maye rallies the Patriots to a win over the Falcons

The Falcons arrived in New England in search of a win after suffering two straight losses at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. They fell behind on the Patriots’ second drive as Maye connected with DeMario Douglas for a 17-yard touchdown.

Ex-Patriots Legend Feels Drake Maye Is the MVP Frontrunner over Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes
Drake Maye (Image via IMAGO)

Michael Penix Jr. equalized for the Falcons moments before the end of the first quarter. Penix connected with WR1 Drake London for the game’s second TD.

Terrell Jennings, who played in the absence of Rhamondre Stevenson, gave the Patriots the lead four minutes into the second quarter, and Maye extended that lead three minutes later. He found WR1 Stefon Diggs wide open for an 11-yard score.

Penix found London for his second score. The two kickers, Parker Romo for Atlanta and Andy Borregales for the Patriots, exchanged three-point field goals before London scored a hat trick of TDs, just over four minutes before the final whistle.

London’s touchdown brought the Falcons within one point of the Patriots’ score, but the AFC team held on to secure a 23-24 victory. The result improved the Patriots’ record to 7-2, while the Falcons fell to 3-5.

Maye ended the game with 19 completions from 29 attempts for 259 yards (65.5%), 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. By doing so, his numbers look like 189 completions from 255 attempts (74.1%) for 19 overall touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

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