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Patriots Fall to Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, Maye Played Through Injury
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The New England Patriots’ Super Bowl LX hopes were dashed Sunday night as they fell 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks. Following the game, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye revealed he received a pain-killing injection in his right throwing shoulder before the championship matchup.
Maye, visibly emotional after the loss, addressed concerns about his shoulder, stating, “I shot it up, so not much feeling. It was good to go, and it felt all right.”
Despite his insistence, the injury appeared to hinder Maye’s performance. He committed three turnovers, including a crucial strip-sack in the third quarter that led to a Seahawks touchdown, extending their lead to 19-0. Two fourth-quarter interceptions, one of which was returned 45 yards for another touchdown, further sealed the Patriots’ fate.
The Seahawks’ defense largely stifled the Patriots’ offense throughout the first three quarters, with Maye frequently under pressure. While Maye and his teammates found some rhythm in the fourth quarter, improving his final stat line to 27 of 43 for 295 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions, it was too little, too late.
Maye’s shoulder injury originated in the AFC Championship Game, where he landed awkwardly on a 13-yard run. He was subsequently limited in one practice and sat out another.
However, Maye stated he felt a turning point upon arriving in California on February 1st, participating fully in the team’s three pre-game workouts. Despite feeling “great” by Thursday, he remained on the injury report in accordance with NFL rules.
The Patriots’ offense, which finished the regular season ranked third in the NFL in total yards, struggled to find its footing against the league’s top-rated defenses in the playoffs. When asked if his shoulder limited him, Maye responded, “I think it would be hard to say that.
I was feeling good enough to be out there. I wouldn’t put the team in harm’s way to not be myself.
Just didn’t make plays tonight.”
Maye was sacked six times, a testament to the protection breakdowns, particularly from rookie left tackle Will Campbell. Campbell, the No. 4 pick in last April’s draft, allowed a season-high 14 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.
Starting center Garrett Bradbury acknowledged the offensive line’s struggles. “Certainly didn’t do a good enough job.
It hurts,” Bradbury said. “Drake is the face of this franchise.
He’s the leader of this team. I think this whole locker room knows that.”
NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel offered a broader perspective on the season, which saw the Patriots achieve a 14-3 record and a surprising Super Bowl appearance. “I’m proud of everything that they did.
I’m disappointed, just like they are,” Vrabel stated. “I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program.
And it’s OK to be disappointed. We have to be disappointed and upset together.”
Vrabel continued, “And like I always do, I tell them I’m appreciative of them. I’m thankful.
I’m grateful that I get to coach them. And we don’t want to be part of our identity as not being a front-runner.
And so again, just like every year, somebody’s going to lose this game. And we have to remember what it feels like and make sure that it’s not repeated.”
Maye, tearing up at times, reflected on the game and his second NFL season. “This hurts.
It definitely hurts. They played better than us tonight,” he admitted.
“They deserved to win that game. For the whole team and myself, what a journey it’s been for us.
I love this team and those guys in the locker room. We left it all on the field and just came up short.
We didn’t play our best, and that’s what happens. … It’s going to sting for a while, but that’s what you sign up for.”
Looking ahead, Maye expressed optimism for the team’s future under Coach Vrabel. “He was a heartbeat, no doubt about that.
He was a big reason why we’re here. He’s always the same, and I look forward to my relationship with him for a long time,” Maye said.
“He’s a great person and a helluva football coach.”