The New England Patriots are fully committed to Drake Maye, and rightfully so. For the most part, the second-year pro has played like an MVP candidate, and he looks like a superstar in the making.
However, he didn’t get off to a good start in Tampa Bay. He went just 2 for 7 for 19 yards in his first couple of drives, and he looked sloppy and out of rhythm.
Michael Irvin Calls Out Drake Maye with Troy Aikman Comparison
That’s why Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin had a not-so-flattering post about him.
He took to social media to call him out with a comparison to fellow Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, “WOW… Drake Maye suffers from that Troy Aikman disease… Can you stand the rain!!” he wrote.
WOW,,, @DrakeMaye2 suffers from that @TroyAikman disease 😳😳 😳. Can you stand the rain!!
— Michael Irvin (@michaelirvin88) November 9, 2025
Of course, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with playing like Aikman. If anything, that should be a compliment for a young, up-and-coming signal-caller.
Nevertheless, he was known for not looking to throw the football in rainy conditions, and after watching Maye struggle with inconsistency and hand the ball over multiple times in the first couple of drives, Irvin would rather watch him be a more complete and aggressive player.
Still, it didn’t take long before Maye proved him wrong. On his very next drive, he found a wide-open Kyle Williams for a short gain, with the rookie then taking the ball all the way for a 72-yard touchdown to even the score at seven points apiece.
Todd Bowles Knew Drake Maye would be a Tough Matchup
Maye entered Sunday’s game with 2,285 passing yards on a league-high 74.1% completion percentage.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles knows he’s a dynamic player who can also make plays with his legs, and he had nothing but praise for him ahead of their matchup:
“[He has] great legs – he really has a knack for finding the hole to run in,” Bowles said on Wednesday, per Sports Illustrated. “At the same time, [he has] great touch on the ball, great arm strength, a great feel for the game – understanding where his guys are. I think Josh [McDaniels] has done a great job getting him ready to play and understanding how he has to play and executing for him.”
The Patriots finally have a young quarterback to build their offense around, and while playing quarterback for that franchise will always come with the highest expectations, it seems like he’s right on track to be their savior.
