New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is not beating the 'schedule merchant' allegations any time soon.

After his near-MVP season that saw him lead New England to the Super Bowl in 2025, Maye has been an absolute liability in the 2026 campaign as he has routinely failed to make big plays and has cost the Patriots multiple games.

Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars was just another example of that as Maye threw for 199 yards and turned the ball over three times in a 35-6 loss.

Perhaps the most unforgivable of these was his lone fumble of the day. Dropping back to pass, Maye tried to make a throw - only for the ball to slip out of his hand before he could get the attempt off. The Jaguars recovered, spelling doom for New England.

After the game, Maye revealed (via 98.5's Alex Barth) that around the time of the fumble, Patriots center Jared Wilson was bleeding and 'there was blood on the football.'

When asked if that was the reason for the ball slipping, Maye replied, 'You can say that, but at the same time, I've got to hold onto the football.' 

Maye would fumble the ball again in this game, but recovered it before turning the ball over. Adding insult to injury, the third-year quarterback tossed two unforgivable interceptions.

With about one minute before the end of the first half, with the Patriots two yards away from the end zone, Maye made a hurried mistake and threw the ball right into the hands of Jacksonville's Travis Hunter. It was the first NFL interception in the career of the former Heisman winner.

Maye's second interception came in the third quarter when receiver Kyle Williams got out-muscled by Jags cornerback Jarrian Jones, who ran the pick back to the Patriots five-yard-line. Jacksonville running back Chris Rodriguez scored on the next play.

After a nightmare showing, Maye was dealt the ultimate humiliation and was benched for backup quarterback Tommy DeVito.

On the season so far, Maye has more fumbles (two fumbles, one lost fumble) than he does passing touchdowns (one) and a league-leading six interceptions.

As a whole the Patriots have not done well this season.  After the game, head coach Mike Vrabel said his 'concern level is very high for this football team.'

The Patriots fell to 1-2 with the defeat. Things do not get easier for them as they travel to Orchard Park next Sunday to take on the AFC East-leading Buffalo Bills.