The New England Patriots' impressive winning streak has ignited a wave of nostalgia amongst their fanbase, with second-year quarterback Drake Maye drawing inevitable comparisons to the legendary Tom Brady.
The Sideline Cape That Started It All
During the Patriots' recent 27-14 victory over the New York Jets, the 23-year-old Maye was spotted on the frosty bench wearing an oversized jacket, often referred to as a 'sideline cape'. This style was a trademark of Tom Brady during his time in Foxborough, a visual that immediately resonated with supporters. Fans took to social media platform X to voice their delight. One user remarked, 'It was nice of Tom Brady to leave Drake Maye his oversized coat,' while another posted an image, writing, 'This is the exact image I thought of... lol.' The sentiment even extended to hopeful speculation, with one fan wondering if the iconic garment was 'giving him powers.'
On-Field Performance Fuels the Hype
The parallels extend far beyond fashion. With Thursday's win, the Patriots have now secured eight consecutive victories, improving their record to an impressive 9-2. This surge has firmly placed Drake Maye into the conversation for the league's Most Valuable Player award. In the game against the Jets, he completed 25 of 34 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown, continuing his standout season. Statistically, Maye's second year is already outpacing Brady's in key areas. While Brady ranked 22nd in completions and yardage during his second season, Maye currently sits at sixth and third in those categories, respectively.
A Legacy Still to Chase
However, there are crucial caveats to this exciting narrative. The most significant is that in his second NFL season, Tom Brady led the underdog Patriots to an unimaginable Super Bowl victory, a monumental achievement that Maye is yet to match. Furthermore, their rookie seasons differed greatly; Brady began as a backup, whereas Maye started 13 games in his first year. One area where Maye will want to improve is his pocket awareness. He was sacked by Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson on Thursday, bringing his season total to 35 sacks, a figure higher than all other passers except Tennessee rookie Cam Ward. For context, Brady endured 41 sacks throughout the entire 2001 season.
The comparisons are a testament to Maye's rapid ascent, but the young quarterback knows the ultimate measure of success in New England is championships, and on that front, the legacy of Tom Brady still looms large.
