Drake Maye’s six playoff fumbles have been astounding, but he’s still part of the MVP conversation. In the regular season, Maye drove the New England Patriots to 14 wins and the No. 2 seed in the AFC. As New England heads to Denver to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, Sean Payton is openly praising the shot caller. In doing so, the head coach has sent a warning to his own defense.

“I think one of the strengths with watching him is when he comes underneath, it’s his touch underneath to the underneath throws,” the Broncos’ head coach said ahead of Sunday’s game. “Sometimes, those balls are six yards away from the half back. I wasn’t aware he finished the season fourth in rushing yards behind the guys that we would expect near the top. So, he’s extremely fast. Those come from, obviously, pocket scrambles. But he can run.”

Though nowhere near Lamar Jackson’s near 1,000 last season, Maye’s 450 rushing yards are a reminder to defenses of his dual threat. The comments stand out given how dominant Denver’s pass defense has been, ranking seventh in passing yards allowed and second in rushing yards allowed. But Payton’s caution isn’t misplaced. Despite the Broncos being the NFL’s regular-season leading sack unit (68), slowing Maye down will be a challenge. The playoffs, however, and the opponent, are uncharted territory for Maye.

Despite Sean Payton warning his defense, the quarterback is new to this. Drake Maye will face the Broncos for the first time in his career, and on the grand stage of an AFC Championship. To add to that, this is Maye’s first post-season, and his lack of experience helps explain the struggles, including the costly turnovers in his last outing.

On a good day, though, the quarterback is in the MVP conversation. The efficiency Payton referenced didn’t disappear once the pocket collapsed. Maye completed 99 passes while under pressure in 2025, one of the highest totals in the league.

That combination of elements explains why Payton is approaching the matchup carefully, even with an elite defensive unit at his disposal. Though the Broncos have a significant setback with their star QB injured, Maye is also gearing up for a brand new challenge in Denver. On Wednesday, the second-year player opened up on what he expects from throwing in a high altitude environment.

Drake Maye addresses throwing in high altitude for the first time.

Drake Maye has undeniably put together an MVP-caliber second season. The postseason, though, has told a different story. Take the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans. On the surface, the Patriots walked away with a 28–16 win. Dig a little deeper, however, and Maye’s night was far from smooth. Now, to add to his challenges, he’s travelled to Denver and will be playing his first game there, throwing at a higher altitude. When asked about what he expects it to be like, he kept it simple.

“No, I haven’t. I haven’t thrown an altitude before,” Maye told the media on Wednesday. “I’ve never been to Colorado, but I think there is some adjustment to it. I think feeling out warm-ups and seeing how deep (the) ball is, or what the altitude does. I think the biggest thing is just for us fatigue wise, I think we’ll try to get a feel for it. I know it’s a little different, but I know a lot of teams play out there all the time. So, maybe throw a few extra deep ones, see how it is, and I think it’ll be pretty cool.”

Top Stories

Colts Issue Statement on FBI Investigation Into Jim Irsay’s Death as Controversial Details Emerge After Former Owner’s Passing

Viral 4-Year-Old NFL Picks Girl Faces Death Threats After Cardi B’s Profanity-Laced Rant and Subsequent Apology

Tyreek Hill Issues Final Statement on Chiefs Return After Cryptic Eric Bieniemy Message

Josh Allen Gets Troubling Update on Offense After Bills Announce QB’s Surgery News

Miami Dolphins’ Feelings on Cutting Ties With Tua Tagovailoa Confirmed After GM Addressed QB’s Future – Insider

Denver’s higher altitude is one of the challenges most traveling teams face against the Broncos.

So while Sean Payton hasn’t held back in praising Maye, it’s fair to assume he’s fully aware of Maye’s postseason struggles and new challenges. That said, the second-year quarterback doesn’t sound rattled by the late dip in form, according to his recent comments.

That’s what makes Sunday’s matchup so polarizing. Payton clearly respects Maye’s strengths and what he can do when he’s in rhythm. At the same time, Maye enters the game looking to clean up what hasn’t worked in the postseason so far. With both teams just one win away from making the Super Bowl, the spotlight isn’t just on his talent. It’s on whether he can rediscover his regular-season efficiency when it matters most.