FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Maye's response: Among quarterback Drake Maye's endearing personality traits is a willingness to peel back the curtain and share core parts of his mindset. One example is how he said the season-opening loss to the Seahawks on Sept. 9 -- in which he threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter -- was tough.
Because the Patriots played on a Wednesday, arrived home early Thursday morning, and players weren't in meetings again until Sunday, it extended Maye's moving-on process.
"You got a lot of time to think about it," he said.
Maye usually gives himself 24 hours to move on from a performance that didn't meet his personal standard. He said he thinks about it Sunday night, watches the game over Monday, and then you "kind of get rid of it."
It sets up the top storyline for the Patriots entering Sunday's home opener against the Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): How does Maye respond?
By last Monday, he had taken a page from Bill Belichick and told sports radio WEEI, "We're on to Pittsburgh." Teammates took note of Maye's move in that direction.
"I've seen a guy that came back to work. I haven't seen him like he's walking around with his head down or anything like that," said veteran safety Kevin Byard, who is one of six captains along with the 24-year-old Maye.
In doing so, Maye highlighted the "heightened consequences" of when he makes the wrong split-second decisions, such as on each of his three interceptions when he forced plays down the field. Coach Mike Vrabel noted that Maye "can't get bored doing the right thing."
Therein lies the balance Maye aims to strike against a Steelers team that won its opener over the Falcons 20-13 on the strength of its defense, led by T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Jalen Ramsey & Co. He must stay disciplined and patient to take what's there against a Steelers unit that has forced multiple turnovers in nine games since the start of last season (third most in the NFL) but not hesitate to attack down the field when the opportunity presents itself.
Those opportunities down the field should be there based on recent history.
Since the start of the 2025 season, opponents have completed 51% of throws 20-plus yards downfield against the Steelers (ranks 31st in NFL), according to ESPN Research. Meanwhile, Maye has completed 50% of passes 20-plus yards down the field since the start of last season, which ranks third among 32 qualified quarterbacks. But Maye was 0-for-3 on those throws in the opener against the Seahawks.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels highlighted how Maye is in a different situation compared to last year because opponents have had a full year to study an entire season of his play in the current offensive system.
He stressed patience and repetition when it comes to Maye making better decisions as the defense changes its look after the snap, which is something the Seahawks did successfully. He added the Patriots want Maye to be "aggressive and smart, and always at the same time."
"I have not experienced anything with him that he has not learned from when it hasn't gone our way," McDaniels said. "I know this is an area where we can make progress. I know he does, too. I'm excited to see it happen and get another opportunity this week."
2. Hollins/Maye combo: Vrabel made the point late last week that one of the most important things for a quarterback/receiver duo is to "think alike," and Maye and veteran Mack Hollins often do. Perhaps contributing to that: They sit next to each other in the front row of the team meeting room.
"At the last facility it was like that, so we just kind of sat like that [in the new one]," Hollins said.
Hollins is most likely to start in A.J. Brown's place until Brown returns from his right high ankle sprain.
"I would imagine he'd be a big part of our success going forward," Vrabel said.
3. Raridon review: Three topics with tight end Eli Raridon, the third-round pick who played 38 offensive snaps and four special teams snaps in the opener, and scored the season's first touchdown on a 2-yard reception:
College vs. the NFL: "Coach Vrabel always reiterated to me the speed of the NFL game is completely different and takes some getting used to. Camp, joint practices and preseason games helped me integrate to that a lot, but at first when I got here, I was like, 'Everything is happening a lot faster.' That's partly because you're learning a new offense. And the level of competition. These guys you're going against are great players. In college, at Notre Dame, we played Miami and [Texas] A&M -- two really good teams. Then you play Syracuse, where we beat them 70-7 and I was out at halftime. It's not like that in the NFL."
Speed of the opener vs. Seattle: "That first drive was kind of a whirlwind. The first snap, you're adjusting to 'this is how it is.' It took a few plays to get used to it."
Emphatic TD spike: "Honestly, I don't really remember too much of it. I just remember kind of standing for a moment, soaking it all in, and I was like, 'I have to do something.'"
4. Byard's bag: Veteran safety Kevin Byard says he has kept the football from every interception he has had in the NFL -- 36 in the regular season and one in the playoffs. They are in a large trash bag in his attic, to be displayed in some form upon his retirement. Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott and Josh Allen are among the top QBs he has picked.
"Definitely looking to get my first interception against Aaron Rodgers," Byard said. "But really, I just want to win."
5. OL dinners return: Patriots offensive linemen started a tradition last season in which they had a weekly dinner each Thursday, which has returned this year. Mastro's Steakhouse & Ocean Club and The Capital Grille were the first two restaurants. Veteran Greg Van Roten, 36, picked up the tab as the oldest player in the room.
Walter Rouse, whom the Patriots acquired from the Vikings in a trade in late August, said the Vikings did something similar each Thursday although not at such upscale steakhouses.
6. Gilmore on Gonzo: Former Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore signed a ceremonial one-day contract to retire as a member of the organization Friday, saying it was important to him because New England was where he had his greatest success. Gilmore attended the team's practice Friday, celebrated his 36th birthday Saturday and stayed in town for Sunday's home opener with his family.
The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Gilmore is sometimes cited as having a similar approach to current Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. The two connected in recent days.
"He's super kind of quiet, kind of like I was, but handles his business on the field," Gilmore said. "He's a great talent -- fast. And has great size for a corner. I think he's going to have a great career. I told him, 'No matter what, stay hungry. No matter what you did last year, you have to prove yourself each and every year. That's what the great players do.'"
Stephon Gilmore (@BumpNrunGilm0re) holds up his ceremonial contract to retire as a Patriot, saying it was important to him because he had his greatest success in New England. pic.twitter.com/LA7Sl4Vbjh
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 18, 2026
7. AVT assessment: The opener was starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker's first game since the 2024 regular-season finale with the Jets, as he missed all of last season after tearing his left triceps. A lot of hard work went into getting back on the field. Vera-Tucker finished the opener with a 68% run block win rate (179th out of 225) and a 86.2% pass block win rate (tied 90th out of 163), according to ESPN Research.
"First game back, it just felt really good to be out there, especially with a team and staff like this," he said. "Definitely always things to work on -- more than I would have liked to have happen last week. I have to get better in practice and translate it to the games."
8. Hot Germany ticket: The Patriots' game against the Lions, to be played Week 10 in Munich, ranks fifth in highest average sold ticket price at $644, according to Vivid Seats. That ranks behind only a Week 5 Bears-Packers game ($775), this past Thursday's Bills-Lions matchup that opened Buffalo's new stadium ($739), a Week 6 Cowboys-Packers game ($667) and the Chiefs-Bills Thanksgiving Day game ($657).
9. Did You Know, Part 1: Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who faces the Patriots for the eighth time in his career Sunday, has a streak of 272 pass attempts without an interception. His last pick came Nov. 9 against the Chargers.
10. Did You Know, Part 2: The Patriots have lost their home opener in five straight seasons, which is the longest active streak in the NFL. Losing to the Steelers would match the longest home-opening losing streak in team history (1989-94).