New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn praised New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye before the teams’ Week 6 game on Sunday. Maye had eight touchdowns across New England’s previous two games, both victories, Boston.com reported.
The Patriots and Jets were scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. New England entered the matchup with a 3-2 record, while New York was 2-3, according to Boston.com.
Glenn’s comments centered on Maye’s response after a pair of games in which the quarterback had not played at his usual level. The Jets coach said Maye’s recent improvement reflected the larger body of work he had seen from the Patriots quarterback.
Aaron Glenn praises Drake Maye’s response
Glenn pointed to Maye’s performance from the previous season when explaining his view of the quarterback’s early-season struggles. “To me, I go back to last year, and look at everything he’s done. Obviously he was up for MVP,” Glenn said, according to Boston.com.
Glenn also emphasized that consistent excellence from week to week is difficult for any player. “I keep saying this, I wish all of my players could have a great game every game. That’s just not going to happen,” he said.
The Jets coach said Maye had played “a couple games where he didn’t play as well,” but added that the quarterback was again showing his established ability. Glenn said, “At some point guys are going to go back to who they are. They will never stay in that rut for that long.”
Glenn’s assessment came before the Patriots and Jets met in Foxborough, with Maye entering the game after a sharp statistical turnaround. His comments characterized the quarterback’s uneven stretch as temporary and placed greater emphasis on his overall performance.
Maye’s eight touchdowns followed wins over Buffalo and Las Vegas
Maye’s recent production supplied the clearest context for Glenn’s remarks. Boston.com reported that Maye had eight touchdowns across his previous two games, both of which New England won.
Those victories came against the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders. The results moved the Patriots to 3-2 entering the Jets matchup and gave Maye a strong two-game stretch before facing New York.
Boston.com also described Maye as having started the season poorly before his recent improvement. Glenn’s comments addressed that contrast directly: He acknowledged the quarterback’s below-standard games while arguing that they did not define Maye’s broader level of play.
The eight-touchdown total stood out because it covered two consecutive victories against AFC opponents. It also gave the Patriots a productive offensive backdrop as they prepared for a Jets team entering the game with a 2-3 record.
Edelman and Simms add to the pregame discussion
Former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman also discussed Maye’s early difficulties. Boston.com reported that Edelman called the adversity “probably the best thing that could happen” to the quarterback.
Edelman’s comment presented the rough stretch as a potentially useful experience for Maye. His view complemented Glenn’s argument that difficult games can be part of a quarterback’s development without defining the player’s overall ability.
Former quarterback Phil Simms offered a broader evaluation of New England. Boston.com reported that Simms called the Patriots the best team in the NFL.
Simms’ characterization placed the Patriots in a larger leaguewide context, while Glenn’s comments focused specifically on Maye. The three evaluations addressed different parts of the same pregame conversation: Maye’s recent production, his response to adversity and New England’s standing entering Week 6.
Patriots and Jets entered Week 6 with different records
New England entered Sunday’s game at 3-2, and New York entered at 2-3, according to Boston.com. The Patriots’ record included the recent wins over Buffalo and Las Vegas that accompanied Maye’s eight-touchdown stretch.
The Patriots-Jets matchup was scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Maye’s recent production and Glenn’s praise gave the game a clear quarterback-centered storyline, with New England seeking to build on two consecutive victories and New York arriving with a 2-3 record.
