Drake Maye struggled at EverBank Stadium, committing three turnovers as the New England Patriots fell 35-6 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, per a Boston.com game recap: Boston.com. Those takeaways shifted momentum and helped Jacksonville control the clock and field position for much of the contest.
How Drake Maye’s three turnovers unfolded
Marcus Jones interception and 21-yard return. Early in the game Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones intercepted a pass and returned it 21 yards, flipping field position in New England’s favor; the Patriots were unable to translate that takeaway into multiple points, which limited its impact.
Travis Hunter end-zone interception. In a critical red-zone sequence, Maye threw into the end zone and Jaguars defensive back Travis Hunter picked it off, erasing a scoring opportunity and leaving points off the board for the Patriots in a game where chances were at a premium.
Maye interception that led to a Jacksonville touchdown. On the opening drive of the second half, Maye threw another interception that Jacksonville converted into a short touchdown two plays later, a sequence that widened the margin and put New England in a deeper deficit.
Jacksonville’s offense: key stats that controlled the game
The Jaguars imposed balance and efficiency. Jacksonville totaled 315 yards of offense, converted 8-of-12 third downs, and averaged 4.6 yards per carry, all of which kept drives alive and limited New England’s opportunities to mount a comeback.
Trevor Lawrence managed the game and connected on a scoring play that capitalized on field-position swings; Boston.com cited a 12-yard touchdown to Josh Cameron that underscored Jacksonville’s red-zone execution.
Those figures help explain why New England struggled to sustain drives and control time of possession after the takeaways.
Injuries and line changes that affected the day
Depth issues appeared to matter. Veteran guard Greg Van Roten left with a thigh injury and was replaced by backup Walter Rouse, per Boston.com; the substitution required mid-game adjustments on the offensive front.
Boston.com also lists notable absences to open the game, including edge presence Dre’Mont Jones, tight end Eli Raridon and safety Craig Woodson, which had situational effects on rotation and coverage packages.
The recap references an ankle issue to offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and frames the long-term impact as possible rather than confirmed; that characterization should be treated cautiously until the team provides a medical update and a formal designation.
Special teams and scoring swings: Borregales’ make and miss
Special teams produced mixed results. Kicker Andy Borregales converted a 35-yard field goal that kept New England on the board early, but he missed a later attempt that would have narrowed the gap and given the offense a different field-position incentive.
Jacksonville’s late scoring — including a fourth-quarter touchdown credited in the recap — extended the lead and led to the Patriots inserting backups for late-game reps.
What this loss means short-term for the Patriots and the QB room
With under seven minutes remaining, New England brought in backup Tommy DeVito and other reserves to finish the game; that substitution provided low-pressure reps while underlining the evaluation work the staff faces during the coming week.
Coach Mike Vrabel and his staff now must prioritize ball security and offensive-line continuity in practice, as the three turnovers were the principal drivers of the deficit in a game where the Jaguars gained 315 yards. Any assessment of Maye’s long-term trajectory should remain measured — Boston.com notes concerns about decision-making that deserve coaching attention, but those observations are evaluations rather than definitive career judgments.
In short-term roster terms, the team must monitor the status of injured linemen and adjust protection and play calls accordingly; the staff will likely emphasize quick reads, shorter drops and situational processing in the coming days to reduce turnover risk.
Source attribution and key quotes
This article is grounded in the Boston.com game recap: 9 takeaways from Patriots’ ugly 35-6 loss to Jaguars. The recap includes on-field social posts and short excerpts that captured live reaction to game-changing plays.
Boston.com reproduces short social excerpts that highlighted the momentum swings, such as: “. @Jaguars with the takeaway @NEvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+ Stream on @NFLPlus” (NFL) and “Teamwork takeaway 👏” (New England Patriots). Those posts documented live reactions and are quoted here for context, not as a substitute for coaching analysis.
For full play-by-play detail, quotes and extended reporting, read the original Boston.com piece: https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2026/09/27/new-england-patriots-drake-maye-nfl-football-interceptions-jaguars-mike-vrabel/.
WHAT REMAINS UNCLEAR: injury timelines — especially any long-term prognosis for Mike Onwenu — are unconfirmed in public reporting and should be treated as such until the team issues formal updates. Coaching adjustments and potential roster moves will be clearer after the Patriots’ next practice and injury reports.
Immediate priorities for New England are clear: clean up turnovers, shore up line play after the Greg Van Roten substitution, and evaluate quarterback processing in game situations. Those steps will shape the short-term outlook for the offense heading into the next game.
