It’s easy to ignore shortcomings when winning playoff games and playing in the AFC Championship.<\/p>\n
However, Drake Maye’s ball security has improved after this rough playoff stretch marred by fumbles.<\/p>\n
Luckily for Maye and the New England Patriots<\/a>, the Denver Broncos<\/a> are 27th in recovered fumbles and 28th in forcing them.<\/p>\n Regardless, winning high-pressure football games becomes even harder when your quarterback starts turning the ball over.<\/p>\n The Sporting News has everything you need to know about how\u00a0the Patriots’ young QB gained a bad reputation for fumbling.<\/p>\n MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:<\/p>\n Drake Maye fumbles<\/p>\n Maye has committed six fumbles in the playoffs, losing three. If the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> and Houston Texans<\/a> had\u00a0been more careful with their own turnovers and more effective on offense, Maye’s ball security would have led to even\u00a0bigger issues.<\/p>\n This problem for Maye did not develop in the playoffs; it’s been his biggest flaw\u00a0all season. In 19 games this year, Maye has a league-high 14 fumbles.<\/p>\n Here is what the young quarterback had to say about this ongoing problem.<\/p>\n “I’ve got to do a better job stepping up and hit guys downfield when we had chances. I have to be better with the football when I’m taking off and running,” Maye said Sunday after beating the Texans. “From there, just know the football is the prized possession. When we don’t turn the ball over\u00a0and put the team in the best spots, I like our chances.”<\/p>\n