New England loves a good generational sports argument. Ted Williams or David Ortiz? Bill Russell or Larry Bird? While it might be premature to stack Drake Maye against Tom Brady, it\u2019s worth taking a look at Maye\u2019s sparkling second season against Brady\u2019s second year as a starter (2002).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s always important to put statistics in some sort of context. In this case, to note that the game has changed dramatically since 2002. (For example, Brady led the league in touchdown passes that season with 28. This season, Matthew Stafford\u2019s 46 TD passes were tops in the NFL.)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also worth noting that while 2002 marked Brady\u2019s second season as a starter, he had the benefit of sitting for almost all of his rookie season of 2000. Brady made his 20th start in the NFL (including postseason) at the age of 25, in his third season (Week 3 in 2002). <\/p>\n
Maye \u2014 who was born days before that 2002 season \u2014 made his 20th start in the NFL in Week 8 of the 2025 campaign. It was his second season in the league, and he was 23. The differences might seem negligible, but it makes a difference when comparing quarterbacks, particularly of different eras. The days of drafting a quarterback and having him sit behind a veteran were routine in the early days of the 21st century. Now, an accelerated learning process for many signal-callers is the norm. <\/p>\n
Brady vs. Maye: game-by-game<\/p>\n
Drake Maye outshined Tom Brady in Year 2 of their careers. Maye averaged 42 more total yards per game than Brady, accounted for six more touchdowns, and threw six fewer interceptions.<\/p>\n
Maye (72.0% comp., 4,394 passing, 450 rushing, 35 TDs)Brady (62.1% comp., 3,764 passing, 110 rushing, 29 TDs)Yards:PassingRushingTDs:PassingRushingInterceptionsBrady vs. Maye: game-by-game<\/p>\n
Drake Maye outshined Tom Brady in Year 2 of their careers. Maye averaged 42 more total yards per game than Brady, accounted for six more touchdowns, and threw six fewer interceptions.<\/p>\n
Maye (72.0% comp., 4,394 passing, 450 rushing, 35 TDs)Brady (62.1% comp., 3,764 passing, 110 rushing, 29 TDs)Yards:PassingRushingTDs:PassingRushingInterceptions<\/p>\n
Looking specifically at these numbers, it\u2019s important to consider strength of schedule and week-to-week opponents. The first three games of the 2002 season, the Patriots\u2019 offense was so powerful with Brady at the controls (they averaged 38 points on the way to a 3-0 start) that former New England receiver David Patten recalled a conversation with the young quarterback weeks into the season about the possibility of going undefeated. That obviously didn\u2019t happen, as the league caught up to Brady and the Patriots. (Witness the precipitous drop in Brady\u2019s numbers from Week 11 through Week 14, one that could coincide with a shoulder injury he sustained late in the year.) As for Maye, with the exception of a Week 14 loss to the Bills, his 2025 numbers were steady against one of the weakest schedules in the league<\/a>. <\/p>\n Expected points added<\/p>\n Maye stood at the top of the quarterback class in his second season in expected points added, a measure of how much each play improves a team\u2019s chances of scoring. In Brady\u2019s second season as a starter, he finished 21st out of 36 quarterbacks.<\/p>\n This is a great go-to statistical model for those who would make an argument for Maye as MVP in 2025. His work on third and fourth downs and in big moments really shines. You have to wait for careers to play out, but when you compare Maye to Brady, you could make an argument that Maye was more vital to the success of the 2025 Patriots than Brady was in 2002. Brady had difference-makers and future Hall of Famers around him, players such as Ty Law. While only time will tell what sort of legacy the 2025 roster will have, it\u2019s easy to say that Maye has been able to do more with less this season. <\/p>\n Long-yardage situations<\/p>\n In his second season, Drake Maye led 70 quarterbacks from 2025 and 2002 \u2014 Tom Brady\u2019s second full season as a starter \u2014 in expected points added on non-first-down plays with 10 or more yards to go with 45.3 EPA. He picked up a first down or touchdown on 33.6 percent of those plays. Tom Brady\u2019s EPA in 2002 was -15.6, and he picked up a first down or touchdown 17.8 percent of the time.<\/p>\n Total expected points addedLTG success percentage*2002 Tom BradySuccess pct: 17.8%EPA: -15.6Avg. yards gained: 5.52025 Drake MayeSuccess pct: 33.6%EPA: 45.3Avg. yards gained: 8.5Avg. yards gained8.53.8<\/p>\n This is where Maye has really excelled, benefitting from having an emerging pass catcher such as Kayshon Boutte, who averaged 16.7 yards per reception this season. While Maye certainly appears to best the 2002 Brady here, it\u2019s also important to remember that Brady\u2019s deep-ball ability improved over the second half of his career, when legends such as Randy Moss were added to the roster. Does Maye have the capacity to continue to ascend? Perhaps, especially given the Patriots have the offseason salary-cap space needed to add at the wide receiver position.<\/p>\n Crunch time<\/p>\n With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter or overtime in their second seasons, Brady\u2019s team scored on four out of six drives, while Maye\u2019s team scored on two out of four. Brady was 16 for 26 with nine first downs, one sack, and one touchdown. Maye was 12 for 17 with six first downs and three sacks.<\/p>\n Brady was in the nascent years of his career, but he still showed a knack for coming up big in two-minute situations in 2002. The Patriots won a pair of overtime games that season (against the Chiefs and Dolphins), and Brady led them to a wild road win over the Bears in which he threw two TD passes in the last three minutes of a 33-30 victory. Outside of road wins against the Bills and Ravens, Maye hasn\u2019t been called upon to lead a late comeback this season. <\/p>\n Top QBs in Year 2<\/p>\n How Drake Maye compares to a few other top quarterbacks in their second NFL season.<\/p>\n Total expected points added<\/p>\n Yards: Passing Rushing TDs: Passing Rushing<\/p>\n Quarterbacks mature and develop at different rates, but it\u2019s clear Maye is ahead of the curve in several important statistical measurements. It\u2019s worth noting that all of the quarterbacks in this group took a sizable statistical leap from Year 2 to 3. We\u2019ll see if Maye\u2019s numbers might level off, or if he\u2019s capable of raising the ceiling. It\u2019s also important to keep your offense healthy. Outside of running back Antonio Gibson, the Patriots didn\u2019t suffer any major injuries to their offensive skill position players this season. You need to have an excellent quarterback, but a little luck also doesn\u2019t hurt. <\/p>\n The MVP race<\/p>\n Maye held his own in yards, touchdowns, and interceptions against the other favorites for MVP in 2025.<\/p>\n Total expected points added<\/p>\n Yards: Passing Rushing TDs: Passing Rushing<\/p>\n There were two distinct camps this season when it came to the MVP debate: Team Maye or Team Stafford. The numbers seemed to favor Maye, but many outside New England (including Brady) made an argument for Stafford taking the prize as something akin to a lifetime achievement award. Maye said at the end of the regular season that he has other thoughts on his mind, that it was an \u201chonor\u201d just to be in the conversation. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve told everybody who has said some things in the locker room, \u2018It\u2019s us. It\u2019s not just me, it\u2019s us in the locker room.\u2019 It\u2019s really a team deal, I think,\u201d he said late last month. \u201cThey say \u2018player,\u2019 but I think wins help that. So obviously, there\u2019s been some great seasons around the league from a lot of players, and it\u2019s an honor, but also at the same time, we\u2019ve got work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Copy edited by Robert Fedas. Photo illustration by John Hancock. Tom Brady photo by Jim Davis\/Globe Staff, Drake Maye photo by Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New England loves a good generational sports argument. Ted Williams or David Ortiz? 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