Breaking down some of the 12 minus plays (plus the interception penalty of an additional -1) — and a few where I didn't even penalize Drake Maye — I ascribed to the quarterback, which led to his worst-ever grade under my scoring (only 29 dropbacks hurt the percentage) in the win over the Steelers:
1-10-PIT 34 (11:32) D.Maye pass short left to R.Stevenson to PIT 31 for 3 yards (N.Herbig). FUMBLES (N.Herbig), RECOVERED by PIT-P.Wilson at PIT31.
So I did not dock Maye for this play, but I could have, as Dan Orlovsky explains better than I could. Basically, Eli Raridon is the No. 1 on this play and comes wide open, perhaps for a touchdown, but Maye bails on the play and takes the acceptable checkdown to Rhamondre Stevenson (although Maye could stand to throw it a little harder to give the back more time to prepare for the defense).
Look at Maye’s right foot
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) September 22, 2026
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1-10-PIT 49 (10:17) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to R.Gilliam.
Pressure is not much of a factor until the very end of the play, and Maye has plenty of options. This is the first of two examples where Maye could throw the Cover 2 hole shot to Kyle Williams, but Maye turns it down. If that's Kayshon Boutte, does Maye turn it down as well? I don't know, but I've seen him make this throw by tossing a howitzer. In any event, Maye's footwork is terrible on the checkdown to Reggie Gilliam, and Maye sails the pass.
3-5-PIT 44 (9:26) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at NE 46 for -10 yards (J.Ramsey).
PENALTY on PIT-A.Highsmith, Defensive Offside, 4 yards, enforced at PIT 44 - No Play.
This ends up being no play, but I still count those plays if there's pressure (the QB's mind doesn't just erase it), and Maye goes down here. I put this on Maye because he identified another player as the Mike. If Jalen Ramsey blitzes from his linebacker spot, which he does, then Maye has to know that player is on him and scramble or throw the ball away. QBs should never take unneccessary shots, even if the play doesn't count.
1-11-PIT 11 (1:08) (Shotgun) D.Maye sacked at PIT 14 for -3 yards (sack split by D.Harmon and T.Watt). NE-M.Onwenu was injured during the play.
This is a good play call against this zone defense — Hunter Henry to the flat, Mack Hollins curling around the linebacker — if Maye can get the linebacker to move toward Henry with some sort of fake toward the tight end (I've seen him do it last season). If Maye does that, Hollins is wide open and likely scores. But Maye doesn't do that, and he also doesn't throw Hollins open, so he attempts to