SEATTLE -- Patriots quarterback Drake Maye called his three-interception performance "unacceptable" in a 13-10 season-opening loss to the Seahawks on Wednesday night, which included a game-sealing turnover in the end zone when New England was in position to attempt a tying field goal.
"That wasn't how I play football and how I want to represent my game and playing quarterback for the Patriots," he said.
With Seahawks starting quarterback Sam Darnold knocked out of the game early in the first quarter with a hip injury, the Patriots led 10-0 early in the third but squandered a chance for an upset in the Super Bowl LX rematch.
The Seahawks turned Maye's first two picks -- a deep ball to heavily covered receiver Romeo Doubs, which he said he forced, and what looked like a telegraphed throw over the middle to receiver Pop Douglas on third-and-14 -- into 10 fourth-quarter points.
Maye became just the second quarterback in the past 25 seasons to throw three interceptions in the fourth quarter of a season opener. Baker Mayfield, with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, is the other.
"I thought we had the game under control," said Maye, who finished 23 of 33 for 178 yards, with one touchdown and the three picks.
"I thought we had a good plan to try to start chipping away and be patient. Lost patience and it cost us -- decisions that cost us the game on my part, on my end. I vow to myself to be better and realize it's a long season. But at the same time, you can't have those. It's unacceptable."
Maye had just one game last season (including playoffs) in which he threw multiple interceptions -- Super Bowl LX.
Despite Maye's miscues, the Patriots put together a long drive late in the fourth quarter while trailing 13-10. They advanced to the Seahawks 16-yard line with 26 seconds remaining, well within kicker Andy Borregales' range to give them a chance to tie the score.
But on third-and-5, Maye was fading backward as he threw toward receiver Mack Hollins on the right side of the end zone, and Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe picked it off.
"It was something where we had a certain protection on, we were cutting [with offensive tackles], and I was trying to get rid of it," Maye said. "I realized Mack was there in the back and didn't put enough on it to get it out [of bounds]. It was just unacceptable. With a chance to send it to overtime at the worst, and the only thing you can do is turn the ball [for that not to happen] -- that's what I did."
Coach Mike Vrabel, who said the Patriots "want to be aggressive, not reckless" in those late-game situations, was asked his message to Maye.
"It's a long season; we're going to hold our head up high. We have nothing but the utmost confidence in him," said Vrabel, who shared a moment with Maye outside the locker room alongside his family after the game. "He's going to make a lot of plays for us."