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Watching Josh Allen is ‘an awesome experience’ for Drake Maye
"Josh probably got a couple [pounds] on him and can kinda throw his shoulder in there probably a little bit more than I'd want Drake to."
Gillette Stadium will host one of the more highly anticipated games of the Patriots‘ season this Sunday, as New England takes on the Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots have already beaten the Bills 23-20 back in October, and now have a chance to clinch the AFC East with a victory in their rematch this weekend.
However, while fans watch New England try to take home the title, they will also have eyes on an individual battle in this game: Drake Maye vs. reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen.
Since getting drafted in 2024, Maye has garnered comparisons to Allen due to his arm strength, size, and ability to extend plays with his legs. The Ringer founder Bill Simmons even called Maye a ‘mini Josh Allen‘ before the season started.
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Maye believes that these similarities can help him prepare throughout the season, as the teams play many of the same opponents, although he believes he still has a way to go before reaching Allen’s skill-level.
“It’s an awesome experience for me to watch games, defenses that he’s played and see how they handled him,” Maye said while on WEEI on Sunday. “He’s at a different level than I am, with how defenses are really honed in on stopping him. Maybe a laid-back variation of what they’d do for me.”
While these comparisons between Allen and Maye are going around, Vrabel thinks it’s important for Maye to realize the ways in which they are different.
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“They’re both really good at what they do,” Vrabel told reporters when asked about Allen. “Josh probably got a couple [pounds] on him and can kinda throw his shoulder in there probably a little bit more than I’d want Drake to. But I think they’re both great competitors. I got a lot of respect for Josh and his ability to make something out of nothing.”
Vrabel seemingly wants to protect his quarterback, and he is right in these differences. Maye is an inch shorter and about 15 pounds lighter than Allen, and this show in their stats.
While Maye is ahead of Allen passing-wise in yards, TDs, and completion percentage this year, Allen’s got him beat on the rushing side. He has run for 487 yards and 12 TDs, compared to Maye’s 319 with two TDs.
Heading into Sunday, Vrabel knows these aspects of Allen’s game are something to keep an eye on.
“[It’s a] huge challenge going against a quarterback that’s under control, has got command, and just doesn’t look panicked or rattled when you rush him,” Vrabel continued. “Just an excellent, obviously MVP, quarterback.”
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