Morning Sports Update
“They’re not giving him answers.”
Drake Maye and the Patriots offense during the Thursday night matchup vs. the Bears. AP Photo/David Banks
October 27, 2026 | 11:00 AM
4 minutes to read
Kurt Warner’s problem with the Patriots offense: Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner is a believer in Drake Maye’s talent. His problem, as he explained in great detail following the Patriots‘ recent 30-24 defeat in Chicago to the Bears, is more with New England’s plan. Or, to be more precise, the lack of a (pressure) plan.
“Obviously a close game, but you see all the opportunities missed by not having a pressure plan,” Warner began. The concept of a “pressure plan,” in his view, is having pre-snap adjustments ready for whichever players are blitzing. The Bears frequently showed a defensive pre-snap look with seven or eight players crowded at the line of scrimmage as if to signal a blitz.
Granted Maye finished the night 24-of-31 with 321 passing yards. Yet he was pressured for much of the game, with Chicago finishing with two sacks and six quarterback hits.
Warner picked a plethora of plays to show what he meant.
“This was what happened all night long for Drake Maye,” Warner added as he showed Maye being chased by a free rusher, “[he’s] trying to solve it, trying to come up with things on his own, because they’re not giving him answers.”
Now an analyst and commentator, Warner understands how intricate NFL offenses work. While Patriots fans remember him from New England’s victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, he famously emerged from undrafted obscurity to become a two-time NFL MVP.
At various points in his breakdown, Warner credited Maye’s ability to improvise and make plays in the circumstances.
“Now, the defensive back doesn’t do a great job here, and Drake does a great job of making him miss and making a play off of it, but [it was] another free hitter that’s going to come on Drake Maye. Saw it over, and over, and over again. This is the stuff that costs you games. Can’t count on your quarterback to bail you out all of the time.”
The blame, in Warner’s view, falls more on Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
“That’s my story every week: Have a pressure plan,” said Warner. “I do not understand why it is so hard for these schemes, and these coaches to go in with a pressure plan. You notice on these tapes. What is it? It’s identifying one guy. One guy creates a hot [read]. One guy creates a sight adjust. As long as we know who that is as a quarterback and wide receiver and a coach, and we can build in answers, we’re going to make positive plays and we’re not going to get beat with the blitz over and over and over again.”
Trivia: Per NBC Sports Boston, Mike Conley became the fourth oldest player to take the floor for the Celtics during his season debut on Monday. Can you name three players who rank above Conley on that list?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Two Hall of Fame centers, and one shooting guard who was originally drafted by the Celtics but spent most of his career with the Suns, Hawks, and Nets.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics defeated the Bulls 134-99 on Monday. Boston will be back in action on Tuesday, facing the Nets at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m.
The Bruins play the Hurricanes tonight in Carolina at 8 p.m.
The Revolution host the New York Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. New England will then play Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday at home, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
The Patriots face the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday at 4:25 p.m.
Also on Sunday, Legacy FC play their inaugural season finale on the road against Angel City FC at 5 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
World Series Game 3: The Brewers crushed the Rays 10-1 in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday. Milwaukee now leads the best-of-seven matchup 3-0, with Game 4 set to get underway at Tropicana Field on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Brewers have never won the World Series.
On this day: In 2004, the Red Sox finally broke the 86-year “curse,” defeating the Cardinals in a four-game sweep to win the World Series.
Daily highlight: Payton Pritchard lit up the game in the third quarter of Monday’s Celtics win, typified by this quality sequence which (unsurprisingly) ended with a three-pointer.
Trivia answer: Robert Parish, Shaquille O’Neal and Joe Johnson
Hayden Bird
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
