Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Maye's turnovers: When Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was recently discussing goals for rookie quarterback Drake Maye, he presented what was essentially a math equation.
Over a 17-game season, the objective would be to have no more than 10 interceptions, assuming two or three are due to inevitable tipped balls. Van Pelt made sure it was clear that he wasn't encouraging turnovers but acknowledging that game situations -- such as playing from behind -- often result in needing to be riskier than the norm.
Entering the Patriots' home game against the Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS), the math isn't adding up in Maye's favor -- even as he has been a silver lining in the team's challenging 3-9 season.
Maye has thrown an interception in each of the past four games, which is the longest streak among rookie quarterbacks this season. His seven interceptions overall are the most of any rookie, despite not being named the starter until Week 6.
Add in four lost fumbles, the last of which came in a Week 12 loss at Miami in which he didn't secure the football after a blocking miscue in front of him, and that's 11 turnovers in seven games.
"At the end of the day, you can't turn the ball over. We're losing the turnover margin in most of the games with me back there, so that's something I need to improve on," Maye said.
The Colts present a notable challenge in that regard, as their 17 takeaways (8 interceptions, 9 fumble recoveries) are the eighth-highest total in the NFL.
Overall, the Colts enter Sunday's game with a minus-1 turnover differential, while the Patriots are minus-7, tied for 26th in the NFL.
In assessing each of his interceptions this season, Maye, who hasn't been helped by shaky offensive line and receiver play, added that he doesn't view the majority as careless decisions. Last week, he seemed more disappointed in the lost fumble because he was holding the football unprotected with one hand as the rush closed on him.
For their part, coaches are balancing the promise Maye has shown with an acknowledgment that he can play cleaner.
"It's very easy to forget that he's a rookie quarterback. What I will say is the one thing that he is definitely going to improve going forward is just the turnovers, and we can't play that way. He understands that," coach Jerod Mayo said.
Added Van Pelt: "There are some mistakes he'll make just from experience [and] he'll get more reps in certain plays and understanding the concepts. But he continues to develop and does a really nice job. Just have to take care of the football."
2. Polk's new place: Rookie receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, the second-round pick who has struggled to emerge, has a new home in the locker room. His stall is now next to veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne, as he takes over Tyquan Thornton's old spot.
"It's like Jacoby [Brissett] being next to Drake [Maye], the vet and the rookie, and it's kind of the same thing here," said Bourne, now in his eighth NFL season. "To be close to him, I'm going to keep encouraging him, speaking gems to him, speaking life into him. I don't know if they do it on purpose, but things happen like they're supposed to happen."
3. WR detail: One area to watch Sunday is if Maye gets more support from his pass-catchers in critical situations when it comes to attention to detail. In last Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, it looked like Maye threw behind receiver DeMario Douglas on a critical third-and-9 play, but Van Pelt shared that Douglas' route was supposed to be run at 5 yards and not 3. And later on an unsuccessful fourth-and-4 throw to Bourne along the sideline, Bourne acknowledged his route wasn't precise enough.
The plays and follow-up comments served up a reminder that what often looks like an error by the quarterback isn't always the case. "It comes down to route running," Bourne said.
4. Fewer Drake escapes: Since Maye rushed for 95 yards on eight scrambles against the Titans on Nov. 3, Van Pelt has noticed a change from opposing defenses. "Probably more containing him in the pocket, not being so reckless with rush lanes and giving him areas to escape," he said.
Indeed, Maye has totaled 77 yards on 12 scrambles in the three games since, with Colts coach Shane Steichen noting: "He's third in the league in scrambles for yards, so he's doing a good job finding a lane if he does have one to take off ... so we have to do a good job of keeping him in the pocket."
5. Layden at LG: The release of starting left guard Michael Jordan on Tuesday opens the door for 2024 fourth-round pick Layden Robinson to step in -- and will give the team a chance to evaluate if he's a long-term fit there.
Robinson played solely right guard at Texas A&M and through his initial stretch with the Patriots this year, but with veteran Mike Onwenu locked in at right guard, the powerful Robinson (6-foot-3, 311 pounds) recently began working more on the left side. Robinson described it as someone being right-handed learning to write with their left hand. "You get used to it the more you do it," he said.
As for Robinson's playing style, Onwenu summed it up succinctly: "He's a mauler and a brawler."
6. Defense in draft?: ESPN draft analyst Field Yates unveiled an updated top 25 prospects ranking on Friday, with four of the top five playing defense (assuming Colorado's Travis Hunter is viewed as a receiver more than a cornerback).
It sparks a Patriots-based question: Despite top needs at left tackle and receiver, would they be reaching for need with a top-five pick and be better served picking a defender?
7. Schooler's sacks: Core special teamer Brenden Schooler is embracing his niche role on defense, and with two sacks in his seven snaps (ranks fourth on the team in sacks), it led to a lighthearted moment behind the scenes with outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, who told Schooler he's now only 198 away from Bruce Smith's all-time NFL record of 200 sacks.
"Everyone's having fun with it," Schooler said.
8. Late bye: Both the Patriots and Colts have bye weeks after Sunday's game, joining the Broncos, Commanders, Ravens and Texans as teams with the NFL's latest possible bye. It's a rare setup, as they'll return to play just four regular-season games, with the Patriots knowing the playoffs aren't in their future.
Said one Patriots player this week: "It's different. You definitely look forward to your bye week to reset, but at this point I kind of just want to go all the way through."
9. Baringer's gesture: Patriots punter Bryce Baringer had custom cleats made to memorialize late Michigan State punter Mike Sadler as part of the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" initiative.
In 2016, Sadler died in a single-car accident along with Nebraska punter Sam Foltz. Baringer, who attended Michigan State from 2018 to 2023. won't be wearing the cleats in Sunday's game but wanted Sadler's mother, Karen, to have them.
"He was a very big role model for me, not just as a player, but as a person," Baringer said.
10. Did you know?: Maye (Patriots) and Anthony Richardson (Colts), who face each other Sunday, are the two youngest starting quarterbacks in the NFL; both are 22 years old, and Richardson is exactly 100 days older than Maye.
