Drake Maye Mirrors Lamar Jackson’s Second Year in the NFL as MVP Race Heats Up

The exciting quarterback matchup between Drake Maye of the New England Patriots and Lamar Jackson ended with injury for the Baltimore Ravens star. While Lamar hasn’t been at the top of his game this season, Maye is exploding. New England’s 24-28 victory over the Ravens on Sunday is another feather in Maye’s cap, and his performance in his second year is eerily similar to Lamar’s in his sophomore season.

Yes, we are talking about Jackson‘s MVP-winning campaign back in 2019. In the breakthrough year, he finished with a passer rating of 113.3, throwing for 3,127 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only 6 interceptions in 15 games. That season, Jackson helped propel the Ravens to a 14-2 record and led the NFL in touchdown passes and total touchdowns.

Fast forward to 2025, and Maye is putting up very similar numbers. He has posted a passer rating of 109.1, with 3,567 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions in 14 games.

While his touchdown count isn’t as high as Jackson’s at this stage of the season in 2019, his passing yards and efficiency are right on track to be among the best in the league.

Just like Jackson in 2019, Maye is a major reason the Patriots are considered serious contenders this season. The Patriots are making a statement as one of the most consistent teams in 2025.

Their 12-3 record includes a perfect 7-0 road record, making them the only undefeated team on the road in 2025. And Maye is certainly in the MVP conversations, though it remains a tight race. His chances depend on how he finishes out the regular season.

His chances depend on how he finishes out the regular season. If Maye continues to rack up yards, keep his interceptions low, and lead the Patriots deep into the playoffs, potentially to a No. 1 seed, his MVP candidacy will become even more compelling. The strong performance against Jackson’s Ravens has given him a major boost, no doubt.