Patriots’ New Era Begins: Jacoby Brissett Leads in Week 1 as Drake Maye Shows Strong Support

With the start of the NFL season, Jacoby Brissett has been chosen to lead the New England Patriots in Week 1, followed by rookie Drake Maye. It marks a new transition from the leading era by the Patriots, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady. In an added challenge to the season, the Patriots are pitched against the Cincinnati Bengals, which is now leading with the brilliant Joe Burrow.

North Carolina's Drake Maye was billed as the prospect with a big arm and one capable of extending plays prior to going to the NFL. The Patriots clearly believe he could be the quarterback of the future based on their selection of him. Third overall pick Drake Maye was a highly regarded young talent who was very vocal in support of Brissett, despite the two being considered competitive in the fight for the starting job.


Maye went out of his way to make sure to congratulate Brissett publicly and let him know he had his back. In equal measure, Brissett was impressed with Maye and extended the olive branch in return to cement a mutually respectful and friendly relationship.

After Jerod Mayo finally decided to stick with Brissett's experience and Maye congratulated him while reassuring him that 'he'd be there as his backup,' Brissett related to reporters: “It’s the same thing for him. Whatever he needs from me, I’ll do the same.”

Coming off of strong seasons in recent years, the Bengals sport one of the league's best at quarterback in Joe Burrow, and with one of the more formidable rosters in the NFL, this opener will indeed be a big challenge for New England.

The Patriots open with the tough test presented by the front-running Cincinnati Bengals, quarterbacked by Joe Burrow. That rough beginning speaks to the overall challenges that the team is likely to face during the coming season.

Given the rebuilding phase that the Patriots have currently embarked on, further coupled with the strength of their early-season opponents, the expectations within the team are modest. The Patriots are working their way through a new post-Belichick-and-Brady era by building up a young core and developing roles within the team. This includes adding new players and adapting their strategies under head coach Jerod Mayo, who has just begun his first couple of years as a head coach.