Patriots provide injury update on QB Drake Maye ahead of...

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, who has tossed four touchdown passes and no interceptions in the playoffs, deserves credit for helping Seattle reach this point. Maye, though, was named a league MVP finalist after tossing the third-most touchdown passes in the league in the regular season (31 in 17 games). Maye, 23, hasn't shredded defenses in the playoffs. In three starts, the North Carolina Tar Heels product has completed 43-of-77 passes (55.8%, below average) for 533 yards, four TD passes and two interceptions. The unimpressive numbers came against three of the league's best defenses. The Patriots played the Los Angeles Chargers (19.8 points per game against, No. 8 in the NFL), the Houston Texans (17.3 PPGA, No. 3 in the NFL) and the Broncos (18.5 PPGA, No. 4 in the NFL). Maye threw for just 86 yards in the AFC Championship Game, but the weather conditions were better suited for throwing snowballs, not footballs. Facing multiple stingy defenses should prepare Maye for Sunday's matchup against Seattle. Entering Super Bowl LX, the Seahawks have allowed the fewest points (17.1) and 11th-fewest passing yards (199.5). A healthy and battle-tested Maye gives New England a solid chance to win its seventh Super Bowl, which would be the most for any NFL franchise.