The New England Patriots reached Super Bowl LX after a gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos, but concerns about quarterback Drake Maye‘s health have sparked discussion among fans and analysts alike.
The rookie appeared to tweak his throwing shoulder on a third-quarter scramble at Empower Mile High, drawing attention from observers about whether he’ll be fully ready for the NFL’s biggest stage.
And head coach Mike Vrabel addressed the situation during a media session, offering measured comments but leaving some uncertainty about his starter’s condition.
“@_ChrisCurtis asked Mike Vrabel about ‘internet doctors’ saying Drake Maye hurt his shoulder on Sunday,” reported Tom Carroll on X.com.
“‘Curtis: “Is he 100% healthy?” Carroll continued. ‘Vrabel: “There’s not a player on our team that’s 100% healthy.”‘”
CC: “Is he healthy enough to play at a high level?” Carroll added.
“MV: ‘I would imagine we’ll go through the injury report, and whenever we have to turn that in, we’ll turn it in. But nobody’s 100%. This will be our 21st game.'”
Vrabel emphasized that the team would follow normal injury-report procedures, noting that few players enter championship games completely unscathed.
For now, the Patriots are leaning on their “road warrior” identity as they prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks, with all eyes on whether Maye will be limited in the most important game of his young career.
Drake Maye defied Mike Vrabel to take Patriots to Super Bowl 60
During the final drive against Denver, Maye carried the offense, showcasing both poise and improvisation despite snow and a tough defense.
Facing 3rd-and-5, he executed a fake handoff, rolled left, and evaded linebacker Jonah Elliss to gain a critical first down and essentially seal the win.
Offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury admitted he didn’t know the play in advance. “I hit my block, and all the defenders started running the other way. I’m like, ‘What? Oh my God.'”
“After the game, Drake‘s like, ‘I debated telling you guys if I was gonna [keep] it or not. But I just decided not to,'” he added, showing the quarterback’s decisiveness and confidence under pressure.
He also scored the Patriots‘ only touchdown on a key rushing play following a turnover, while kicker Andy Borregales‘ 23-yard field goal provided the decisive margin.
The performance highlighted Maye’s mobility and clutch instincts, making him the second-youngest quarterback to reach the NFL’s final game, despite lingering questions about his full health.
Vrabel maintained that the team is prepared for any scenario, but the quarterback’s heroics demonstrate that New England’s offense can still function effectively as they head into Super Bowl LX against Seattle.
Fans in the United States can watch Super Bowl 60 from 18:30 ET/15:30 PT at the Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
NBC and Peacock will provide watching options, whilst Bad Bunny and Green Day will perform on the night of February 8.
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