New England Patriots

"For me, on the biggest stage and a big game, and I had a lot of plays I wish I had back."

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FOXBOROUGH — For some NFL players, the best way to move forward after a crushing loss in the Super Bowl is to simply burn the tape and opt not to look back.

But for Drake Maye, a painful 29-13 loss doled out by the Seahawks still provided an opportunity for the 23-year-old quarterback to learn and grow as he tries to push the Patriots over the hump in 2026.

“I think you definitely take a peek at it,” Maye said Wednesday when asked if he’s rewatched game tape from that setback at Levi’s Stadium. “For me, on the biggest stage and a big game, and I had a lot of plays I wish I had back. I definitely watched it, and at such a young point in my career where I can still learn so much.”

Maye and the Patriots’ offense had an evening to forget against Seattle’s stout defense on Feb. 8.

The MVP runner-up had few answers to try and put Seattle on its heels — completing 27-of-43 throws for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. ​

Maye was hardly aided by his offensive line, as Seattle sacked him six times and hit him 11 other times. But, the second-year signal-caller also had several plays he’d like to have back, especially with his two picks — both of which came in the fourth quarter.

“You can learn things and learn about the game,” Maye said. “So, I think there’s definitely some parts that, maybe throws that I maybe skip, or now I want to watch that again. But there’s definitely the game, I think you learn so much from, mistakes that you make yourself.”

Defensive tackle Milton Williams understands the highs and lows that come with the Super Bowl, having won a title with the Eagles in 2025 before coming up short with New England the very next year.

Much like Maye, the 27-year-old defensive lineman stressed that the Patriots should be proactive when it comes to learning from last year’s defeat at the hands of Seattle.

“You always think about the plays that you miss, the plays you could have capitalized on. Those stick with you forever,” Williams said. “On a big stage like that, not getting the job done, you just kind of replay those plays in your mind. … It’s just fuel for the next day.”

“Obviously, with a lot of younger players, just getting that experience, and learning and growing from the mistakes that were made last year, I feel like everybody can continue to get better, and if we all get better, we’ll eliminate that one or two plays that hurt us,” he added.

Maye, Williams, and the Patriots will have an opportunity to rectify last season’s loss to Seattle in the coming months, as New England will open the 2026 season with a Week 1 showdown against the Seahawks on the road at Lumen Field.

“I think it’s a chance for us to get some extra motivation during training camp,” Maye said of September’s Super Bowl rematch. “Starting off with [a] bang like that, a chance to get an opponent that left a bad taste in our mouth. So, I think it’s something for us that’s going to really make us work.

“We’ve got to bring it Week 1 on the road in a tough environment. They’re going to be hanging their banner, and that’s the part of it. So, I think it’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a tough task. So, it’ll be something for us to get some extra motivation and make training camp better.”