Barnwell on five important Week 3 losses and their aftermath — SkimNews
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- Drake Maye has six interceptions in three games this season after tossing just eight picks in nine games against top-15 defenses across all of 2025, and is now 2-of-9 on tight-window throws with three picks after completing 47.7% of such passes last year.
- New England Patriots fell to the Jaguars in Jacksonville as Maye committed multiple turnovers, with the team now missing A.J. Brown (high-ankle sprain) and right guard Mike Onwenu (fractured ankle), plus Stefon Diggs.
- Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Bills despite forcing five turnovers and posting a plus-four turnover margin — snapping Jim Harbaugh's career 11-0 record in such games across Stanford, Michigan, the 49ers, and the Chargers.
- Panthers, Texans, and Chargers all held fourth-quarter leads but failed to hold them in the Week 3 Sunday afternoon slate.
- Seattle Seahawks lost to a previously 0-2 Commanders team forced to start backup Drew Lock after Sam Darnold's early injury.
- The Patriots are already calling designed runs on first down nearly 57% of the time (ninth-highest rate in the NFL), with Barnwell suggesting they could lean even further into the run game to help Maye.
Why it matters: The Patriots entered 2026 as defending AFC champs, but Maye has six interceptions in three games after throwing eight total against top defenses in 2025. With Brown and Onwenu on IR and the 3-0 Bills up next, New England's title window is closing early. The Chargers' loss also snapped Harbaugh's career 11-0 mark in plus-four turnover games despite forcing five Buffalo turnovers.
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