"He’s the better qb": Patriots fans react as team benches Drake Maye for Joe Milton

NFL fans flooded social media with mixed reactions after the New England Patriots benched rookie quarterback Drake Maye for Joe Milton III. The surprising switch came after just one series in their Sunday matchup against the Buffalo Bills at a sparsely filled Gillette Stadium.

The quarterback change sparked immediate debate on X (formerly Twitter). While some fans celebrated Milton's arrival, others questioned Maye's future with the franchise.

Maye's only series proved brief and disappointing. It started with a two-yard handoff to Antonio Gibson. Guard Layden Robinson's false start penalty followed, attributed to center Cole Strange's late snap. Maye then missed a short pass to Austin Hooper before Von Miller sacked him to end the drive.

Milton dramatically seized his opportunity. The sixth-round rookie led a 55-yard scoring drive, completing all six passes for 51 yards. He capped it with a one-yard touchdown run after faking a handoff to Gibson, celebrating with an acrobatic backflip.

Some fans immediately declared Milton the superior quarterback;

"He's the better qb," one supporter proclaimed.

Others questioned Maye's status,

"Drake maye who?" one fan asked.

"Drake Maye is a bust," a third fan said.

The conversation shifted to predictions:

"Drake Maye era already over in New England," one fan declared.

"Drake maye is no joe milton," another compared.

"My body is ready for the Drake Maye vs. Joe Milton discourse," one said.

What does the Drake Maye switch mean for the Patriots' draft position?

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to throw against the Buffalo Bills during their NFL game. (Credits: IMAGN)

Starter Drake Maye concluded his rookie campaign with solid numbers: 2,276 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His ground game impressed, too, adding 421 rushing yards and two scores. However, protection issues plagued his season as he was sacked 33 times.

The Bills also made an early quarterback change, pulling Josh Allen after just one snap. Mitch Trubisky later tied the game 7-7 with a three-yard touchdown pass to Ray Davis on fourth-and-goal.

The Patriots entered Week 18 holding the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but a win could drop them as low as fourth overall. The sparse crowd's muted reaction to Milton's touchdown suggested that many fans understood these draft implications.