Super Bowl LX: Emotional Maye admits Patriots’ defeat will ‘sting’ but insists he was not hindered by shoulder injury

Drake Maye admitted the New England Patriots’ defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX will “sting for a while” after a lacklustre performance in Santa Clara.

The Seahawks rode their defensive excellence to win 29-13 and claim the crown for the first time in 12 years against a Patriots team that defied expectations to reach the title game but fell short when it really mattered.

Quarterback Maye, whose build up was disrupted by an injury to his throwing shoulder, admitted the Seahawks were deserving winners.

“This hurts. It definitely hurts. They played better than us tonight,” he said. “They deserved to win that game. For the whole team and myself, what a journey it’s been for us. I love this team and those guys in the locker room. We left it all on the field and just came up short. We didn’t play our best, and that’s what happens. It’s going to sting for a while, but that’s what you sign up for.”

Patriots QB Maye not hindered by shoulder

Maye finished 27-of-43 for 295 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions but never generated enough consistent pressure on the excellent Seattle defense.

He was listed on the team’s injury report all week but insisted the shoulder hadn’t limited his throwing abilities.

“I think it would be hard to say that. I was feeling good enough to be out there,” he added. “I wouldn’t put the team in harm’s way to not be myself. Just didn’t make plays tonight.”

It’s okay to be disappointed – Patriots coach Vrabel

Although it ended in disappointment, it has been a brilliant season for the Patriots, who had little expectations coming in but have been transformed by NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel.

They finished the regular season 14-3 and Vrabel was quick to look at the bigger picture.

“I’m proud of everything that they did. I’m disappointed, just like they are,” he said. “I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program. And it’s OK to be disappointed. We have to be disappointed and upset together.

“And like I always do, I tell them I’m appreciative of them. I’m thankful. I’m grateful that I get to coach them. And we don’t want to be part of our identity as not being a front-runner. And so again, just like every year, somebody’s going to lose this game. And we have to remember what it feels like and make sure that it’s not repeated.”