Jim Harbaugh Praises ‘Effective’ Patriots QB Drake Maye Ahead Of Playoffs

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believes New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is the real deal.

Maye had a stellar season and finished the year right in the MVP conversation alongside Matthew Stafford. Heading into his first playoff game on Sunday against the Chargers, Harbaugh has plenty of praise for Maye.

“Just really effective in every part of the quarterback play,” Harbaugh said of Maye, via Boston.com. “Throwing with accuracy, throwing outside the numbers, deep, in the middle, athleticism, poise, toughness, durability… A great year for him by any quarterback standard.”

Maye finished the year throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions as he helped New England to a 14-3 record and the AFC’s No. 2 seed.

Ahead of the playoff game against the Chargers, Maye said he likes the way the Patriots have been playing.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” Maye said on Sunday postgame. “I think it takes everybody. It took everybody in that locker room, took every coach. I think it starts now.

“This was one of the goals, home playoff games, and this is what we wanted. It’s win or go home, and the mentality, nothing changes from that standpoint, but I think we just stay playing like us. We’ve built this identity and play to it, and I think good things happen.”

The Patriots are a 3.5-point favorite to beat the Chargers on Sunday. Kick-off is set for 8 p.m. ET.