For the Patriots, the concern in Munich was never just the scoreboard. It was what happened to Drake Maye after a promising opening possession turned into an early injury scare, with the quarterback heading to the locker room after a first-quarter sack by Aidan Hutchinson.
Before Sunday, Maye had appeared on the Patriots' injury report throughout the week, but he still participated fully in all three practices. That made the opening drive feel encouraging rather than fragile. New England moved deep into Detroit territory, and Maye connected with Mack Hollins for 26 yards on a flea-flicker before the drive eventually settled into a 33-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Then came the play that changed the tone. On third-and-goal in the first quarter, Aidan Hutchinson brought Maye down for a 2-yard loss, and the quarterback headed to the locker room with an ankle injury. Adam Schefter reported that Maye was going to the locker room injured, and the Patriots were left waiting to see whether their starter would be able to return.
What it means for New England
The immediate question is simple: whether Drake Maye can come back, and if not, how New England adjusts on the fly. The bigger issue is that the Patriots had already shown they could move the ball early, only to lose the player who was driving the offense. That is the danger of an injury like this in an international game: the setting changes, the rhythm changes, and suddenly the backup plan matters a lot more than the first 15 scripted plays.
There is also the context of Maye's right shoulder issue before the game, which makes the ankle injury feel even more significant. One hit does not define a season, but a quarterback leaving after a sack from Aidan Hutchinson is the kind of moment that forces a team to rethink everything in real time. For the Patriots, the first quarter in Munich was a reminder that even a clean start can turn quickly when the quarterback is the one walking off the field.
