FOXBOROUGH – Let me be perfectly clear before you read anything else.

We here at New England Football Journal (and yes I’m speaking for John on this one) believe Drake Maye is the face of the franchise for as long as humanly possible. He’s the next guy for the New England Patriots.

However, after such an epic meltdown in the fourth quarter one week ago tonight in Seattle, those raising concerns about his growth in Year 3 are more than warranted with their criticism.

The three interceptions in a span of like 25 minutes in real time were alarming, but the third one was the scariest. It was a rookie throw and decision.

Now, with the majority of the fanbase still behind him – but some quickly starting to jump off the bandwagon entering the Gillette opener – Maye needs to show that he is indeed capable of rebounding against another very good, savvy defense when the Steelers roll in.

“Of course not. That’s what playing quarterback or playing in this league is all about. It is about our players having the knowledge, the skill and the repetitions to make great split-second decisions,” Mike Vrabel said on Wednesday when asked about the fine line for a quarterback when it comes to checking down or trying to make a big play.

“I think that there is a difference between – we have said this – being reckless and being aggressive. We want to be aggressive. That’s how we want to play. But we also have to make great decisions when there is a look or something that maybe would take a certain play away.”

After practice, Maye was asked about that balance of recklessness and aggressiveness.

“Yeah, I think he said that since I got here and then he became the head coach. He’s always wanted to be aggressive and not reckless and I think there are times and places for everything,” Maye said. “Realizing that it just depends on the flow of the game, how we’re doing offensively, what the score is, and knowing that sometimes a few plays we look back on can change the tide of a game or can change the outcome of a game.

“Realizing when those are and when sometimes we’re in field goal range, or it’s third-and-long and we’re trying to get into field goal range – we did that once in Seattle. Another time when we are in longer distance just try to make it third and manageable and try to manage the game and be the conductor.

“He always tells me, “be the conductor” and “be the guy making the right plays and leading the offense.”

With questions starting to swirl and his fifth-year option looming (that’s certainly getting picked up), Maye sure sounds like he’s ready to be ‘that guy’ for the next decade while continuing to grow from his mistakes.

But, until there’s more consistency against the better teams in the league, there will always be the doubters.

After all, the Brady Bar that’s permanently set in New England is hard to live up to.

“I think based on last week I need to elevate my game in general. I’m trying to be the best I can back there and strive to have games like last year where I am close to completing every pass,” Maye added when asked specifically about needing to elevate guys around him with A.J. Brown going down.

“You always talk in the quarterback room of being dialed in and being into practice and starting that in practice. So, I wouldn’t say just because A.J.’s out that I’m trying to become this elevation. I think that takes everybody.

“It’s a team effort and realizing that a lot of guys need to step up and do extra things and strain a little bit harder for us to keep going in the right direction.”