What happened: Mike Reiss noted during Sunday's NFL action that opposing pass rushers failed to collapse the pocket around Drake Maye, leaving him unhurried in the backfield. Entering Sunday's contest, his defense had held five consecutive opponents scoreless on their opening drives before surrendering first-possession points for the first time in 2026.

Why it matters: Clean pass protection contrasts with earlier stretches this fall when Drake Maye ran into a sack on Sept. 20 and threw an interception the same day. Per ESPN, the former North Carolina standout completed 354 of 492 passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 17 games in 2025.

What to watch: Sustaining that pass-blocking efficiency across all four quarters remains key as the 2026 regular-season schedule continues.