Imagine stepping onto the biggest stage of your career, only to be told that nearly everyone is betting against you. That’s exactly what New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye faced heading into Super Bowl LX. But here’s where it gets controversial: his quarterbacks coach, Ashton Grant, decided to fuel the fire by reminding Maye that a staggering 48 out of 58 ESPN experts predicted a Seattle Seahawks victory. Bold move, right? And this is the part most people miss—sometimes, the best motivation comes from proving the doubters wrong. If you’re curious about those predictions, you can check them out here (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47768202/super-bowl-2026-predictions-experts-pick-seahawks-patriots-score-mvp).
Maye, however, is no stranger to adversity. From the media spotlight on his recently healed shoulder injury (https://nesn.com/2026/02/patriots-injury-report-confirms-great-news-for-drake-maye/) to the widespread skepticism about his team’s chances (https://nesn.com/2026/02/national-media-fuels-patriots-underdog-status-with-super-bowl-picks/), he’s had plenty of fuel for his fire. Oh, and let’s not forget the heart-wrenching moment he lost the NFL MVP title by just one vote to Matthew Stafford (https://nesn.com/2026/02/patriots-drake-maye-narrowly-misses-out-on-2025-nfl-mvp-one-vote/). Talk about motivation!
Here’s the real question: Is Grant’s tactic of using external doubt as a motivator a stroke of genius or a risky gamble? After all, not every player thrives under pressure. But for Maye, who’s already battled through injury and near-misses, it might just be the spark he needs. The Patriots and Seahawks will settle the score on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET (https://nesn.com/tag/super-bowl-lx/). By then, we’ll know whether Grant’s strategy paid off—or backfired.
What do you think? Is using doubt as motivation a smart move, or does it risk adding unnecessary pressure? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author
Keagan Stiefel (https://nesn.com/author/kstiefel/), a UMass-Amherst alum and self-proclaimed NFL Draft nerd, brings his passion for the game to every piece he writes. Follow him on Twitter (https://twitter.com/KeaganStiefel) for more insights and occasional internet debates. Featured image via Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images.
