New England Patriots Head Coach Says Offensive Line Issues Don't Determine QB Decision

The New England Patriots are less than two weeks away from the regular season, with one very big question still looming.

As of today, the quarterback battle question still remains unsolved , though it does seem to be pointing in the direction of the veteran Jacoby Brissett. Drake Maye has shown serious flashes, but there is one glaring issue that could keep him off the field early, and it's not something that's within his control.

The issues along the offensive line may discourage the team from throwing Maye into the fire right away, but Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo will not admit that publicly. Mayo appeared on WEEI after the effort against Washington and said that the offensive line issues would impact whoever the quarterback is.

"I would say you always want to support a rookie quarterback, no matter who it is, with the great O-line and receivers that can catch the ball and make things right and run and make big plays, all those things," Mayo said . Right now, the O-line is continuing to try to gel. Pre-snap penalties aside, I thought they did some good things last night as well, especially in a run game. But to your point, you want those guys, you want the quarterback to feel comfortable back there no matter who it is."

Mayo went on to say that as the season goes on, the level of play from the offensive line must improve.

"Now, in saying that, when you ask me what success looks like, it’s that we just get better each and every week and that we’re trending in the right way," Mayo said. We should be a better football team in October than we are in September or November than we are in October. And that’s the plan. And if we do that and we’re playing good football at the end of the year, and the O-line and really everyone, defensively, offensively, and special teams that we’re playing great complementary football and that we’re winning football games."