Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.) — The New England Patriots demolished the New York Giants 33-15 on Monday night, delivering a performance that exposed just how far apart these franchises have drifted.

Quarterback Drake Maye orchestrated the blowout with surgical precision, moving into pole position as the NFL MVP betting favorite. The Patriots sit atop the AFC. The Giants are unraveling, and this season shows no signs of getting better.

Drake Maye Operating at Another Level

Maye is simply too fast for the game right now. The young quarterback sees the field with speed and ease that belies his inexperience, threading passes into tight windows and launching downfield bombs with stunning accuracy.

24-of-31 for 282 yards and two touchdowns—that's what Maye produced against a defense that had no answer. He also rushed for 15 yards.

The most telling part: Maye is doing this without elite receiver weapons, without an elite tight end, and without two starting offensive linemen. His performance levels the conversation about Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes struggling without support. Maye isn't struggling at all.

His 33-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Kyle Williams epitomized his mastery—a perfectly placed ball along the sideline where Williams could toe-tap into the end zone.

Giants QB Dart Ignores Injury Warnings

Before the game, Giants quarterback Daniel Dart told ESPN's Eli Manning he'd be smarter about scrambling after his concussion recovery. That promise lasted about one game.

Dart took one of the most brutal hits seen on a quarterback in years—a bone-rattling collision from Patriots linebacker Christian Eliss as Dart scrambled along the sideline for extra yards.

"He told me that if he was near the sidelines, he would run out of bounds. He lied to me," Manning said on ESPN's "Manning Cast."

If Dart can't stay healthy, how does New York possibly turn this organization around?

Special Teams Told the Story

The Patriots' dominance extended beyond quarterback play.

Cornerback Marcus Jones returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown, his 75th career punt return—a milestone that made him the all-time leader in punt return yards per attempt at 14.6 yards. Jones is trending toward all-time great status, though he rarely gets the recognition he deserves.

Meanwhile, Giants kicker Younghoe Koo delivered perhaps the most embarrassing moment of the night: he chunked his field goal attempt, striking the turf but whiffing on the ball entirely. Think of it as a golfer's shank in the NFL.

The Patriots also recovered a fumble when they knocked out Giants kick returner Gunner Olszewski on a return, setting New England up at the 27-yard line.

Special teams didn't just win this game—they encapsulated how thoroughly outmatched the Giants were.

Patriots Emerging as AFC Contenders

The Patriots can realistically finish with the No. 1 seed, with Maye locking up his MVP candidacy over their next four games. Meanwhile, Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow could all miss the playoffs entirely.

Even in worst-case scenarios, New England has a clear path to the Super Bowl. Josh Allen and the Bills remain the biggest threat in their division, but the Patriots appear to have found their dynamic duo.

Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel have turned this franchise around at warp speed. They've gone from rebuilding rubble to potential Super Bowl contenders in one season.

What's Next

Patriots (11-2): Get a bye week to nurse injuries to left tackle Will Campbell and guard Jared Wilson, both sidelined for extended time. That rest comes before their biggest game of the season: a home matchup against Allen and the Bills, who can still win the AFC East.

Giants (2-11): Face a lowly Washington Commanders team next week, but Jayden Daniels' potential return makes even a third win unlikely. There's no salvaging this season. New York needs to start thinking about its next coach and top-5 draft picks.