FOXBORO — Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt believes the Patriots are “getting closer” to producing a complete performance on offense.

The Patriots’ offense has looked much better since Drake Maye took over for Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback, but they’re still averaging just 16.5 points per game (30th in the NFL) and have yet to eclipse 25 points in a game. Meanwhile, nine NFL teams are averaging 25 or more points per game.

Related Articles

Patriots get good news at Thursday practice before Dolphins game

Callahan: I’ve seen enough — Patriots QB Drake Maye is the real deal

Potential Patriots starter limited in return to practice

Drake Maye coming off best start but best is yet to come for Patriots rookie

Christian Barmore among 2 Patriots missing at practice Wednesday, Cole Strange returns

“There’s definitely some areas we still need to improve in,” Van Pelt said. “We highlighted for our offense the red zone. Gotta score touchdowns when we get down there. And really short yardage. We’ve got to be better in those situations there. We had a chance in fourth-and-1, and went back to fourth-and-6.

“Those are two areas, and then taking care of the football. That’s the one area we said where have we improved over the last four or five games? We’ve improved a lot in a lot of areas. Where we haven’t is in the turnover margin. So we have to be diligent taking care of the football.”

Maye has been the Patriots’ best offensive player since taking over the starting role in Week 6, but he has had an issue with turnovers. He’s turned the ball over in four of six starts, and in one of the two starts without a turnover, he played just one quarter before entering concussion protocol.

Maye also leads qualified quarterbacks in PFF’s turnover-worthy play rate.

Van Pelt did specify that Maye’s game-clinching interception at the end of the Sunday’s 28-22 loss to the Rams was on wide receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas, not the QB.

“We were trying to put stress on the field safety there. So we had Pop running down the middle, and I think (Kayshon) Boutte up on the outside on the conversion. So that’s a 2-on-1 ball on the safety. And something we talked about, just weren’t on the same page with Pop as far as when that ball was going to come up.

“I think the read was right. I think Pop looks a little bit earlier and he gets his head back to catch the ball. So again, just growing pains of a young offense and young players. We just need to continue to coach off of our mistakes and not make them again. But the ball went to the right spot. I just think we just weren’t on the same page.”

Maye is 29-of-39 for 225 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions when the Patriots use play action, but so far those situations have been few and far between.

Of 40 qualified quarterbacks, Maye’s play-action rate of 20.5% ranks just 30th.

“We gotta run the ball better. I mean, that was kind of the thought process there,” Van Pelt said of the Patriots’ low play-action rate. “Our drop-back pass game’s come a long the way. So feel really comfortable there. It’s where you spend the time. We spend a lot of time in the drop-back game. We’re benefiting from that. So (play action is) definitely still part of our game — 10-to-12 of those are on call sheet each week. Try to get as many as we can called. Sometimes the game dictates that you can’t use your run action, play action as much, but it’s definitely part of our offense.”