The Patriots’ future looks bright after another star-making preseason performance from rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

But the 2024 season might be tough to watch if head coach Jerod Mayo can’t fix his offensive line quickly.

Here’s everything we learned Sunday in the Patriots’ 20-10 Week 3 preseason loss to the Commanders.

1. QB situation more uncertain than ever

For almost two weeks now, rookie quarterback Drake Maye has looked better than veteran Jacoby Brissett. But as much as head coach Jerod Mayo insists that the better player will start Week 1, performance might not eventually settle the quarterback battle.

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For multiple reasons.

No. 1, Brissett injured his right shoulder while taking a sack on his first and only offensive series. Right guard Layden Robinson was driven back on the snap, which led left guard Sidy Sow to run into him on a pull. That means a free rusher came in to sack Brissett, driving him into the ground on the tackle.

Clearly, if Brissett is not healthy enough to play Week 1 against the Bengals, then he cannot start. And unless the Patriots chose to keep Bailey Zappe on the roster and start him, despite limited reps throughout the summer, it would mean Maye would be the Week 1 starter.

No. 2, if Brissett is healthy, there’s logic in starting him even if Maye is the better player, and that’s because the offensive line was absolutely atrocious in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Commanders.

And we’ll get into that later.

2. Maye was the right pick

There was a lot not to like from the Patriots on Sunday, and it started and ended with the performance from the offensive line. But Patriots fans should be feeling great after watching Maye operate under center on Sunday.

He looked the part of the third overall pick, going 13-of-25 for 125 yards with a touchdown. He also had a 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver K.J. Osborn nullified by one of eight first-half penalties by the offensive line.

There was a penalty that nullified this TD, but this play is a great window into some of the special traits Drake Maye brings to the table

(: @BenBrownPL) pic.twitter.com/clZ2q1NaFg

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 26, 2024

Maye showed poise, arm strength, athleticism and playmaking ability in his five drives. He also rushed three times for 17 yards.

One of his most impressive plays was a 29-yard strike to wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk after he maneuvered the pocket to evade pressure.

Maye cooking.

: #NEvsWAS on NBC/Peacock
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gGKWTMMHej

— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2024

Maye also showed promise in the Patriots Week 2 preseason loss to the Eagles.

The Patriots have shown patience with Maye, and when they feel he’s ready, he’ll start. He’ll bring excitement when that time comes.

3. Offensive line might be even worse than we thought

Two things can be true:

1. The Patriots’ offensive line was awful in the first half of Sunday’s game.

2. Referee Shawn Hochuli loves airtime and was making a point by calling the Patriots’ tackles for a litany of illegal formation penalties.

The Patriots’ offensive line was flagged eight times in the first half. Here was the rundown:

LT Chukwuma Okorafor: three illegal formation penalties

LG Sidy Sow: holding penalty

RG Layden Robinson: false start, holding penalty

RT Mike Onwenu: illegal formation

LG Michael Jordan: holding penalty

Center Nick Leverett also had two bad snaps, and Sow left the game with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

Robinson had a strong training camp but does not look ready to start. Now Sow’s status is up in the air, as well.

The best solution at this point would be to start Vederian Lowe, if he can get healthy from an oblique injury, at left tackle, have David Andrews at center, Onwenu at right guard and Okorafor at right tackle. The left guard spot could come down to Sow, Jordan, Leverett or Robinson.

The Patriots had all offseason to fix and figure out their offensive line. The season starts in two weeks, and they’re still scrambling.

4. Three starting decisions stand out

Here were the Patriots’ offensive and defensive starters:

Offense: QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Antonio Gibson, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Tyquan Thornton, WR K.J. Osborn, TE Jaheim Bell, LT Chukwuma Okorafor, LG Sidy Sow, C Nick Leverett, RG Layden Robinson and RT Mike Onwenu.

Defense: DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., DT Daniel Ekuale, DE Keion White, OLB Anfernee Jennings, LB Jahlani Tavai, LB Christian Elliss, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, CB Marco Wilson, S Joshuah Bledsoe and S Jaylinn Hawkins.

The Patriots rested a handful of offensive and defensive players, which led Gibson, Bell, Leverett, Pharms, Elliss, Wilson, Bledsoe and Hawkins to start.

But Osborn starting over Polk was notable. Polk has outplayed Osborn in training camp, but perhaps the Patriots don’t want a rookie in their Week 1 offense.

On defense, it was interesting to see Wilson starting over other cornerback options like Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden and Shaun Wade, indicating he’s ahead of those players in the current pecking order. Bledsoe starting over standout undrafted rookie Dell Pettus also could be a tell that the UDFA could be left off of the 53-man roster. Both Bledsoe and Pettus played deep into the second half.

5. Two linebackers on bubble shine

The third preseason game can make or break an end-of-roster spot. Two players who stood out are two linebackers who might be competing for just one spot: Christian Elliss and Joe Giles-Harris.

Elliss started and made 10 tackles with one tackle for loss but left the game with a head injury. Giles-Harris collected four tackles with an interception.

Raekwon McMillan didn’t play, which means he should be safe.

6. Ryland finishes strong

The Patriots’ kicker competition will ultimately come down to the wire. Veteran Joey Slye has outperformed 2023 fourth-round pick Chad Ryland this summer. But Slye missed two 64-yard field goal attempts, while Ryland hit an extra point and 38-yard field goal.

If Slye wins the job, the Patriots could potentially still trade Ryland to a kicker-needy team if they liked the Maryland product in last year’s draft.

7. Boutte playing late

The Patriots have seven roster-able wide receivers, not including Kendrick Bourne, who remains on PUP, in Douglas, Thornton, Polk, Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Kayshon Boutte and rookie Javon Baker. It was notable to see Boutte and Baker playing into the fourth quarter.

Baker needs more work, but if Boutte is going to make the 53-man roster, then the Patriots were making him earn it.