A quarterback change would be a panic mistake for the Patriots | Matt Vautour

Jerod Mayo changed the conversation, but the grim reality remained.

By putting Drake Maye in the starting lineup in the fourth quarter, the Patriots coach made sure that his team spent nine days talking about the quarterback instead of how bad the team was and how incompetent the offensive line was.

And by saying he hadn't decided who would be the starting quarterback next week, Mayo only further fueled the issue.

Given the ease with which the Jets penetrated the Patriots' backfield in New England's 24-3 loss, it was risky to switch quarterbacks Thursday night, but it made sense to give a developing rookie live drills in a game where the outcome was no longer uncertain.

But swapping starters under center next week would be a mistake and a potential disaster. For a rookie head coach, Mayo has remained impressively balanced. But putting Maye in the starting lineup next week in San Francisco would be a hasty move.

Mayo is in a tough spot. Eliot Wolf gave him a screen-wall offensive line, but it's Mayo who has to answer questions about what went wrong after a loss. Coaches, not general managers, have win and loss records. The temptation for him to shake things up is understandable. But it would be the wrong decision. The quarterback's play is not the problem.

Jacoby Brissett has spent 2024 peeling himself off the turf while his offensive line looks on sheepishly. The Jets sacked him five times and caught Maye twice in the rookie's brief cameo. New York had almost as many quarterback hits (15) as the Patriots completed passes (15).

The problem is the offensive line. It's the reason the running game stalled. It's the reason the defense was on the field too long and why the Patriots' laundry needs industrial detergent to remove the turf stains from Brissett's jersey.

Changing the quarterback will not solve the problem and could even lead to further problems.

The goal isn't to be more interesting or watchable now. The goal is to be better long-term. Maye needs to learn to read NFL defenses. He needs to improve his foot game. None of that will happen if he's constantly under fire. On too many plays, the Patriots' quarterbacks have had to cross the street in Times Square without lights.

This type of pressure prevents the formation of good habits and may lead to bad ones.

Given his poor line and lack of game-winning receivers, Brissett deserves more credit than blame. He has yet to intercept or fumble a single ball, and he always gets back up when he gets hit.

His talent may be limited, but he is extremely tough. That may be the most valuable lesson Maye learns from Brissett.

“He fought. He kept getting up and cheering on the guys on the sidelines,” Maye said. “He's a great teammate. That's the most important thing about Jacoby. He's a great leader.”

Over the next ten days, a parade of unsigned offensive linemen should arrive in Foxborough for practice to see if there is anyone out there who represents an improvement over the current crop of Matadors.

But when they take the field in California on Sunday, Brissett should still be playing quarterback. The Patriots could be forced to sign Maye early at some point. Brissett is sure to sprain, strain, jam or tear something in one of those hits.

But until then, the Patriots should continue to give Maye plenty of practice sessions while keeping him away from the danger lurking on the offensive line.

Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.