(Photo: CNN)
For two decades, the New England Patriots were among the elite teams in the NFL with Tom Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick at the helm. Each season, you could pencil them in to win the AFC East, clinch one of the top two seeds in the AFC playoffs, and play in either the AFC Championship or the Super Bowl. At one point, the Patriots reached the AFC title game in nine consecutive seasons — a remarkable feat. After Tom decided to leave the only franchise he had known in 2020, times became tough for the Patriots. They missed the playoffs in all but one season following the GOAT’s departure and became a basement dweller in a division they had dominated for years. Eventually, they hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach. During the offseason, when I made my predictions, I considered them a sleeper team to make the playoffs. So far, they’re 4-2 — their best start since 2019, which was Tom’s final season in Foxborough. Let’s take a look at what’s caught my eye with this team.
First, their offense has climbed to new levels. With Mac Jones, they didn’t scare me — and even in Drake Maye’s first few seasons, I didn’t fear them. What have I always said about helping your quarterback succeed? Put the necessary pieces around him, and good things will happen. Be honest — who did they have around Drake before they signed Stefon Diggs this offseason? Every quarterback needs “his guy,” and this year, Drake has a few weapons to get the ball to. Drake looks much more confident in the pocket and as a passer. Yesterday against the Saints was the best I’ve seen him look as a professional quarterback. They got back to controlling the line of scrimmage — which is exactly why they drafted Will Campbell fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The addition of Stefon Diggs has made all the difference, opening up the field for other receivers to make plays due to the attention Diggs commands. I’d still like to see the Patriots run the ball more consistently, as it will continue to open up their passing game, but I must say — I like what I’ve been seeing from Drake Maye.
As for the defense, I knew it wouldn’t be an issue — and it hasn’t been. Even in Belichick’s final seasons, he tried to win with old-school football: a strong run game, defense, and special teams. But in today’s NFL, that’s not always enough. Mike Vrabel is a defensive-minded guy, and once he was hired, I knew the defense would remain elite under his leadership. Last weekend in Orchard Park against the Buffalo Bills was the closest thing I’ve seen to a “Belichick-like” game. Vrabel took away Buffalo’s best offensive weapon — James Cook — and put everything on Josh Allen’s shoulders. And look what happened. The Patriots bottled up the run and dared Allen to beat them alone. This defense has been stout against the run, currently ranked fourth in the league in run defense and allowing just 20 points per game.
This entire team has bought into what Mike Vrabel is selling. They play hard-nosed, physical football, and they’re disciplined and smart in every game situation. I remember when Belichick raved about Vrabel’s intelligence during his playing days with the Patriots, and now we’re seeing that reflected in the team he coaches. It’s been great to see the Patriots off to a strong start in the 2025 season, and as of now, they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills.
