(Photo: New York Times)
AFC Game Of The Week
New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Patriots (7-2):
It feels like old times again, doesn’t it? When I saw what they did during the offseason, I became intrigued. I said to myself, they could make some noise this year. It wasn’t a matter of if—it was a matter of when they were going to bring in Mike Vrabel to be their next head coach, and he hasn’t lost a beat. He remains one of the very best coaches in the game today, and I know for a fact the Tennessee Titans regret letting him go. The Patriots had a great offseason, finally adding some weapons around Drake Maye, and I thought they had a strong draft in the spring. This is the best they’ve looked since 2019—which ended up being Tom Brady’s final season with the team before hitting free agency the following year. This is a modern version of a Belichick-led team: there’s still that same attention to detail and discipline, but now it’s a younger group that’s having fun—and most importantly, winning. That’s something they’ve struggled to do consistently since Brady’s departure. Mike Vrabel would be my pick for Coach of the Year, and there’s someone else who deserves recognition—the quarterback. See what happens when you put your guy under center and build around him? Drake Maye is an MVP candidate in my eyes, and as he goes, this team goes. It’s been a great year in Foxborough. This Sunday, they’ll travel to Florida for a big showdown with the leaders of the NFC South.
Buccaneers (6-2):
When I last watched them, they were off their game and had their worst performance of the year in Detroit on Monday Night Football against the Lions. That was also the game where Mike Evans unfortunately broke his collarbone and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. The following week, they got back to the basics, dominated the Saints, and entered their bye week with six wins. I always respect teams that can still perform at a high level even with several key players on injured reserve—and the Buccaneers have done just that. Both of their star receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, have dealt with injuries, forcing Tampa Bay to dig deep into its young wide receiver group. The only real issue I’ve had with this offense has been the running game, and that’s exactly why they need Bucky Irving back from injury—he’d give them the spark they’ve been missing. Defensively, Todd Bowles still has his fingerprints all over this unit. They go all out for him, and I love that. He’ll show one thing pre-snap, then completely drop into disguise post-snap, which constantly keeps quarterbacks guessing. This is a physical, aggressive, and punishing defense that wants to make you one-dimensional. The bye week is over, and now they’ll face the leaders of the AFC East this Sunday.
Patriots X-Factor: Demario Douglas
He’s quietly become one of Drake Maye’s most reliable playmakers. The best way to counter pressure is with short routes and bubble screens—two areas where Demario Douglas shines. He has the speed to make game-changing plays, turning short passes into long gains that can energize the offense against one of the stingiest defenses in the league. Douglas is the safety valve who can keep Maye in rhythm and make Tampa Bay pay for overcommitting on the blitz.
Buccaneers X-Factor: Cade Otton
This is one of the many weapons Baker Mayfield can rely on. Cade Otton is a rangy tight end at 6’5″, and he uses his size and length to full advantage. I list him as Tampa Bay’s X-factor because of his impact in the red zone—his presence alone draws defensive attention away from the wideouts, giving the quarterback more options near the goal line. He’s also a reliable target on third down and a perfect outlet against blitz-heavy defenses. Most importantly, he’s a mismatch threat. These New England linebackers often struggle against athletic tight ends, and Cade’s combination of size and route-running ability can expose soft spots in the middle of the field.
Final Thoughts:
The last time I previewed this matchup was October 3, 2021—Week 4 of the season. Tom Brady was playing in Foxborough, but this time as a visitor, and he became just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams (joining Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Drew Brees). Over four years later, we’ve got another “Brady Bowl,” and both teams enter Week 10 sitting atop their divisions. Both quarterbacks are on my MVP list right now. After the bye week, I know Baker Mayfield is looking to regain the early-season form that put him in the MVP conversation, while Drake Maye aims to continue his stellar play. The Patriots come in winners of six straight and in first place in the AFC East. One matchup I’ll be watching closely is New England’s offensive line vs. Tampa Bay’s defensive front. The first key for the Patriots is keeping Maye upright—protecting him will keep drives alive and maintain balance between the run and pass. Short running gains will help set up play-action, which will force the Bucs to load the box. The final key: can New England pressure Mayfield? Forcing him into off-schedule throws could disrupt his rhythm. For Tampa Bay, get Cade Otton involved early and often. I truly believe New England doesn’t have an answer for him, and I’d exploit those linebackers in coverage with intermediate routes. Next, I’m attacking this Patriots secondary—outside of Christian Gonzalez, nothing really scares me on the back end. Finally, control the clock and tempo. Sustaining drives with balance and avoiding quick three-and-outs will keep New England from dictating pace. This should be one of the best games of Week 10.
