(Photo courtesy of usatoday.com) “Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to pass the football down field against the Giants.”
Jake Messer
Connector Editor
The New England Patriots beat the New York Giants by a score of 33-15, improving their record to 11-2 on the year, the best in the NFL as they finally enter their bye week, which is much deserved for a team that has shattered all expectations placed upon them entering the season.
With just four games left, there is still a lot at hand, the division, the one seed, the playoffs, but one thing is for sure, the New England Patriots are back to their old winning ways. Officially moved on from the Brady-Belichick era, the Patriots are now in the Maye-Vrabel era.
In his first year as Head Coach, Mike Vrabel has completely turned around this team and has made them whole. Gone are the old school days of never good enough and self reflection, in its place Vrabel has brought an immense amount of compassion and comradery to the team this season.
Everyone matters, regardless of any status, and it has allowed everyone to play their best football. They don’t rely on quarterback Drake Maye to win every game, they don’t rely on a stout defense, they rely on each other to win football games. Hence why this group of players comes across as a family, rather than a team.
Furthermore, when a player goes down with an injury, regardless of his position on the field or depth chart, Vrabel runs out and kneels beside the player reassuring them that everything will be alright, something not seen in New England for a very long time.
The players have gravitated and bought into Vrabel’s plan and system for this season and it really does show, not only in wins, but in performance.
Drake Maye looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the world this season. His inhuman accuracy combined with sound decision making, has helped raise his game to heights unimaginable in a year two QB.
Maye leads the league in passing yards with 3,412, despite not having a 300 yard passing game, 23 touchdowns which is fourth most and leads the league in completion percentage with 71.5%. A QB that is right by his wideouts as Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Hunter Henry are all having phenomenal years, especially when compared to last season.
Maye has been playing so well that he has been in talks to win the league’s MVP award, bestowed to the league’s best player. If Maye were to win it, he would become the eight player in league history to win the award in his second season. Even with this success, Maye is staying humble and grounded.
“I think we have been giving something for these fans to cheer for,” Maye said. “10 [wins] in a row, but we still got more to do. I’m so proud of this team and these fans have been awesome.”
“I would love for him to be MVP in his second year in the league,” Diggs said. “He’s an amazing quarterback but that ain’t up to us. I think what we’re chasing is going to be a little more important.”
The defense is not to be outdone as well, as players like linemen Milton Williams, linebacker Harold Landry III and cornerback Christian Gonzalez have led the way, establishing one of the best run defenses in the league, only allowing opponents to average 89.5 rushing yards a game, the third best mark in the league.
Looking ahead, the patriots will have different scenarios every week moving forward for the playoffs 1 seed, etc. However, there is one simple scenario that fans need to pay attention to, the path towards winning the AFC East.
Regardless if the Buffalo Bills win or lose their week 14 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, the New England Patriots will have a chance to clinch the division at home, in week 15 against the Bills, something they have not done since 2019.
There are still a lot of games to be played and a lot could change during that time, but the future could not be any bright in Foxborough.
They have the most cap space in the NFL by a wide margin and hold 11 draft picks in next year’s draft. This young and hungry team should only get better next season.
With copious amounts of cap space, a plethora of draft picks, a franchise head coach and a franchise quarterback, the New England Patriots are back as Super Bowl contenders in the NFL.
