I will be sincere: I believed the New England Patriots had been a 12 months away.
With Mike Vrabel taking up as coach and Drake Maye getting into his second season, coupled with some huge cash being spent in free company to bolster the roster, I believed the Patriots could be a feisty group that might win eight or 9 video games this season.
Now look. The Patriots lead the AFC East by 1½ video games over the Buffalo Payments and have ripped off seven straight victories, together with a formidable street victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Patriots are getting MVP-like play from Maye, coupled with a protection that’s stout towards the run and sticky in protection on the again finish.
The Jerod Mayo mini period certain looks as if a very long time in the past. Credit score goes to proprietor Robert Kraft for making the choice to fireplace Mayo with an opportunity to rent Vrabel. He brings a self-discipline and a toughness to the group that reveals up on Sundays.
If you add in a franchise quarterback like Maye, a participant who appears to have an aw-shucks persona to go together with his killer fashion on the sector, the outcomes aren’t an accident.
The Tampa Bay recreation was a prove-it recreation of types for the Patriots, and so they handed with flying colours. Maye was good once more, except for a horrible end-zone interception, and the protection made life robust on the Bucs offense. It helps they’ve excellent cowl gamers in Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis at cornerback.
The Patriots’ revamped protection had six gamers who signed as free brokers final spring who began towards the Bucs. Vrabel has achieved an awesome job bringing that group collectively.
New England is as much as third in my Energy Rankings this week, proper behind the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams. Anticipate the Patriots to be close to the highest for not less than a month.
Their subsequent three video games are residence towards the Jets, on the street at Cincinnati and residential towards the Giants earlier than a bye. A ten-game profitable streak is an actual chance. After the bye, they’ve the rematch with the Payments, who they beat earlier within the 12 months.
Neglect concerning the division title. With their schedule, they’ve an actual shot to be the highest seed within the AFC. That might imply the playoffs would undergo Foxborough.
Who within the title of Invoice Belichick noticed that coming?
Largest Movers
|
Rk |
Groups |
Chg |
Rcrd |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
Sam Darnold did not even need to do a lot towards Arizona as a result of the protection was so dominant. That entrance is nasty and might want to present up large towards the Rams this week. | 2 | 7-2-0 |
2 |
|
Matthew Stafford is lighting up defenses because the Rams able to face the Seahawks on Sunday. Their defensive entrance additionally has game-wrecking means. | 2 | 7-2-0 |
3 |
|
Drake Maye for MVP. It is attainable. The schedule will get actually smooth the subsequent three weeks to assist bolster his probabilities. | 2 | 8-2-0 |
4 |
|
The protection got here up large towards the Packers, however the offense has to get it going. However profitable on the street towards good groups is hard to do. | 2 | 7-2-0 |
5 |
|
Give the ball to Jonathan Taylor. They received again to what they need to all the time be doing, and it paid off large towards the Falcons. | 2 | 8-2-0 |
6 |
|
Regardless of the loss to the Patriots, they’ve a hammer-lock on the division. However the concept of getting the No. 1 seed might be fading away. | 5 | 6-3-0 |
7 |
|
Dan Campbell took over because the play-caller and the offense got here to life. After all, they did it towards air, in any other case generally known as the Commanders protection. Nevertheless it was spectacular. | 4 | 6-3-0 |
8 |
|
The letdown after beating the Chiefs became a catastrophe in Miami. If you cannot cease the run, and so they cannot, you’ll be able to’t win a Tremendous Bowl. That needs to be mounted. | 6 | 6-3-0 |
9 |
|
The place is the offense? Bo Nix simply is not taking part in properly proper now. It is as much as Sean Payton to repair him. | 1 | 8-2-0 |
10 |
|
They arrive off their bye with a giant division street recreation at Denver. They cannot afford to lose one other one, or else their playoff probabilities might be in actual jeopardy. | — | 5-4-0 |
11 |
|
The place is the offense? The previous two weeks, it simply hasn’t been ok. The accidents to the weapons are actually impacting the passing recreation. | 2 | 5-3-1 |
12 |
|
The protection confirmed up in a giant means towards the Steelers. With the offensive line a problem now with accidents, they could want much more of that down the stretch. | — | 7-3-0 |
13 |
|
Coming again to beat the Giants was a great search for Caleb Williams. They’re within the thick of the playoff race. | 3 | 6-3-0 |
14 |
|
They’ve righted issues in a rush and have a smooth schedule developing. The division might be theirs after a gradual begin. | 4 | 4-5-0 |
15 |
|
The J.J. McCarthy state of affairs is changing into worrisome for this group. Do you assume they want they’d Sam Darnold again? | 2 | 4-5-0 |
16 |
|
The accidents to the protection proved to be an excessive amount of to beat within the loss to the Rams. Matthew Stafford carved them to shreds. | 1 | 6-4-0 |
17 |
|
For a bit, the offense was good and the protection was terrible. Now the protection is healthier and the offense did nothing towards the Chargers. The Ravens are coming quick too. | — | 5-4-0 |
18 |
|
Davis Mills saved their season towards the Jaguars. Who noticed that coming? They’re nonetheless alive for a playoff spot. | 2 | 4-5-0 |
19 |
|
Blowing a 19-point fourth-quarter result in Davis Mills has to sting for this group. The protection value them this one, however the offense would not do sufficient. | 5 | 5-4-0 |
20 |
|
Simply once we assume they’re able to compete for a playoff spot, they lay an egg like they did towards the Saints. Bryce Younger wants to choose it up. | 1 | 5-5-0 |
21 |
|
They’re sinking quick. The run protection was horrible towards the Colts, which may’t occur towards a again like Jonathan Taylor. | — | 3-6-0 |
22 |
|
The Jacoby Brissett hype practice derailed in Seattle, however with Kyler Murray harm, it is nonetheless his group. The road did not assist him a lot both. | — | 3-6-0 |
23 |
|
Even when Jayden Daniels had performed towards the Lions, it would not have mattered. The protection is terrible. They’re achieved. | — | 3-7-0 |
24 |
|
The offense is a multitude. Geno Smith has no time, however he hasn’t been good when he is had some. A lot for Chip Kelly livening up the offense. | — | 2-7-0 |
25 |
|
They higher hope getting Quinnen Williams adjustments the way in which they play protection. It has to, proper? It could possibly’t get any worse. | — | 3-5-1 |
26 |
|
Blowing the lead towards the Bears, with Jaxson Dart out with a concussion, value Brian Daboll his job. Mike Kafka needs to be smarter with Dart. | — | 2-8-0 |
27 |
|
Any probability they discovered a protection through the bye? In all probability not. Prepare for extra shootouts. | — | 3-6-0 |
28 |
|
Give Mike McDaniel credit score for having his group able to upset the Payments. They have not stop. | 1 | 3-7-0 |
29 |
|
Successful at Carolina is sweet, however the large factor was that Tyler Shough appears to be making progress. May he be their long-term man? | 1 | 2-8-0 |
30 |
|
They’ve received two straight to assist flip this factor round. A lot for the concept buying and selling away stars would wreck them even worse. They’re set for the longer term with all of the draft picks. | 1 | 2-7-0 |
31 |
|
They discover new and artistic methods to lose each week. They misplaced to a Jets group whose vast receivers mixed for 7 yards. Particular groups killed them. | 3 | 2-7-0 |
32 |
|
That they had a bye this previous week. That is a win. Plus, the primary total choose now looks as if it will likely be theirs. | — | 1-8-0 |
