The New England Patriots appeared a great distance from respectability once they went 4-13 in every of the previous two seasons.
Not many individuals predicted New England may very well be a playoff group this season.
It appears like lots of people is likely to be unsuitable in regards to the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel is now operating New England and apparently he doesn’t want a rebuilding season to revive order in Foxborough.
Vrabel is getting it achieved instantly, which was below show on the Sunday evening stage when the Patriots recorded a 23-20 highway victory over the Buffalo Payments.
New England is a really shocking 3-2, one win shy of matching these consecutive four-win campaigns earlier than we even hit mid-October.
The loss was the primary of the season for the Payments and left the NFL with no undefeated groups. The Denver Broncos defeated the Philadelphia Eagles earlier Sunday.
So you realize what meaning: the 1972 Miami Dolphins had been popping champagne bottles and partying late into the evening as they proceed to be the one NFL group to have notched an ideal season.
That group had bulldozer fullback Larry Csonka and the famed “No-Identify Protection” main the way in which. These Patriots have an rising pressure in quarterback Drake Maye, who held his personal with reigning MVP Josh Allen of the Payments.
Maye, the No. third general decide within the 2024 draft, was 22-of-30 passing for 273 yards and stored his cool whereas guiding his group to the successful subject aim. Allen accomplished 22 of 31 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Maye, 23, is extremely correct and has accomplished higher than 65 p.c of his passes in all 5 video games this season. Twice, he accomplished greater than 82 p.c of his throws.
He has thrown seven landing passes and been intercepted twice in 153 makes an attempt this season. He has topped 200 yards passing in all 5 video games.
What we’re watching is someone growing right into a future standout quarterback. Many individuals had him pegged for stardom when he was at North Carolina and he seems proper on schedule.
Or maybe forward of schedule if you happen to take heed to Stefon Diggs, the wideout who torched his former group with 10 receptions for 146 yards.
“I noticed a younger quarterback take a step in the precise path,” Diggs stated afterward. “They did numerous comparisons through the week, and I really feel prefer it’s a helluva comparability to be in comparison with Josh Allen. However as you come into your personal, Drake Maye needs to be Drake Maye. I used to be simply so pleased with him coming in right here and main the group.”
Allen’s group dedicated three turnovers and 11 penalties whereas watching a 14-game house unbeaten streak finish. The purpose whole was Buffalo’s lowest of the season after it posted a mean of 33.3 factors over the primary 4 video games.
Allen stated the Payments performed “sloppy” and shouldn’t have even been within the sport as a result of turnovers. He did information Buffalo to 10 fourth-quarter factors to tie it earlier than Andy Borregales booted the successful 52-yarder with 15 seconds left for the Patriots.
The Payments (4-1) nonetheless are the group to beat within the AFC East – they’ve received 5 straight division titles — however it must be famous they performed 4 of their first 5 video games at house this season.
Now comes a stretch the place the Payments play seven of their subsequent 10 video games on the highway. There shall be some losses throughout that span and the return journey to New England on Dec. 14 will make for an fascinating rematch.
Nonetheless, there may be nothing that’s going to stop Buffalo from incomes a seventh straight playoff berth. However one other AFC East member rating as a legit risk isn’t a foul factor.
We all know the Dolphins (the 2025 ones) and the New York Jets aren’t going to scare the Payments. Solely the Patriots have an opportunity to topple the Buffalo division dynasty.
And on this Sunday evening, New England was higher than the Payments. One thing no person noticed coming.
