FOXBORO — For the primary time in ages, this record is simple.
Too straightforward.
What ought to the Patriots be glad about this 12 months? Should we spell it out?
Sure. Oh sure.
As a result of there’s no higher time to offer thanks than when the actual soccer season begins, and playoff video games await within the New 12 months.
The Patriots are good once more.
Joyful Thanksgiving.
Drake Maye
He’s a burgeoning famous person and icon, but nonetheless a humble 23-year-old whose proper arm, by all accounts, is robust sufficient to hold this franchise for the following decade.
Quarterbacks like Maye are the best asset, and biggest reward, within the NFL.
Most weeks, this house is reserved for evaluation of his bodily items. However Maye’s processing and persona are equally liable for the participant he’s and can develop into. Opponents concern Maye, teammates love him and coaches can’t cease showering the southern gunslinger with reward.
By the best way, what number of quarterbacks would you’re taking for the following 5 years over Maye? Probably Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Is that it? All three have gained MVP awards, and a number of instances within the circumstances of Mahomes and Jackson.
And would you consider Maye would possibly win an MVP at an age youthful than Tom Brady was when Brady gained his first begin?
Give it a couple of extra weeks, and he simply would possibly do it.
Mike Vrabel
What a distinction teaching makes.
Vrabel has modernized, professionalized and aggrandized the Patriots in a matter of months. He’s instilled profitable habits which have yielded a profitable tradition. He expanded the group’s workers in nearly each division, from game-day analytics to the entrance workplace. Every part flows from the pinnacle coach, even when Vrabel tends to deflect credit score when it arrives at his doorstep or throughout a press convention.
His imprint on the group is simply too clear, too apparent to be ignored. As soon as once more, the Patriots are a tricky, good, tight-knit soccer group due to their head coach.
“We created this fast brotherhood,” Pats cornerback Carlton Davis stated Monday. “We need to play for one another, however we additionally need to play for (Vrabel).”
Josh McDaniels
McDaniels has directed Maye’s growth, which already is on tempo to be one of many nice successes of his profession.
This offseason, the Patriots began with Maye’s footwork, his motion within the pocket and management. Secondarily, McDaniels has refined his inside clock and use of cadence. However Maye’s malleability and progress isn’t the one story right here.
McDaniels has developed, too.
His playbook now carries influences from assistants Thomas Brown and Todd Downing, longtime NFL coaches and former offensive coordinators themselves. McDaniels appears looser now. However whereas his connections with gamers appear to run deeper than in his earlier stops, McDaniels’ knack for artistic plans and well timed play-calls continues to be very a lot his calling card.
“He’s simply dialing it up a number of instances and getting guys open and actually making it straightforward for me,” Maye stated in October. “He’s carried out it his complete life, and I really feel like he was placed on this earth to be an offensive coordinator.”
2025 free-agent class
Stefon Diggs is the very best receiver the Patriots have fielded since prime Julian Edelman.
Milton Williams sealed the win at Miami with a fourth-down sack.
Okay’Lavon Chaisson is making $5 million and already has 6.5 sacks.
Harold Landry has 6.5 sacks and a captain’s patch.
Robert Spillane is considered one of two gamers within the NFL with 90-plus tackles, two interceptions and a sack.
Morgan Moses has began all 12 video games at proper deal with and allowed one sack all 12 months.
The Patriots had different gamers on the prime of their free-agent want record — particularly, Chris Godwin and Ronnie Stanley — however they nonetheless spent the $192.2 million they assured final spring properly. That record, a fraction of their complete free-agent signings, is affected by high quality starters, leaders and playmakers.
It’s uncommon a group leads the NFL in free-agent spending, and doesn’t come to remorse it over time. However it’s arduous to examine the Patriots will really feel a lot ache of their pocket given the early returns on this class.
Good well being
First, knock on wooden.
Second, earlier than the Patriots watched rookie left deal with Will Campbell and rookie left guard Jared Wilson get carted off in Cincinnati, they had been maybe the healthiest group in soccer. However even accounting for his or her absences, and accidents to Khyiris Tonga and Brenden Schooler that very same day, the Pats have solely positioned a single starter on injured reserve all season.
This late within the season, that sort of well being is nothing in need of wonderful.
A final-place schedule
Sure, the schedule’s been straightforward. No, that’s not a black mark on the season as a result of if the Patriots do declare the No. 1 seed within the AFC, they’ll and may take credit score for every part they poured into this season courting again to OTAs. Yearly, solely two NFL groups can clinch a prime pace and a first-round bye within the playoffs. These groups all the time earn it.
However, followers in Denver and Indianapolis could be fast to notice the roads their groups could have traveled to the postseason should not the identical because the Patriots’. Even over the following six weeks, each the Broncos and Colts will play at the very least half their video games in opposition to groups presently within the playoff image, whereas the Pats, at most, have two: versus Buffalo and at Baltimore.
The Jets
Regardless of how bleak it will get in New England — and eight wins the previous two years mixed qualifies as fairly rattling bleak — the Patriots are by no means, ever down as dangerous as their one-time rivals.
These J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, who’re with no franchise quarterback for yet one more 12 months and mired completely in dysfunction.
What a bunch of turkeys.
