New England Patriots
“Yearly any person goes to lose this sport. We have now to recollect what it looks like and ensure that it’s not repeated.”
COMMENTARY
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Hours earlier than Drake Maye and the 2025 Patriots took to the sphere for crucial soccer sport of their lives, a aircraft buzzed overhead at Levi’s Stadium.
The biplane served as an omen of what was set to befall Santa Clara, given the big “12” banner it tailed behind it because it soared overhead of the 49ers’ stadium.
The signal — an ode to the Seahawks’ rabid fanbase — gave strategy to a sea of inexperienced and navy enveloping the seats at Levi’s Stadium, outnumbering the contingent of Patriots followers who traveled west to try to see one other New England coronation.
It was a hostile setting for Mike Vrabel’s crew — with a shot on the Lombardi Trophy on the road.
In different phrases, simply the best way the 2025 Patriots needed it.
After all, these were the “Road Warriors,” the crew with a chip on its shoulder, which was seemingly solely outweighed by a collective bond solid by Mike Vrabel.
“All of us we obtained, all of us we’d like” was the rallying cry from a workforce who orchestrated an an inconceivable run to a title sport.
Seems, they may have wanted slightly bit extra.
Granted a major probability to close up the critics and doubters, the Patriots as an alternative rekindled arguments about their tomato-can schedule and the string of excellent fortune that carried all of them the best way to Tremendous Bowl LX.
As a result of on Sunday evening, Vrabel’s workforce didn’t appear like it belonged on such a stage — one which was promptly blanked in green-and-blue confetti as the Seahawks clinched a 29-13 triumph.
“That I’m happy with all the pieces they did,” Vrabel mentioned, when requested what he instructed his workforce after the loss. “I’m dissatisfied, identical to they’re. I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is an extended, profitable relationship and program. It’s OK to be dissatisfied. We have now to be dissatisfied and upset collectively.”
The echoes of a Seahawks celebration had been ringing loud and clear as Maye and his teammates fielded fielding questions simply exterior of the stadium.
Tears had been shed. Second-guesses had been weighed and mentioned. However the tone shared by Maye and the Patriots was one in every of resolve — and a perception that Sunday’s consequence, as bitter because it is likely to be, is just the start.
“That’s what motivates you,” Maye mentioned. “That’s what we talked about within the locker room, that’s what fuels you. I believe that’s the most important factor about life — you’re going to have instances like this and it’s the way you bounce again.
“I believe all these guys in that locker room are going to make use of this as gasoline, and I’d go to warfare with these guys any time, any day, wherever. It’s motivation to get again right here and never have this sense and have what [the Seahawks] are feeling on the market.”
All issues thought of, they’re proper.
Coming off of a four-win season in 2024, the Patriots are actually nicely forward of schedule. They’ve obtained a franchise QB in Maye, a reigning Coach of the Yr in Vrabel, a stout protection, and an infectious tradition that ought to appeal to extra expertise this spring.
With extra cap house accessible ($42.7 million), they’ll re-up Christian Gonzalez (three move breakups on Sunday) and nonetheless discover avenues so as to add to an upstart roster.
This, ideally, is only the start for Vrabel and his employees.
“It’s our first yr collectively. No person thought we’d be right here. We put the league on discover,” Carlton Davis said. “Clearly we didn’t get the job accomplished and [expletive] stings. [Expletive] isn’t going to not sting. However we’ve obtained a shiny future, man.
“We’ve obtained lots of nice younger gamers. Coming on this [expletive] and taking the league by storm. Having a brand new teaching employees, lots of new free brokers. One thing that’s actually unprecedented. So [expletive] hurts, however I’ve obtained a sense we’ll be again.”
Sunday’s setback wasn’t as painful as Tremendous Bowl XLII or as irritating as Tremendous Bowl LII.
The sight of Will Campbell getting became Swiss cheese gained’t scar Patriots followers to the identical diploma as David Tyree seemingly glueing a pigskin to the facet of his helmet — or the sight of Nick Foles reeling in a catch from Trey Burton by way of the “Philly Particular.”
However two issues may be proper.
Patriots followers can salute this 2025 workforce for exceeding all expectations, and nonetheless be steamed for the style during which they let a possible title slip by way of their grasp.
Seattle’s protection validated itself as one of the imposing models in soccer on Sunday.
However their masterclass efficiency was additionally aided by an entire and utter implosion on the offensive facet of the soccer by the Patriots.
By the point Seattle took a 19-0 lead within the fourth quarter, Maye had as many completions (eight) because the workforce had punts. New England had simply 5 first downs at that time for 78 whole yards.
The Patriots’ offensive line was shredded all evening, with Maye sacked six instances and hit on one other 11 situations. The issues over Will Campbell’s long-term viability at left deal with will stay after the rookie was knocked for a whopping 14 pressures on Sunday — the best mark in a single sport for Subsequent Gen Stats all season lengthy.
An explosive and environment friendly Patriots offense was downgraded from a bazooka to a spud gun in opposition to Seattle. Certain, Maye had little time to function, however the Patriots QB was jittery, sped-up, and didn’t make performs at essential instances.
His three turnovers instantly led to 17 Seattle factors.
To additional twist the knife, New England’s protection largely bottled up Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4 catches, 27 yards), who missed time whereas in concussion protocol. Sam Darnold additionally was removed from sharp — finishing simply 19 of his 38 throws and throwing a number of potential pick-worthy passes.
But it surely nonetheless meant little on an evening the place the Patriots had been completely outclassed by Seattle’s protection.
And as promising as New England’s future is, nothing is assured on this league.
Simply ask the 2021 Bengals, a workforce who rode a younger franchise QB in Joe Burrow to a Tremendous Bowl look — solely to have their rivalry window seemingly shuttered.
The highway gained’t get any simpler for the 2026 Patriots — not with a frightening schedule that can embody eight groups from the 2025 playoff bracket. It’s unlikely the highway out of the AFC will likely be straightforward because it was this previous yr, when Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Burrow all missed the postseason.
That string of excellent fortune nearly made it destined that the 2025 Patriots’ inconceivable run would finish with a Lombardi Trophy.
They ducked main accidents. They benefited from different groups not being so fortunate in that division. They purchased in. They cared. It wasn’t at all times fairly, however they at all times appeared to get the job accomplished.
By the point Tremendous Bowl LX lastly arrived, the 2025 Patriots had been seemingly destined to be the reincarnation of their forefathers from 2001 — a pugnacious, relentless group that defied all odds to grab soccer immortality.
As a substitute, the ‘25 Patriots is likely to be this era’s 1967 “Not possible Dream” Crimson Sox — a crew that defied expectations and stole the hearts of a area, solely to let a championship slip by way of their grasp.
“A part of our id will not be being a frontrunner,” Vrabel mentioned. “Yearly any person goes to lose this sport. We have now to recollect what it looks like and ensure that it’s not repeated.”
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