Patriots followers say they’re excited that the Mike Vrabel period has begun in Foxboro, however they must wait slightly longer to see the brand new head coach earn his first win at Gillette Stadium.
New England misplaced its season opener at house to Las Vegas on Sunday, 20-13, with followers letting out loud boos as they began to exit the stadium earlier than the Week 1 dud got here to an finish.
Sterling resident Steve Maynard, a season ticket holder for 15 years, stayed by means of all of it.
He joined fellow season ticket holders on the sphere after the sport, making an attempt to take the loss in stride and stay optimistic.
With the Patriots beginning 0-1, Maynard advised the Herald he has tempered his expectations. He predicted the hometown staff would win 10 video games, however now he mentioned he hopes they will get no less than eight.
“Everyone was hyped,” Maynard mentioned of the in-stadium vibes earlier than opening kickoff, “however while you acquired into the fourth quarter, and we have been down by 10 factors, that was slipping away.”
“We now have the teaching workers and management to proper the ship,” he added. “I don’t suppose it’s going to occur instantly, however I believe ultimately it can flip round.”
The Patriots’ offense went chilly within the second half, mustering a subject purpose from rookie Andres Borregales with simply 22 seconds left. The depressing efficiency matched Sunday’s dreary, moist climate – situations extra usually seen later within the fall.
Boos began to ring out with 4:53 left within the fourth quarter after the Patriots’ offense jumped offsides, taking quarterback Drake Maye and his weapons off the sphere and away from going for it on 4th and 5, nearer to midfield.
The tailgating scene returned up and down Route 1, with followers turning out early and sometimes, grilling up their favourite pregame snacks whereas boozing and rocking staff attire.
Forward of the draft this previous April, fan Johnny Occean believed the Patriots may have received 10 to 11 video games this season. He has halted these expectations a bit after the best way the remainder of the league shook out through the offseason.
Occean mentioned he predicts New England will hover round .500, at both eight or 9 wins.
“Will probably be a very aggressive 12 months,” he advised the Herald. “I’m excited to see the place they will go. There’s loads of hope.”
That optimism stems from Vrabel main the staff as an alternative of Jerod Mayo, who faltered drastically after a shocking Week 1 win final season in Cincinnati. Proprietor Robert Kraft fired the first-year head coach in January after the staff completed 4-13 for the second straight 12 months.
Michael Younger, of East Falmouth, has organized the “Tailgater 2000” for the reason that 1998 season. He recounted his pleasure for Mayo earlier than heading throughout Route 1 on Sunday after he held an enormous social gathering for fellow followers within the morning.
“It was a catastrophe, clearly,” Younger mentioned of the Mayo expertise. “Going into this 12 months with Vrabel, much more optimism.”
Younger’s tailgate, in the midst of a parking zone throughout the highway from Patriot Place, options all of it: A bus crammed with Patriots merchandise and a TV, trays of grilled hen, steak, shrimp, and different goodies, a stay band and yard video games.
Gerry McCarthy, of Sandwich, has been a season ticket holder since 1980 and serves as a key voice to the Tailgater 2000, providing a whole lot of followers a prayer – a poem he writes as a rallying cry.
“It was a celebration final 12 months, and if a soccer sport breaks out, so be it,” McCarthy advised the Herald. “This 12 months, I’ve loads of optimism. I’ve heard folks speaking about 11 wins and all of that. I don’t see 11 wins. … If we make it to eight this 12 months, and now we have one or two different video games the place we’re aggressive, then this was a giant success, and we proceed to construct subsequent 12 months.”
