Tony Romo sees Patriots ‘turning around very fast’ under Vrabel

When Tony Romo started his broadcasting profession with CBS, he made a reputation for himself by precisely predicting performs. If his subsequent prediction follows that very same path, then Patriots followers might be joyful.

Romo believes that the Patriots will shortly rebound from consecutive four-win seasons and have a bounce-back 12 months in 2025, pointing to Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels because the impetus for that perception.

“I’m excited for folks to see how this develops, as a result of Vrabel is a superb soccer coach,” Romo mentioned on the season kickoff occasion for the “NFL on CBS” earlier this week, via The Boston Globe‘s Ben Volin. “It is a staff that would come on very quick. You place Vrabel and Josh McDaniels collectively, you get a younger quarterback [Drake Maye], and you bought some juice. I’m simply saying that staff, don’t be stunned if they’ve a extremely good season this 12 months. I see the indicators of this turning round very quick. They’re certainly one of my shock groups.”

Whereas predicting a staff that went 4-13 in two straight years to play within the postseason this 12 months may appear far-fetched, Romo isn’t alone in believing that the Patriots may take a constructive step ahead in 2025.

Actually, opinions like Romo’s virtually appear to be the prevailing expectation for the Patriots. Their projected win whole sits at 8.5 at most sportsbooks. They’re additionally listed as the betting favorite in 11 of their 17 regular-season games at DraftKings Sportsbook. They’ve +115 odds to make the postseason, giving them an implied chance of 46.5 % of taking part in within the playoffs.

Different members of the “NFL on CBS” staff are shopping for inventory within the Patriots. That features J.J. Watt, who spent 4 seasons with Vrabel when the now Patriots head coach was a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for the Texans.

Watt believes that eight or 9 wins is the “correct baseline” for the Vrabel-led Patriots in 2025.

“The primary 12 months is all the time arduous, however I do know that guys who in that first 12 months work on fundamentals, like Mike will, can actually lock a staff in fast,” Watt mentioned, through Volin. “Since you’re not going to beat your self. He’s all the time going to be on prime of the little guidelines so you may take benefit.

“They’ve acquired a very good younger quarterback, they’re constructing a terrific staff round him, they only want anyone to put that basis, and I believe Mike’s that man.”

Whereas Watt doesn’t have expertise of taking part in below Vrabel when the latter was a head coach, the brand new Patriots coach had 4 successful seasons at the beginning of his tenure as Titans head coach. After failing to make the playoffs at 9-7 in 2018, Tennessee reached the postseason in three consecutive years below Vrabel.

Vrabel took over a 9-7 ballclub when he grew to become the Titans’ head coach, so he’s getting into a lot completely different circumstances with the Patriots. Nonetheless, Maye’s upside, together with the additions of a number of free-agent standouts (DT Milton Williams, WR Stefon Diggs, CB Carlton Davis, OT Morgan Moses, LB Robert Spillane), have led many to really feel bullish in regards to the Patriots.

McDaniels not too long ago said that he thought Maye turned the corner during joint practices with the Vikings, whereas Vrabel mentioned following Thursday’s preseason loss that he believes his staff is beginning “to have an identification.”

The Patriots at the moment aren’t slated to have CBS’s A-team, which options Jim Nantz and Romo, for any of their video games for the upcoming season, however they’re scheduled to have CBS’ B-team (Ian Eagle, Watt) once they host the Steelers in Week 3. Nonetheless, CBS has solely introduced its broadcast assignments for the primary three weeks of the season.