Patriots Gaining Quiet Hype As Playoff Sleeper Led By Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye

Could the New England Patriots go from a four-win team to a playoff candidate in just one year? Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano certainly seems to think so.

The hiring of Mike Vrabel was a pivotal move that changed the tone surrounding the Patriots, with many expecting Drake Maye to make a significant leap in his second year.

“Maye went from making the most of a bad situation as a rookie to having a strong supporting cast for Year 2,” Manzano wrote. “The Patriots still have to deal with the mighty (Buffalo) Bills in the AFC East, but this could be a sleeper playoff team if the many additions pay off in 2025.”

And one coach certainly agrees that this is a different team.

“They have to be better with Vrabel at the helm. Guy just has it,” an NFC coach told Manzano. “It’s always tough when you have a young quarterback learning a new system, but Maye has the intangibles to be a franchise quarterback. They will play salty defense and take care of the football. With a raw, talented quarterback, Maye could win them a couple of games they weren’t able to win last year.”

The Patriots’ win total is currently set at 7.5, according to FanDuel, which represents a significant jump after back-to-back four-win seasons. But, it already does feel different, based on the talent New England was able to acquire, along with the way the players are speaking about it.

However, while the playoffs do sound nice, let’s just start with finishing .500 for the first time in a while. That will mark a successful season. A postseason appearance would be above and beyond.