The 2025 Patriots have made an unbelievable turnaround.
In January, issues appeared dreary for the crew. They completed the 2024 common season with a 4-13 document and had one of many NFL’s worst offenses (31st in yards, thirtieth in factors). Quick ahead to now, nevertheless, and issues are solely completely different. The Patriots are 13-3, main the AFC East and in rivalry for the AFC’s high seed.
Many attribute New England’s fast success to the truth that they spent $300 million on free brokers and drafted a superb sort out in Will Campbell, however that attribution just isn’t solely appropriate. Going from a bottom-feeder to elite crew in below a yr takes greater than participant expertise. It requires distinctive efficiency from non-players as properly.
Essentially the most impactful non-player has been head coach Mike Vrabel, and he has performed an instrumental function within the crew’s success. Following Sunday’s 28-24 comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens, a number of Patriots gamers supported the notion that the 50-year-old coach deserves boatloads of credit score.
Talking with NBC after the sport, vast receiver Stefon Diggs noted the mentality the coach is constructing in his crew.
“I really feel like Vrabes is doing one thing actually particular…We run sprints each Wednesday…It’s not simply the sprints, it’s the mentality. You go into video games like this and also you’re drained. You bought leaders like Mack Hollins. Even Drake Maye as a younger quarterback being poised…There’s a whole lot of carryover, that stuff issues to me. I really feel like being a frontrunner is simply a part of being me, and so they let me be me.”
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who tossed for an distinctive 380 yards and two touchdowns, additionally acknowledged the 50-year-old coach after the sport. Maye famous how he appreciated Vrabel’s instruction to all the time cherish precious moments which “you possibly can’t purchase.”
“This recreation, it’s brutal,” Maye mentioned, via Tom Carroll. “There’s instances the place accidents and losses weigh on you, however this profitable feeling, there’s nothing prefer it. And Coach reminded us of that pregame. “He mentioned, ‘You possibly can’t purchase that again, profitable in that locker room.’ And at his age, he all the time says, ‘I want I might swimsuit up once more, and also you simply can’t purchase that. You should purchase anything in life, however you possibly can’t purchase this time we’re in proper now.’ And what a time it’s.”
Vrabel and the Patriots have two extra common season video games. They play the Jets (3-12) on Sunday and the Dolphins (6-9) the next week. If New England wins each video games, they are going to win the AFC East for the primary time since 2019.
