The New England Patriots extended their winning streak to ten games with a convincing 33-15 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football - and while the scoreboard told one story, the night belonged to defensive lineman Cory Durden in more ways than one.
Durden, who’s been steadily climbing the depth chart over the past month, crossed the 30-snap threshold for the fourth straight game. But this particular matchup came with a little extra juice. Not only did Durden show up in a big way for New England, he did it against the team that told him he wasn’t good enough.
Head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t shy away from that postgame. “They let him go,” Vrabel said, referencing Durden’s release from the Giants’ practice squad.
“They told him he wasn't good enough to play for the Giants, and we thought he was good enough to play for the Patriots. So I’m happy for him.
He made some plays and continues to help us - but also help himself. And I love that.”
That’s the kind of moment that resonates in a locker room. A player with something to prove, stepping up under the lights, against the very team that let him walk. It’s the kind of motivation Vrabel knows well - not just as a coach, but as a former Patriot who’s been through the wars and knows what it takes to win in December.
And let’s not forget the opponent. The Giants aren’t just any team to this franchise.
They’re the ones who denied the Patriots a perfect season back in 2007. That history still lingers, especially for someone like Vrabel, who lived it.
So when a player like Durden gets his shot and delivers in that setting? It means more.
Mike Vrabel on #Patriots DT Cory Durden:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) December 2, 2025
“We brought him over here from the Giants… They let him go… That game meant a lot to him. They told him that he wasn’t good enough to play for the Giants and we thought that he was good enough to play for the Patriots.”
(🎥 @Patriots) https://t.co/1PnAMxBoLj pic.twitter.com/6BAwDDMxtH
Durden’s rise is just one example of how this Patriots team is evolving. Monday night wasn’t just about one player - it was a full-team effort.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye turned in one of his sharpest performances in weeks, completing 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He looked poised, efficient, and in control - a strong sign of growth for the young signal-caller.
And then there was Marcus Jones, who lit the game up early with a 94-yard punt return touchdown that flipped the momentum and set the tone. Special teams have long been a hallmark of New England football, and Jones’ return was a reminder of how game-changing that phase can be when executed at a high level.
As the Patriots continue their late-season surge, stories like Durden’s are starting to stack up. This isn’t just a team riding a win streak - it’s a group finding its identity, with contributions coming from all corners of the roster. If they keep building like this, the rest of the AFC might want to start paying a little closer attention.
Momentum is real in the NFL, and right now, the Patriots have it.