The Patriots Are Back - And Maybe Here to Stay
For fans outside New England, this isn’t exactly the news you wanted to hear. But here we are: the Patriots are good again. Already.
After what felt like a blink-and-you-missed-it downturn following the Brady-Belichick era, New England has reloaded faster than most expected - and that’s not by accident. A home playoff win away from another AFC Championship Game appearance, the Patriots are suddenly back in the thick of the postseason picture.
And the architect behind this resurgence? None other than owner Robert Kraft.
It’s easy to poke fun at NFL owners - the lavish boxes, the questionable decisions, the stubborn loyalty to underperforming hires. But Kraft didn’t fall into that trap. Instead, he made a series of bold, calculated moves that have positioned the Patriots for what could be another long run of relevance.
Let’s rewind for a second. After Tom Brady’s departure and his subsequent Super Bowl win in Tampa Bay, the pressure was on Bill Belichick to prove the dynasty hadn’t been a one-man show.
But after a string of lackluster seasons, including a rock-bottom 4-13 campaign in 2023, it became clear that the magic was gone. Kraft gave Belichick time - as he should have - but when it was obvious the results weren’t coming, he made the call.
Jerod Mayo, a former Patriots linebacker and assistant coach, was tapped as Belichick’s successor. On paper, it looked like a move to preserve the “Patriot Way.”
In practice, it didn’t pan out. Despite the buzz around rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the team stumbled to another 4-13 finish.
Mayo looked overwhelmed, and the team lacked identity.
Here’s where Kraft made the kind of decision most owners shy away from: he admitted the mistake and moved on. No doubling down, no scapegoating coordinators, no “let’s run it back and hope it gets better.”
Instead, he brought in Mike Vrabel - a former Patriot with a proven track record as a head coach in Tennessee. It was a move rooted in both familiarity and football sense.
And just like that, the Patriots found themselves with a legitimate head coach and a rising star at quarterback. That’s half the battle in the NFL.
Add in a favorable schedule, and suddenly the Patriots were 14-3 and hosting a playoff game. Nobody saw that coming.
Now, let’s be fair - there are still questions. New England’s schedule was soft, with only one win against a team that finished above .500: a narrow road victory over Buffalo in Week 5.
The offensive line remains a concern, especially with the Texans’ pass rush looming this weekend. And while the defense has been stingy, some of that might be inflated by late-season matchups against injury-riddled or inexperienced quarterbacks.
Still, you can’t fake 14 wins. And you definitely can’t fake the kind of poise Maye has shown under center.
He’s not just managing games - he’s making throws that most rookies aren’t even allowed to attempt. Downfield, on time, in stride.
That’s the stuff that separates franchise quarterbacks from placeholders.
Vrabel deserves plenty of credit too. He’s brought structure and toughness back to the sideline, and unlike some young quarterbacks who are handcuffed by conservative playbooks, Maye has clearly been empowered.
That trust between coach and QB? That’s the foundation of sustained success.
Even if the Patriots fall short against Houston this weekend, the bigger picture is clear: this team is ahead of schedule. The rebuild is no longer hypothetical - it’s happening in real time. And for the rest of the AFC, that’s a problem.
So yes, Patriots fans, you’ve earned a little gloating. The lean years didn’t last long, and the future looks bright.
For everyone else? Well… buckle up.
New England might be back for another run.