The New England Patriots just keep winning - and now, the rest of the league is starting to take notice.
With a commanding 33-15 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, the Patriots improved to an NFL-best 11-2. That’s 10 straight wins for New England, the longest active streak in the league, and they’re doing it in historic fashion. Over that stretch, they’ve scored at least 23 points and allowed fewer than 23 in every single game - something no team in NFL history has done during a double-digit win streak.
At the center of it all? Rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who’s not just adjusting to the NFL - he’s dominating it.
Against the Giants, Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns that were as precise as they were poised. He now leads the league in passing yards, completion percentage, and quarterback rating, and sits second in touchdown passes.
That kind of production has vaulted him to the top of the MVP conversation - a staggering rise for a first-year signal caller.
But this team isn’t riding just one hot hand. The defense has been quietly excellent, ranking seventh in EPA per play, and playing with the kind of discipline and edge that’s become the hallmark of a Mike Vrabel-coached team. Vrabel, who’s in the thick of the Coach of the Year race, has brought a new identity to Foxborough - one rooted in toughness, execution, and a culture shift that’s starting to echo the glory days of the Brady-Belichick era.
And while the oddsmakers may not have fully bought in, the power rankings are starting to reflect what’s happening on the field. Several major outlets - including ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, and ProFootballTalk - all have the Patriots sitting atop their rankings after Week 13. That kind of consensus doesn’t come easy, especially for a team that entered the year with more questions than answers.
Still, not everyone is sold. Analytics models like ESPN’s Football Power Index and DVOA rankings are more cautious, slotting New England at No.
- And when it comes to Super Bowl odds, the Patriots are hovering around fifth-best, tied with the Eagles at +1000 on DraftKings.
The Rams, Seahawks, Packers, and Bills all sit ahead of them.
So why the hesitation?
Red zone execution is one area that’s holding this team back. The Patriots rank 24th in red zone touchdown percentage, converting just over half their trips (51.06%). That inefficiency has been especially noticeable in recent weeks - they’ve scored just one touchdown in their last seven red zone opportunities, and that’s come against defenses like the Bengals and Giants, who haven’t exactly been world-beaters.
Then there’s the strength of schedule. New England’s opponents have a combined .342 win percentage - the lowest in the league.
That stat has fueled skepticism around how "real" this run is. But context matters.
The Patriots are the only team undefeated on the road (6-0) and have notched double-digit wins five times. They’ve beaten two legitimate playoff teams - the Bills and Buccaneers - both on the road.
And their +110 point differential is third-best in the NFL, and tops in the AFC.
Some of the doubt may also stem from recency bias. This is a team that went 4-13 in each of the last two seasons.
It’s hard to shake that kind of recent history, especially when the turnaround has been so sudden. But that doesn’t mean it’s not real.
And let’s face it - this season hasn’t exactly produced a clear-cut juggernaut. The Bears lead the NFC but don’t strike fear into anyone.
The defending champion Eagles have taken a step back. The Chiefs are no longer the automatic threat they’ve been, and they’re in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.
The Rams are talented but inconsistent. The Seahawks have questions at quarterback.
The Broncos have been scraping by with narrow wins.
In a year where no team looks invincible, the Patriots are building a case as one of the most complete squads in the league. They’ve got a quarterback playing at an MVP level, a defense that’s flying under the radar, a coach who’s changed the culture, and a team that’s shown the ability to win convincingly - home or away.
They might not be the odds-on favorite to win it all just yet, but dismissing them as anything less than a legitimate Super Bowl threat would be a mistake. This team is for real - and they’re just getting started.